Pima County Investigators Dismiss a New Ransom Message in the Nancy Guthrie Disappearance After Claims on Social Media Said the Missing Tucson Mother Was Held in Mexico
TUCSON, AZ — Investigators in Pima County have dismissed a new ransom message that briefly revived speculation about Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old missing from Tucson, Arizona, after social media claims said she was being held in Mexico.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department said its FBI task force reviewed the communication and found it was not credible. That conclusion undercuts the social-media narrative that spread around the case and should not be treated as a verified development in the investigation.
Guthrie, the mother of Today host Savannah Guthrie, was reported missing Feb. 1, 2026, from her home in the Catalina Foothills area. Authorities have said they believe she was taken from her home, and the case remains active.
Friend says messages claimed Guthrie was alive in Mexico
The latest attention came after Lauren Serpa, a friend who has maintained a memorial for Nancy Guthrie, said she received messages claiming Guthrie was alive and in Mexico. Serpa said the sender demanded cryptocurrency in exchange for Guthrie’s return.
According to Serpa’s account, the messages also referred to a supposed “mafia boss,” and she asked for proof that Guthrie was alive. The claims spread on social media and prompted fresh attention to a case that has already drawn repeated public interest.
Law enforcement has not independently established the details of the alleged message as genuine. Officials have now concluded that the text should not be considered a reliable lead in the disappearance investigation.
Sheriff’s department says the text was not credible
The sheriff’s department said its FBI task force reviewed the latest communication and determined it was not credible. In a statement, the department said, “After further review, investigators determined the text message is not credible.”
That finding is important because the message had briefly fueled rumors that Guthrie might be in Mexico. Investigators have now rejected that claim, and there is no verified evidence tying the new text to her disappearance.
The department’s statement also suggests that investigators are continuing to sort through incoming tips and messages carefully. Not every communication connected to the case has been treated as trustworthy, and this one was not accepted as valid.
Police warn about scams and false leads
Along with dismissing the message, the sheriff’s department warned the public to be cautious about unsolicited communications tied to the case. Officials said anyone who receives a message claiming to have information about Guthrie should report it to law enforcement.
Investigators specifically told people not to send money or provide personal information in response to unexpected messages. They also said possible extortion attempts will be reviewed as part of the broader investigation.
The warning reflects a concern that people following the case could be targeted by scammers using Guthrie’s disappearance to get money or information. Authorities are asking the public to treat such claims carefully and wait for official confirmation before believing them.
Earlier ransom notes were also investigated
This was not the first ransom-related communication tied to the case. After Guthrie disappeared, investigators received earlier ransom notes, and the FBI has said some of those communications were judged to be illegitimate extortion attempts.
Other ransom demands were investigated separately, according to authorities. That history helps explain why officials quickly examined the new message instead of treating it as a breakthrough.
Even with those earlier leads, investigators have not publicly identified a suspect in Guthrie’s disappearance. The case has remained unresolved while law enforcement continues to review information that comes in from the public and from its own investigative work.
Surveillance footage and public tips remain part of the case
Authorities have previously released surveillance footage as part of efforts to identify the person believed to have been involved in Guthrie’s disappearance. That step shows investigators are still trying to piece together what happened after she was last seen at home.
The sheriff’s department and FBI task force say the investigation is still active, and they continue to ask people with relevant information to contact official channels. At this point, the only firm conclusion about the latest message is that it was not credible.
For now, the case remains focused on verified evidence rather than unconfirmed social-media claims. Officials say the public should rely on law-enforcement updates rather than circulate rumors about where Guthrie may be or who may have sent the message.
