THE ALLEGED KIDNAPPER of a US television star\u2019s mother apologised as he told her family six days after her disappearance that she had died, according to a note released by police.<\/p>\n
Nancy Guthrie (84) vanished from her home in Arizona on the night of 1 February, and her body has never been found.<\/p>\n
Her daughter Savannah Guthrie, the popular anchor of NBC\u2019s the Today show, has repeatedly brought the case before the public, pleading for help.<\/p>\n
In a statement Friday, six months after the kidnapping, the Pima County Sheriff\u2019s Department said that the search for Guthrie is ongoing, and asked for public assistance as it released two purported ransom notes sent to a local television station on 2 February and 6 February.<\/p>\n
The first demands millions of dollars in Bitcoin for Guthrie\u2019s safe return and threatens to kill her if her family does not comply.<\/p>\n
The second informs the family that \u201cshe perished shortly after she was taken\u201d and \u201cis buried in nature now.\u201d<\/p>\n
The writer implies that Guthrie died of natural causes, taking her captors by surprise.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe did not fully grasp the seriousness of her physical condition\u2026We believe it was heart related,\u201d it says.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are truly sorry,\u201d the note adds, claiming that \u201cwe never intended to hurt her.\u201d<\/p>\n
The content of the notes was reported by US media in June, prompting another plea from her daughter for information on her mother\u2019s whereabouts.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease do the right thing for us, for our family, for our children, and we love our mom, and we\u2019ll never stop looking for her, never,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The kidnapping in Tucson, Arizona made headlines across the United States.<\/p>\n
Interest intensified when security camera footage released by authorities showed a masked, apparently armed man at the house, which lies in the desert suburbs of the city.<\/p>\n
US president Donald Trump said he had been following the case.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope they find her,\u201d he told reporters. \u201cThat family has gone through hell.\u201d<\/p>\n