‘I don’t want to imagine what happened’ – Shock and disbelief in area Nancy Guthrie went missing

At least three media outlets said they have received ransom notes via email demanding bitcoin in exchange for Nancy’s return.

According to news website TMZ, which reportedly received one of the letters, the kidnappers were demanding millions of dollars’ worth of the cryptocurrency, which is popular with criminals and often difficult to trace.

Mary Coleman, a local news presenter for CBS News affiliate KOLD TV in Tucson, said the station had been sent one of the alleged ransom notes on Monday.

The station sent the letter to the authorities, who were trying to track down the senders. Coleman said the newsroom and law enforcement believe the letters sent to the media could be legitimate because they contained sensitive information about Nancy and the crime scene.

One note had two deadlines. One has since passed and another is on Monday, Coleman said. At the request of law enforcement, the media outlets have not disclosed all the demands in the letter.

On Saturday, the Guthrie famile released a video appeal for their mother’s safe return, with Savannah Guthrie saying: “We received your message.”

“We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her,” she said, adding: “And we will pay.”

Ed Coates from St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, which Nancy has attended in the past, said: “We love Nancy and we’re praying for Nancy. It’s heartbreaking for the whole community. She’s very loved.”

Nearby, St Philip’s in the Hills Episcopal Church hosted a candlelight vigil for Nancy Guthrie, which many in the neighbourhood attended.