Excerpts of Nancy Guthrie ransom note read on true-crime podcast
Portions of a purported ransom note in the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping case were read on the Crime Junkie podcast, though the text has not been independently verified.
A former Arizona reporter read aloud sections of a ransom note allegedly linked to the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie during an episode of the Crime Junkie podcast on Wednesday. Briana Whitney, who covered the case for a Phoenix news outlet, recited the note to host Ashley Flowers, describing a threat that the victim would be held for up to seven days and released only after a Bitcoin payment was made. The note warned that failure to meet a deadline of Monday, May 9, at 5 p.m. would result in the victim’s death and stated that law enforcement could not assist.
According to the podcast, the message also contained details such as the location of Guthrie’s Apple Watch and a broken floodlight at her home, information that investigators say was not publicly known. A second note reportedly claimed the kidnappers had misjudged Guthrie’s health and that she had died shortly after the abduction, ending with an apology.
Authorities have not confirmed the authenticity of the notes, and a Crime Junkie spokesperson said the podcast will not provide copies of the text. The kidnapping, which occurred on Feb. 1 in Tucson, remains under investigation, with a masked suspect captured on a Nest doorbell camera. Law enforcement continues to seek tips, offering a reward pool exceeding $1.2 million.