PHOENIX (AP) 鈥� Authorities released an early ransom note in the investigation into the in hopes that someone will recognize the writing style. A second note released Friday indicated Guthrie died shortly after she was kidnapped.
Both notes initially were sent to a Tucson television station days after the 84-year-old mother of went missing from her home outside Tucson on Feb. 1. Authorities have not said whether Nancy Guthrie is still alive.
Saturday is the six-month mark since Guthrie went missing. No suspects have been arrested in her disappearance. The investigation is dogged by unanswered questions, such as how many people are believed to have taken part in her abduction and whether she was taken by someone who knew her.
In her latest about her mother’s disappearance, Savannah Guthrie said earlier this week that her family has been living an unending nightmare and pleaded with the kidnappers to 鈥渢ell us where to look for her.鈥�
In releasing the ransom notes, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said 鈥渨e believe these distinctive linguistic characteristics may be recognizable to someone who knows or has interacted with the notes鈥� writer.鈥�
The , sent Feb. 2, said Guthrie was safe but scared and would be released unharmed once her captors received $4 million in cryptocurrency, with the ransom amount increasing if the first demand was not met.
It said Guthrie would be released within 12 hours if the payment was received. It also included a threat to kill her if the ransom wasn鈥檛 paid.
“Your mother is aware of this and her life is in your hands,鈥� the first note read. 鈥淚t is in the best interest of everyone to have this completed as soon as possible.鈥�
The was sent Feb. 6 and said Guthrie died shortly after she was taken. 鈥淪he is buried in nature now,鈥� the second note said. 鈥淣othing you could have done could have changed the outcome.鈥� The note ends with an apology, 鈥淲e are truly sorry.鈥�
Investigators hope the writing itself will help identify its author
The sheriff鈥檚 department said the notes reveal a distinctive pattern of word choices and provide insight into the writer鈥檚 mindset. The agency said someone who knows the notes鈥� writer may recognize the patterns.
Authorities similarly used a suspect鈥檚 own writings as a tool to apprehend , branded the 鈥淯nabomber鈥� by the FBI. Kaczynski, who killed three people and injured 23 others with mail bombs over a 17-year span, pressured The Washington Post, in conjunction with The New York Times, to publish his 35,000-word manifesto in 1995. Federal authorities encouraged its publication, leading Kaczynski鈥檚 brother and sister-in-law to recognize the syntax and anti-technology themes and tip off the FBI, bringing to a close the agency鈥檚 longest and costliest investigation at the time.
In a statement Friday, the sheriff鈥檚 department also appealed to people who may know something about the case, saying it may be difficult to come forward due to a personal relationship with someone involved or just for their own safety.
鈥淲e recognize relationships and loyalties change over time as do people and their perspectives,鈥� the sheriff鈥檚 department wrote. 鈥淚t is not too late to come forward.鈥�
Authorities say new evidence suggests the kidnapping was planned
The sheriff鈥檚 office also said Friday that two videos recovered from Guthrie鈥檚 doorbell camera might be from two separate days and indicate an unidentified male prepared ahead of when Guthrie was taken. Authorities are seeking information on anyone who was behaving differently, changed their physical appearance, suddenly left the Tucson area, or had a noticeable or unexplained interest or disinterest in the case.
鈥淚nvestigators continue to pursue every available technological and investigative lead,鈥� the sheriff鈥檚 office said. 鈥淗owever, community members remain a vital resource as we seek to provide answers for Nancy鈥檚 family.鈥�
The FBI had released surveillance videos of a masked person who authorities said appeared to tamper with a camera on Nancy Guthrie鈥檚 front porch and block it with a plant. They described the person as a male about 5 feet, 9 inches (1.75 meters) tall.
On Feb. 4, Savannah Guthrie and her siblings first shared a saying they were aware of media reports of a purported ransom letter and that they were ready to talk and listen, but they wanted proof that their mother was alive. Camron Guthrie, the brother of the 鈥淭oday鈥� co-anchor, said the following day that the family from whoever took their mother.
A day after the second note was sent, Savannah Guthrie said on Feb. 7 that the siblings received a message and 鈥渦nderstand,鈥� without sharing details. She said they were begging for their mother to be returned to them. 鈥淲e will pay,鈥� Guthrie said.
The family has continued to share their pleas for information in videos posted to social media.
Two men who were previously detained have filed a lawsuit
Also, two men detained and released early in the investigation into Nancy Guthrie鈥檚 disappearance are seeking a combined $3 million against a southern Arizona sheriff鈥檚 department. In a legal claim, they say they were wrongfully held by law enforcement.
The claim made Thursday against Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos鈥� department centers on the separate detentions of Carlos Alfredo Palazuelos and Daniel Maddow on Feb. 10. It said they were released hours later but have suffered from having been mentioned in the investigation.
Nanos鈥� office declined to comment on the notice of claim, a necessary precursor to filing a lawsuit against government entities.
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Associated Press writer Hannah Schoenbaum in Salt Lake City contributed to this report.
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