TUCSON, Ariz. – The Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed on Tuesday it is “aware” of reports of a possible ransom note in relation to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, mother of NBC “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie.

“We are aware of reports circulating about possible ransom note(s) regarding the investigation into Nancy Guthrie,” officials wrote in a statement Tuesday afternoon. 

The sheriff’s office added it is taking all tips and leads “very seriously.”

“Anything that comes in, goes directly to our detectives who are coordinating with the FBI,” officials wrote.

INVESTIGATION INTO DISAPPEARANCE OF SAVANNAH GUTHRIE’S MOTHER TAKES DARK TURN AND MORE TOP HEADLINES

The announcement came minutes after TMZ reportedly received an unverified ransom note demanding a “substantial amount” of money in the form of Bitcoin cryptocurrency for Guthrie’s return.

TMZ said it verified the Bitcoin address is “real,” noting it included unreleased details about her disappearance.

TMZ said it contacted law enforcement, as the note included a deadline.

Local outlet KOLD 13 News also reportedly received what appears to be a ransom note, though it is unclear if the letters received by TMZ and KOLD are identical.

“Our newsroom also received what appears to be a ransom note, and we have sent it to law enforcement,” KOLD reporter Mary Coleman wrote in a statement on X.

In an interview with Fox News Channel’s Bret Baier on “Special Report,” FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed federal officials are aware of a ransom note while reiterating that local police are acting as the lead investigative agency in Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance. 

“The local authorities notified the FBI of it, and we are working with them in any manner they choose,” Patel said. “But remember, they’re the lead right now, and we have to respect that. But we are there to help them in any way we can – on ransom notes or otherwise.”

TIMELINE: NBC HOST SAVANNAH GUTHRIE’S MOTHER DISAPPEARS AS SHERIFF SAYS SHE MAY HAVE BEEN ‘ABDUCTED’

Retired FBI special agent Jason Pack told Fox News Digital the letters will need to be authenticated, cautioning that scammers are known to take advantage of families involved in missing person cases.

‪”Scammers will do things that are very distasteful, like scamming the loved ones of people missing, but the police have to take it seriously until they can prove it’s not real,” Pack said. “And it ties up resources that could be devoted to an investigation.”

‬Guthrie, 84, was last seen at her Tucson home at about 9:30 p.m. Saturday, according to the sheriff’s office. 

While officials did not immediately elaborate on the circumstances of her disappearance, they said they believe Guthrie was either kidnapped or abducted.

A law enforcement source told Fox News Digital that there were “blood drops” leading from the entryway outside down the house’s pathway toward the driveway. 

Guthrie did not attend her Sunday church service, leading another churchgoer to notify the family, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said.

Family members went to the house at about 11 a.m. and called 911 around noon.

SAVANNAH GUTHRIE ASKS FOR PRAYER AS HER MOTHER REMAINS MISSING: ‘WE NEED YOU’

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department told Fox News Digital on Monday that officials believe Nancy Guthrie was either kidnapped or abducted.

It is unclear if she was targeted, or if the suspected kidnapping was random.

Savannah Guthrie spoke out on Instagram in a post Monday, writing “We need you.”

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

“We believe in prayer. We believe in voices raised in unison, in love, in hope. We believe in goodness. We believe in humanity. Above all, we believe in Him,” she wrote. “Thank you for lifting your prayers with ours for our beloved mom, our dearest Nancy, a woman of deep conviction, a good and faithful servant. Raise your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment.”

Anyone with information on the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie is asked to call the tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

The grieving parents of a Texas girl who drowned during a scuba certification class have filed a lawsuit against two agencies alleging the child’s death was preventable. 

On Aug. 16, 2025, 12-year-old Dylan Harrison attended a private open water class purchased by her parents from Scubatoys, a local dive-shop, according to FOX 4. 

When the family reportedly arrived at The Scuba Ranch, a scuba training lake located in nearby Terrell, they were told their daughter would be placed in a group of seven students. 

The lawsuit also alleges the divemaster assured Dylan’s parents ahead of the class, telling them, “I will not take my eyes off your daughter.”

COLLEGE FRESHMAN DIED AFTER FRATERNITY HAZING LED TO ‘HORRIFIC’ ABUSE, FAMILY SAYS

At the time of the class, Assistant Chief Deputy for the Collin County Sheriff’s Office William Armstrong was employed part-time as a scuba instructor, and had previously worked a full day as a deputy followed by a full overnight shift as a security officer at an investment firm, FOX 4 reported. 

