Pima County Sheriff Warns of QR Code Scam in Nancy Guthrie Case After 164 Days

Q: Kidnappers apologized after their victim died. What does this bizarre note reveal about their identity and motive?

The apology note most likely points to the real abductors and suggests the kidnapping began as a ransom scheme that unraveled after Nancy Guthrie died. Investigators and outside analysts say the key detail is that the second message — the one claiming Guthrie had died and expressing regret — reportedly came from the same electronic source as the original ransom demand. That strengthens the case that it was not a hoaxer but someone directly involved in the abduction, with knowledge of the crime and of Guthrie’s fate. The first note’s demand for millions in bitcoin also makes the original motive appear plainly financial. What is unusual is the apology itself. Rather than sounding like a typical ransom communication, it reads more like an attempt to explain away a failed crime. The working theory, reflected in the TMZ report citing an FBI source, is that the kidnappers panicked after Guthrie died, abandoned their money demands, and tried to recast the death as unintended. Former FBI officials have said such a message can serve a self-protective purpose: shaping the narrative in case the suspects are later identified, and potentially supporting a claim that the death was accidental rather than intentional. That does not prove the note is truthful about how she died. It does, however, suggest consciousness of guilt, a financial motive at the outset, and a sudden shift from extortion to damage control once the plan collapsed.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 14

Pima County Sheriff's Department said scammers are circulating posts about Nancy Guthrie's disappearance that include QR codes seeking money, and stressed it will never request payment in this or any investigation.
The agency urged people not to send money or scan payment codes from unknown sources, and to report any such posts tied to the case.
Nancy Guthrie, 84, has been missing from her Tucson home since late January, with investigators treating the case as an apparent abduction and Sheriff Chris Nanos saying no new suspects are being pursued.
Savannah Guthrie renewed her public plea in late June for tips after reports that a ransom note told the family her mother was dead; authorities are still seeking calls, anonymous tips and digital footage.