TUCSON, Ariz. — More than two months after 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie vanished from her Catalina Foothills home, new ransom-style notes sent to TMZ claim the mother of “Today” show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie is dead and offer information on her body and kidnappers in exchange for Bitcoin, prompting the FBI to investigate the latest communications in a case that has gripped the nation.
Nancy Guthrie
The notes arrived Monday, the same day Savannah Guthrie returned to the “Today” show anchor desk for the first time since her mother’s disappearance, according to TMZ founder Harvey Levin. One message allegedly stated the sender knows “where her body is and who the kidnapper is” and demanded half a Bitcoin — roughly $34,000 at current values — upfront, with the remainder to be paid after a public arrest. A second note claimed the writer last saw Nancy Guthrie alive in Sonora, Mexico, near the Arizona border.
TMZ said it immediately alerted the FBI. Authorities have not confirmed the authenticity of the latest notes, but the development adds to a string of purported ransom demands that have emerged since early February.
Nancy Guthrie was last seen around 9:45 p.m. on Jan. 31 at her adobe home nestled among mesquite trees and saguaros in an upscale neighborhood outside Tucson. She failed to appear the next morning for an online church service with friends, prompting her daughter Annie to check on her. Blood was found near the doorstep, and evidence indicated she had been taken against her will, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said. She was reported missing Feb. 1.
Investigators believe she was abducted in the middle of the night, possibly while in her pajamas and without shoes. “She couldn’t walk 50 yards by herself,” Nanos has repeatedly stated, ruling out the possibility that the medically fragile woman with a pacemaker wandered off voluntarily. The FBI quickly joined the probe, citing its suspicious nature.
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Doorbell camera footage released by authorities showed a masked, armed individual at Guthrie’s doorstep on the night of the disappearance. Additional images from Jan. 11 — three weeks earlier — captured a similar masked figure, raising questions about whether the abduction was targeted and planned.
Savannah Guthrie, 54, has described the family’s anguish in emotional interviews. In her first television appearance since the abduction, she told co-host Hoda Kotb she believes the initial ransom notes the family received and responded to were likely authentic. She has blamed herself at times, noting the home was her childhood residence and expressing regret over not being there more often. The family offered a $1 million reward for information leading to her mother’s return or the arrest of those responsible.
Sheriff Nanos has said authorities believe they know the motive and that the kidnapping was likely targeted, though he stopped short of providing details to protect the investigation. He cleared all Guthrie family members, including Savannah and her siblings and their spouses, as suspects early on, calling them “victims in this case” who have been fully cooperative.
Despite an intense search involving federal agents, local deputies, volunteers and thousands of tips, no arrests have been made and Nancy Guthrie has not been found. DNA evidence recovered at the scene, including from a glove, has not yielded a breakthrough; one sample matched an unrelated restaurant worker. Other leads, including surveillance footage reviewed from the area, produced no significant suspects.
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Earlier ransom notes and communications have added to the mystery. Some demanded large sums, while others offered information for cryptocurrency. The FBI has treated certain initial notes as potentially credible, though many tips have led to dead ends. A person previously detained with his mother in a SWAT raid near the home was released without charges and has publicly denied any involvement.
As the case enters its third month — now more than 67 days since she was last seen — experts say the passage of time complicates the investigation. Retired FBI agents and private investigators have noted that elderly victims with medical needs face heightened risks, and some have speculated that a medical emergency could have altered the kidnappers’ plans if the abduction was intended for ransom.
Pima County Sheriff’s officials and the FBI continue to describe the case as active, with forensic analysis ongoing. Tips have slowed, but authorities urge anyone with information to come forward. Neighbors were previously asked to share security footage from the weeks surrounding the disappearance.
Savannah Guthrie returned to “Today” on April 6, appearing stoic during the morning broadcast alongside Craig Melvin before becoming emotional greeting supporters on the plaza who wore yellow ribbons in honor of her mother. “It’s good to be home,” she said simply at the top of the show. She has split time between New York and Tucson in recent weeks while remaining involved in the search.
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The case has drawn intense media attention, in part because of Savannah Guthrie’s prominence as a beloved television journalist. It has also highlighted the vulnerabilities of elderly residents living alone, even in seemingly safe neighborhoods. Some analysts have pointed to possible early investigative missteps, including an initial assumption by some responders that Nancy Guthrie might have simply wandered away, though officials have pushed back on claims of major errors.
