How ransom notes could help catch Nancy Guthrie's kidnapper
Police have released two ransom notes related to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie in hopes that forensic linguistics can help identify the kidnappers. Experts suggest that the unique linguistic patterns in the notes may provide clues, though they caution that the writer might be attempting to disguise their voice.
Why it matters
This case demonstrates the application of forensic linguistics as a tool in criminal investigations to identify suspects through written communication.
Image source, NBC via Getty Images By Grace Eliza Goodwin and Sareen Habeshian Published 2 hours ago On Friday, exactly six months after Nancy Guthrie was abducted, police released two ransom notes in the hope that they would help identify her kidnappers.
Guthrie, the mother of US news presenter Savannah Guthrie, was 84 when she went missing from her Arizona home in January.
Her disappearance sparked a months-long investigation which has turned up few apparent leads and fewer suspects.
So how could Nancy Guthrie's kidnapper, or kidnappers, be caught from these brief ransom notes?
The first of the notes, which are being treated as apparently credible, demanded millions of dollars in Bitcoin. The other claimed Guthrie died shortly after she was taken.
While the language in the notes might seem straightforward, police said the writer's "distinct linguistic characteristics" may be recognisable.
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