How ransom notes could help catch Nancy Guthrie's kidnapper

Six months after Nancy Guthrie's abduction, police released two ransom notes in hopes of identifying her captors. The notes, which police deemed credible, demanded millions of dollars in Bitcoin and claimed Nancy died following her kidnapping. Linguistic analysis of the notes could potentially lead to a breakthrough in the case.

Forensic linguist William Eggington explained that each person has a unique language pattern, or "idiolect," that sets their writing apart. The first note, addressed to Savannah Guthrie's TV station, displayed passive voice and an "if-then" sentence structure, indicating a high-school or university education level. The second note, sent four days later, displayed dehumanizing language, suggesting the writer was not accepting responsibility for Nancy's death.

The repeated use of commas instead of periods in both notes also stands out as a distinctive feature. While investigators cannot confirm Nancy's cause of death, the consistent writing style across both notes could help build a profile of the kidnapper. Police consulted Nancy Guthrie's family before releasing the notes, and Savannah expressed hope that the ransom notes could lead to her mother's capture.

Despite the passage of six months, the distinct linguistic characteristics in the notes could still provide valuable leads in the investigation.