Speculation has ranged widely online and in cable news panels, from theories of a botched ransom plot to questions about whether the perpetrator knew the home’s layout or was interrupted by a neighbor’s dog. No theory has been confirmed.
Nanos warned in March that the unknown suspect could strike again, urging vigilance in the community. He has expressed frustration with armchair detectives and false tips that have revictimized the family.
As of Thursday, no new official updates had been released by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department or FBI beyond the TMZ-reported notes. The latest communications have reignited public interest, with many questioning whether they represent a genuine lead or another cruel hoax targeting a grieving family.
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Nancy Guthrie, a mother of three and grandmother, was described by family as vibrant and faithful despite her health challenges. Friends and relatives have continued holding vigils and sharing memories, clinging to hope even as grim possibilities mount.
The FBI and local authorities have asked the public to report any information, no matter how small, to a dedicated tip line. The $1 million family reward remains active for credible information leading to resolution of the case.
For now, the search for Nancy Guthrie continues in the Arizona desert and beyond, with investigators chasing every lead while her daughter balances public duty with private heartbreak. The new notes claiming her death have only deepened the anguish for a family and a nation still waiting for answers in one of the most puzzling abduction cases in recent memory.
Research from Knight Frank shows a rise in the first quarter compared to 2025, but with take up down on the previous quarter
15:49, 09 Apr 2026Updated 16:10, 09 Apr 2026
Computer generated image of the next phase of development at Indurent Park Newport.
Take up of large industrial space in Wales reached 344,882 sq ft in the first quarter of this year, shows new research from global property consultant Knight Frank.
The take up was around 50,000 sq ft higher than the same period last year, but down from the 675,000 sq ft achieved in the final quarter of 2025. Large units are defined as being more than 50,000 sq ft.
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Neil Francis, head of the Knight Frank’s industrial team based in Cardiff, said: ”The take up comprised two lettings and two sales, with the largest deal being the sale of the 111,000 sq ft former Liberty Steel facility in Tredegar which was sold to an existing South Wales based manufacturer which is going to use it for a second facility in the region.”
The second sale was the disposal of unit one at Hirwaun Industrial Estate to Welsh Government. The Cardiff Bay administration acquired a surplus distribution unit from Christmas cracker to stationery business IG Design Group in Hirwaun for £3.15m. It now plans to invest an additional sum of just over £6m to upgrade the building which spans 97,300 sq ft and includes six acres of development land. This will create new modern industrial space that will be marketed to attract inward investment as well as aiding local firms in their expansion.
Mr Francis said: “A similar project has been undertaken at 120,000 sq ft in Tredegar by local investor Gevrey who acquired last year and have overclad the roof and refurbished internally. At the moment 60,000 sq ft is under offer and the remainder available to let.”
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According to the Knight Frank research availability of industrial stock in Wales now stands at 4.6 million sq ft – compared to 3.7 million sq ft at the end of 2025. The increase was impacted by the return to the market of the 900,000 sq ft former Wilko facility in Magor. It is understood that the property has been earmarked for a major data centre investment.
Mr Francis added: “Positively, we are finally seeing new build coming out of the ground with Indurent leading the way with 350,000 sq ft under construction at Indurent Park in Newport, offering units from 45,000 to 115,000 sq ft.
“This new space will start becoming available from Q4 2026 and there is good early interest. Once secured, the quoting rents will set new headlines in the region.”
Knight Frank said a 85,000 sq ft high-bay warehouse project at Blackwood Business Park in Caerphilly is close to completion.
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Mr Francis added: “The market can currently best be described as inconsistent, with the general levels of activity being better than the take up figures suggest. And with over 800,000 sq ft of space currently under offer to occupiers, Q2 will be a significant quarter for the market if legals progress successfully.”
A Detroit coalition is rolling out cash incentives of up to $15,000 to attract new residents and retain current ones, as part of a broader push to spur economic growth in the city.
The program, dubbed “Make Detroit Home,” will award more than $500,000 in benefits to over 300 participants, according to the MoveDetroit coalition, which launched the program. These include entrepreneurs, creatives, and small business owners, as well as current residents, former Detroiters and newcomers willing to relocate.