As Dylan and her 12-year-old swimming buddy entered the water, Armstrong allegedly did not check if Dylan was properly weighted, the lawsuit reportedly states. 

Dylan was last seen alive when the class initially entered the water at 9:36 a.m. and resurfaced at 10:12 a.m. after a miscommunication with a student.

CRUISE SHIP CHAOS MOUNTS AS DEATHS, CRIMES ON BOARD SHATTER ILLUSIONS OF SAFETY AT SEA, EXPERTS WARN

The lawsuit alleges that emergency services were not called to the scene until about 15 minutes later. 

“Based on the amount of air left in [Dylan’s] scuba tank on the surface before she went missing and the amount of air left in the tank when she was found, it can be surmised that [she] was alive and breathing off her tank for several minutes after she was last seen,” the lawsuit revealed, according to FOX 4. “During this time, [Dylan] was alone, in poor visibility, and unable to reach the surface.”

Following the incident, Armstrong resigned from his position with the Collin County Sheriff’s Office.

FAMILY OF BRIANNA AGUILERA SUES OVER ALCOHOL SERVICE AHEAD OF DEATH

The 40-page lawsuit alleges Dylan’s death was preventable and the result of multiple failures after the industry turned a blind eye to safety concerns for several years.

Attorneys for the Harrison family reportedly point to a 2017 video of a staff meeting, in which Scubatoy owner Joe Johnson allegedly made dismissive comments about the safety protocols within the company’s classes, FOX 4 reported.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

“All I know is we’ve killed, what? 4 people? 5 people? And we’ve never even done a deposition,”  Johnson said in the video. “Our insurance company just settles. John Witherspoon says we can kill two people a year and ‘we are fine.’”

Scubatoys, NAUI, PADI, the Scuba Ranch and the Harrison family’s attorney did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. Fox News Digital was unable to immediately locate an attorney representing Armstrong.

President Donald Trump vowed on Tuesday to personally call NBC “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie and offer additional federal assistance following her mother’s apparent abduction in Tuscon, Arizona.

Nancy Guthrie, 84, was last seen at her home at about 9:30 p.m. Saturday, and was reported missing by her family around noon Sunday, according to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.

While officials did not immediately elaborate on the circumstances of her disappearance, they said they believe Nancy Guthrie was either kidnapped or abducted, and noted blood was found outside the home.

During a Q&A session in the White House Oval Office Tuesday, Trump said he is considering sending additional federal agents to assist with the investigation.

‘MORNING JOE’ HOST FIGHTS BACK TEARS WHILE DISCUSSING NEWS OF SAVANNAH GUTHRIE’S MOTHER’S DISAPPEARANCE

“I think it’s terrible,” Trump said. “I’m going to call [Savannah Guthrie] later on. I think it’s a terrible thing. … Very unusual situation, but we’re going to find out.”

Despite the pair’s showdown in an October 2020 NBC town hall, Trump added, “I always got along very good with Savannah.”

During the Miami town hall, Savannah Guthrie pressed Trump on his administration’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and his social media reposts questioning Osama bin Laden’s death.

At one point, she accused Trump of “sending a lie” to his followers, comparing him to “someone’s crazy uncle.”

NBC’S SAVANNAH GUTHRIE TO PULL OUT AS HOST OF WINTER OLYMPICS OPENING CEREMONY AS MOTHER REMAINS MISSING

While the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and FBI continue to investigate Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, officials on Tuesday confirmed they are “aware” of reports of a possible ransom note.

“We are aware of reports circulating about possible ransom note(s) regarding the investigation into Nancy Guthrie,” the sheriff’s office wrote in a statement Tuesday afternoon. “Anything that comes in, goes directly to our detectives who are coordinating with the FBI.”

SAVANNAH GUTHRIE ASKS FOR PRAYER AS HER MOTHER REMAINS MISSING: ‘WE NEED YOU’

News outlets TMZ and KOLD 13 News announced on Tuesday they received unverified ransom notes demanding money for Nancy Guthrie’s return.

The note received by TMZ reportedly demanded millions in Bitcoin cryptocurrency, with the outlet verifying the Bitcoin address was “real.” 

TMZ said the letter, which was sent to authorities, included unreleased details about her disappearance and had a deadline.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

It is unclear if the notes received by TMZ and KOLD are identical.

Anyone with information on the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie is asked to call the tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI.

NBC did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. 

Fox News Digital’s Adam Sabes and Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.