Authorities released the full text of two letters on July 31. The notes were originally sent to multiple news outlets on February 2 — one day after Nancy vanished from her Tucson, Arizona, home — and again on February 6.
The first note, addressed directly to Nancy’s daughter, Today host Savannah Guthrie, claimed the missing grandmother was alive.
“Hello Savannah, We have your mother Nancy,” the letter read. “She is safe but scared. She will be held for ransom, and once payment is received she will be released unharmed.”
Days later, a second note painted a far darker picture, claiming Nancy had died shortly after being abducted.
“We did not fully grasp the seriousness of her physical condition,” the anonymous sender wrote. “We never intended to hurt her; that was not our intention. She perished shortly after she was taken. We believe it was heart-related.”
The note continued: “She is buried in nature now. Nothing you could have done could have changed the outcome. We want your family to know this and hope you all can find peace. We are truly sorry.”