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The initiative offers stipends of up to $15,000 to help cover home down payments, renovations, rent or business expenses, according to Realtor.com.
Additional applicants may qualify for $1,000 grants to offset moving costs, security deposits and expenses such as gym memberships or meal services.
An aerial view of downtown Detroit, Michigan. (iStock / iStock)
“This stipend is a clear signal that Detroit is serious about competing for residents and the data backs up why it’s an attractive proposition,” Hannah Jones, Realtor.com senior economic research analyst, told FOX Business in an email.
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“Detroit consistently ranks among the most affordable major metros in the country, where a $15,000 incentive can realistically cover a down payment or fund a meaningful renovation, rather than barely scratching the surface as it might in higher-cost markets.”
Jones added that pairing that purchasing power with the city’s growing momentum could help drive “household formation and long-term market stability.”
Billionaire businessman Dan Gilbert talks during a press conference on May 21, 2019, in Independence, Ohio. (Jason Miller/Getty Images)
The “Make Detroit Home” initiative marks the first major effort from the MoveDetroit coalition, a nonprofit launched last month with backing from local organizations and the mayor’s office.
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Billionaire businessman and Rocket Mortgage founder Dan Gilbert is the honorary chair of the group.
“For too long, we’ve been educating some of the most talented young people in the country, only to watch them leave to places like New York City, Atlanta, California, Seattle, Miami, and elsewhere,” Gilbert said. “At our largest universities, we are losing nearly half our graduates. But today, we’re flipping that equation.”
Gilbert pointed to Detroit’s growing roster of major employers, including Google and Fifth Third Bank, as part of the city’s appeal.
Google office building in Detroit, Michigan on Sept. 27, 2019. (Raymond Boyd/Getty Images)
The initiative is privately funded, with MoveDetroit aiming to raise $10 million this year. Gilbert has pledged to match every dollar raised, according to Realtor.com.
“Detroit is a place where you build, grow, and win,” Gilbert said. “This city has the grit and assets to compete with anywhere in the country for talent. People are choosing Detroit for its culture, energy and opportunity. MoveDetroit is about numerous organizations coming together to double down, ensuring that Detroit accelerates its growth even further.”
The brief sigh of relief across global markets lasted barely a day. Brent crude climbed sharply back towards $100 a barrel on Thursday after Iran moved to close the Strait of Hormuz, sending a clear signal that the fragile Middle East ceasefire was already fracturing.
The benchmark was trading at $98.61 a barrel in early afternoon dealing, a rise of 4 per cent, having fallen as much as 16 per cent the previous day to below $91 on optimism that a two-week pause in hostilities might pave the way for a lasting peace. That optimism now looks badly misplaced.
Iran’s decision to shut the strait, through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and gas passes, came in direct response to Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, which Tehran condemned as a breach of the ceasefire agreement. It is a move that strikes at the heart of global energy security and one that will alarm policymakers and business leaders in equal measure.
Sultan Al Jaber, chief executive of Abu Dhabi’s state oil company Adnoc, did not mince his words. He made clear that Iran was using passage through the waterway as a tool of political leverage rather than respecting freedom of navigation, a distinction that matters enormously for businesses dependent on uninterrupted supply chains.
Nigel Green, chief executive of the financial advisory group deVere, echoed those concerns, pointing out that a fifth of the world’s oil supply continues to move through a corridor effectively controlled by one of the belligerents. For SMEs already grappling with elevated energy costs, it is a deeply uncomfortable position.
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Stock markets reflected the souring mood. The FTSE 100, which had enjoyed its strongest single session since April 2025 with a 2.5 per cent gain on Wednesday, gave back 0.2 per cent to trade at 10,585. On the continent, Germany’s DAX shed 1.4 per cent and France’s CAC 40 fell 0.7 per cent. Across Asia, Japan’s Nikkei, South Korea’s Kospi and China’s SSE Composite all closed lower.
Wall Street, which had rallied sharply overnight with the S&P 500 up 2.5 per cent and the Dow Jones gaining nearly 3 per cent, was expected to open in the red.
President Trump weighed in on social media, confirming that American forces would remain deployed in the Gulf until an agreement was both reached and honoured, warning of severe consequences should it not be.
