New Nancy Guthrie ransom message ruled not credible by investigators
On September 28, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and FBI task force reviewed a possible ransom message linked to Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance and determined it was not credible. Authorities urged recipients to report related communications and avoid sending money or personal information.
By DoomRadar · Published on DoomRadar . Updated .
Based on two sources with available article excerpts. Source-linked claims are not independent confirmation.
Event date: Investigators were alerted to the possible ransom text on September 28, 2026; the sheriff’s department announced its assessment on September 29. [1][2]
What happened
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department said its joint task force and the FBI were alerted on September 28 to a possible ransom text connected to Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance. After reviewing it, investigators determined the message was not credible to the investigation. [1][2]
References for this detail (2)
- Authorities rule out new ransom note as not credible in the Nancy Guthrie case. Here's the latest - WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sportswsvn.com · Article published: Sep 29, 2026, 7:49 PM UTC
- Nancy Guthrie case: New ransom text message is not credible, sheriff saysfox13seattle.com · Article published: Sep 29, 2026, 7:19 PM UTC
The announcement concerns a new message, not the earlier ransom demand mentioned in coverage of the case. Authorities had previously said the family received a ransom note demanding millions of dollars, but the new message was rejected after review. [1]
References for this detail (1)
- Authorities rule out new ransom note as not credible in the Nancy Guthrie case. Here's the latest - WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sportswsvn.com · Article published: Sep 29, 2026, 7:49 PM UTC
The sheriff’s department said investigators were also aware of social-media comments about the message and were examining the information related to its credibility. The excerpts do not identify who sent the text or explain its specific contents. [2]
References for this detail (1)
- Nancy Guthrie case: New ransom text message is not credible, sheriff saysfox13seattle.com · Article published: Sep 29, 2026, 7:19 PM UTC
The department urged anyone receiving a text or other communication related to Guthrie’s disappearance to report it to law enforcement. It also warned that scammers may try to exploit the case and advised against sending money or sharing personal information. [2]
References for this detail (1)
- Nancy Guthrie case: New ransom text message is not credible, sheriff saysfox13seattle.com · Article published: Sep 29, 2026, 7:19 PM UTC
Context from the sources
The investigation had already included the discovery of human remains in the Tucson desert in August, about 15 miles from where Guthrie was believed to have been abducted. The excerpts do not establish whether the remains were identified or connected to her disappearance. [1]
Explore the sources and reporting timeline
2 source links · 2 domains
These counts describe the references, not independent confirmations. Different outlets can repeat the same original report.
Source timeline
Oldest to newest among the available source dates, not a chronology of the incident. Article publication dates come from the source; other recorded dates may reflect when a link was found.
- [2] Nancy Guthrie case: New ransom text message is not credible, sheriff saysfox13seattle.comReferenced for: detail 1, detail 3, detail 4
- [1] Authorities rule out new ransom note as not credible in the Nancy Guthrie case. Here's the latest - WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sportswsvn.comReferenced for: detail 1, detail 2
Questions answered by the reporting
What should people do if they receive a message about the case?
The sheriff’s department said to report it to law enforcement and not send money or provide personal information in response to unsolicited messages. [2]
What this could mean for you
People connected to the case could face fraudulent demands for money or personal information.
Scammers may use public attention around the disappearance to make unsolicited communications appear credible.
Reported basis: [2] · The possible effect is interpretation.
Depends on: A recipient acts on an unverified message instead of reporting it to law enforcement.
Possible consequences, not a forecast. Their relevance depends on your location and the conditions above.
For your country
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What changes the outlook
Risk increases if…
Additional fraudulent messages or social-media claims could increase pressure on the family and investigators.
Recipients could send money or personal information in response to an unsolicited communication.
Pressure eases if…
Further verification by investigators could identify and discount additional false messages.
Prompt reporting of communications could help authorities assess whether they contain genuine leads.
Still unclear
The identity of the sender and the contents of the rejected message are not stated.
The excerpts do not establish whether the new message produced any investigative lead or whether the human remains were connected to Guthrie.
Market implications
Market impact
Sources (2)
References for the reported details. Separate links do not necessarily mean independent confirmation.
Available excerpt
Tucson, Arizona (CNN) — Months into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, with no main suspect or person of interest named, authorities say they investigated a…A short excerpt from our source record; open the original for the full article.
Available excerpt
TUCSON, Ariz. - A new possible ransom text message in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie is not credible, the Pima County Sheriff's Department said. On…A short excerpt from our source record; open the original for the full article.
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