(NewsNation) — A ransom note in the Nancy Guthrie case said that she had died and was buried, sources close to the investigation told NewsNation’s Brian Entin.

According to the source, the note indicated that Guthrie’s death was unintentional and said that she was “buried with nature now.”

A report from AirMail said that the note had apologized for killing the 84-year-old mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie. However, the source familiar with the investigation said that it did not offer a direct apology. AirMail reported that the email, sent from the same IP address as an earlier note, included details about the night Guthrie disappeared.

Investigators believe Guthrie was abducted from her Arizona home in the early hours of Feb. 1, 2026.

Nancy Guthrie case: Multiple ransom notes

Early in the case, multiple ransom notes were sent to media outlets, including two emails in early February that TMZ said were verified by the FBI as legitimate.

The writer requested a bitcoin ransom of $4 million and spelled out the terms to exchange Nancy Guthrie for the money.

Many of the ransom notes in the Guthrie case were fake, according to authorities, but the Guthrie family did respond to the two notes they believed were legitimate.

According to the AirMail report, the Feb. 6 note included the suggestion that her body could be returned for a ransom.

Two ransom deadlines passed in the case with no exchange, and Guthrie remains missing months later. Authorities have not released the names of any suspects in the case and continue to go through thousands of tips.

In the post denying any mention of Guthrie’s death in a ransom note, TMZ brought up a separate series of emails it received.

The outlet noted that those emails were from someone who claimed to have information on the case but who was not the kidnapper.

Nancy Guthrie ransom note suggests she is dead

One of those notes included the phrase “time is no longer of the essence,” which could be read as a suggestion Guthrie is dead.

TMZ said that it has reached out to the FBI regarding those emails, which it believes are legitimate. The company said it was hoping to do a documentary and asked the FBI how the agency would feel if TMZ paid the bitcoin ransom to see where it led.

The FBI said the email was “interesting,” according to TMZ, but did not follow up on the ransom request.