Second ransom note allegedly says Nancy Guthrie was buried

second ransom – New claims about Nancy Guthrie’s kidnapping ransom notes focus on what a second message allegedly told recipients—describing her as “buried in nature,” and using language that one former reporter says felt oddly final.

For Nancy Guthrie’s family, the terror started with a demand delivered in Bitcoin terms—and then, according to new claims shared this week, it shifted into something darker.

Briana Whitney, a former reporter for Arizona’s Family TV who covered the missing person case for months, said she saw the ransom notes “with my own eyes” and wanted to explain more context about what the second note said. Whitney now works for the Crime Junkie podcast.

In what she described as a stark turn from the first message, Whitney said the second ransom note allegedly claimed that Nancy Guthrie was “buried in nature.” She also said the note referred to the 84-year-old as having “perished” shortly after she was taken.

A first ransom note allegedly demanded $4 million in Bitcoin. But Whitney said the second note used specific phrasing that stuck with her—particularly the choice of words and the way timing was implied. She called the wording “odd. ” and said she noticed the use of the term “we. ” which she found unsettling because it suggested more than one person could have written it.

“The verbiage was odd to me,” Whitney said. She added that the tone and wording didn’t match how she believed most people would write such a note: “I thought it was interesting that the term ‘we’ was used. and that it could be somebody trying to fool people that it’s more than one person. But that’s how it was written. It [was] kind of offbeat and odd … not a way that we would typically write something. That stuck out.”.

Whitney said the note also indicated that no one could have changed the outcome. She said it conveyed that the writer—or writers—were “truly” sorry for what happened.

“That stood out to me because it seemed so final,” Whitney said. “It almost felt like that was the end of it all. and even though we know that it continues to unfold. and … everything kept going on. especially in that heightened sense of that first month. the investigation was ongoing. Really. when it comes to anything more from whoever potentially did this. it felt like it all ended after that second note.”.

She pointed to a contradiction she believes the notes suggest: if Bitcoin was demanded in the first note, why would the second note declare death so definitively? Whitney said the wording implies the captors may not have expected Nancy Guthrie to pass away.

“If you look at the notes. and especially the way that the second note was written. and we know that there was Bitcoin demanded in the first one from reading the notes. you can look at this and theorize that they didn’t expect Nancy Guthrie to pass away. or that her death was not planned. ” Whitney said. “So there was no proof of life to be had to prove to the Guthrie family that they had Nancy to then pay the money.”.

Whitney also addressed what the family reportedly faced in practice: no large amount of money was exchanged. She said there was one Bitcoin transaction described as “a very low amount” in the Bitcoin wallet. which she said appeared to be testing communication before anything else. She said the lack of proof of life made it hard for investigators. including the FBI. to narrow in on suspects.

“We know that there was one Bitcoin transaction. a very low amount in the Bitcoin wallet [as] seemingly testing to see if they could communicate with whoever this person is. but that didn’t seem to come to fruition. ” Whitney said. “When there was no proof of life ever given of Nancy. it feels that the second note was kind of like. ‘Well. we didn’t plan for this to happen. and you couldn’t do anything. and this is it. and we’re sorry.’ I think that’s where the financial part of this ended.”.

The claims also connect to where authorities and search efforts reportedly turned next. Whitney said it was “interesting” to hear the note claimed Nancy Guthrie was “buried in nature.” She added that a group in Mexico was recently tipped off that Nancy was laid to rest in a remote area near a stream. According to the account, they were unable to find her after an initial search.

Through all of this. the Guthrie family’s demand for Nancy’s quick return—and their emphasis on her need for daily medication—remains part of the unanswered questions hanging over the timeline. The reporting discussed whether Nancy did not receive her medication in time. or whether something else occurred after she left the home.

Savannah Guthrie, Nancy Guthrie’s daughter, has not confirmed or denied the new details. She has continued to beg for anyone with information to speak up.

The alleged notes, the apparent shift from ransom to finality, and the reference to “buried in nature” have left investigators and family members facing the same question: what exactly happened after the first demand, and why did the captor’s message reportedly turn so decisively toward death?

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