Meanwhile, Israel intensified its military campaign in Lebanon with its heaviest strikes since the conflict with the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia escalated last month, with more than 250 reported killed.
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For British businesses, particularly those in manufacturing, logistics and any sector exposed to energy pricing, the message is stark. The ceasefire may have offered a momentary respite, but the underlying volatility in the Middle East, and its direct bearing on the cost of doing business, is far from resolved. With Brent hovering just shy of triple figures, boardrooms across the country will be revisiting their hedging strategies and bracing for what could be a prolonged period of uncertainty.
Jamie Young
Jamie is Senior Reporter at Business Matters, bringing over a decade of experience in UK SME business reporting.
Jamie holds a degree in Business Administration and regularly participates in industry conferences and workshops.
When not reporting on the latest business developments, Jamie is passionate about mentoring up-and-coming journalists and entrepreneurs to inspire the next generation of business leaders.
The Acquirers Funds founder and managing director Tobias Carlisle discusses retail sales on Making Money.
This story about the fourth-quarter GDP report is developing and will be updated with more details.
The U.S. economy grew at a slightly slower pace than expected in the fourth quarter, according to the Commerce Department’s estimate.
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The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) on Thursday released its final reading of fourth-quarter GDP, which showed the economy grew at an annualized rate of 0.5% in the three-month period including October, November and December.
Shipping containers are organized at the Houston Port of Authority on Feb. 10, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
Federal Reserve Bank of New York President John Williams discusses market impacts of the Iran War, inflation outlook and more on ‘The Claman Countdown.’
Americans are facing a tale of two grocery lists.
While some prices are cooling, the items families rely on most for energy and nutrition — meat and coffee — are seeing sharp increases that wipe out any savings in the bread aisle.
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Fourteen of the 25 most common grocery store staples rose in price from February 2024 to February 2026, with the top five largest increases coming from coffee (+55%), lettuce (+39%), ground beef (+31%), sirloin steak (+21%) and orange juice (+15%), according to a new report from CouponFollow that analyzed Consumer Price Index (CPI) data from the past two years.
Coffee was the fastest-rising staple in the study, with a pound of ground roast costing $6.09 in 2024 compared to $9.46 in 2026. Going back to 2020, coffee prices have reportedly increased 123%.
Ground beef has hit $6.74 per pound, a 31% increase from 2024 and 74% above pre-pandemic levels.
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Customers shop for beef at a grocery store on April 6, 2026, in Los Angeles, California. (Getty Images)
With ground beef prices in mind, CouponFollow ran a “taco night test,” tracking specific meal scenarios to show how inflation affects consumers. A family of four is paying nearly $25 just for basic taco ingredients, compared to just $17.50 six years ago.
If you can live on eggs and toast, your bill might be lower than it was two years ago, with egg prices decreasing the most (-17%), followed by white bread (-8%), spaghetti (-8%) and butter (-7%).
Still, the report warns that “the items still climbing are rising fast enough to offset those declines.”
‘The Big Money Show’ discusses the growing trend of young adults getting financial help from their parents.
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“Grocery inflation isn’t going away overnight, but small changes to how and where you shop can add up fast. Paying attention to which categories are rising and which are cooling, stocking up on pantry staples when prices dip, and being flexible with pricier proteins are all easy ways to stretch your grocery budget a little further,” CouponFollow notes. “Stacking those habits with coupons and deals can make an even bigger dent in your weekly bill.”
Economic experts have also recently cautioned that high oil prices due to the Iran war are pushing gasoline prices higher, and that could lead to grocery bills rising for American consumers.
The increase in oil, gas and diesel prices raises transportation costs for businesses, including grocery stores, which may face pressure to raise food prices and other items if the situation continues.
Federal Reserve Board Gov. Michelle Bowman discusses where interest rates are going and the job market performance on ‘Maria Bartiromo’s Wall Street.’
“Every time something moves in the economy, it will cost more,” said Derek Reisfield, co-founder of MarketWatch and a former McKinsey consultant. “Someone, usually the end consumer, will have to pay for that.”
Gregory Daco, chief economist at EY-Parthenon, previously told FOX Business: “For U.S. consumers, what this means is that while there is currently a price shock at the pump being felt directly by consumers, there’s still uncertainty as to how long this shock will last.”
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