The search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC’s “Today” show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, entered its sixth day on Saturday, , as authorities continued to investigate her disappearance from her home near Tucson, Arizona. The case has taken a troubling turn with the emergence of ransom demands and the confirmation that blood found at the scene belongs to the missing woman.
Savannah Guthrie, accompanied by her siblings, released a video statement on Saturday appealing to potential kidnappers, stating the family is prepared to pay for their mother’s safe return. “We received your message, and we understand. We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her,” Guthrie said. “Here’s the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay.” The statement was a direct response to a message received by KOLD, a Tucson-based television station, on Friday afternoon, according to Kevin Smith, a spokesperson for the FBI’s Phoenix office.
KOLD reported receiving an email related to the case via social media but has refrained from disclosing specific details while the FBI conducts its review. Multiple media outlets have reportedly received ransom notes throughout the week, with at least one demanding a payment in Bitcoin and setting deadlines for its delivery – Thursday evening and the following Monday evening.
During a press conference on Thursday, law enforcement officials acknowledged the receipt of the notes but declined to confirm their credibility, stating that all leads are being thoroughly investigated. Officials also noted that one of the notes referenced Nancy Guthrie’s Apple watch and a specific feature of her property, suggesting a level of detailed knowledge about her life and surroundings.
Investigators believe Nancy Guthrie was taken against her will from her home in the Catalina Foothills area sometime between late Saturday, , and early Sunday, . DNA analysis confirmed that blood discovered on her front porch matched her own, according to Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos. As of Saturday, no suspects had been identified, and the investigation remained ongoing.
A significant frustration for investigators has been the inability to retrieve images from the home’s doorbell camera. The camera was disconnected early Sunday morning, and subsequent software data indicated movement on the property minutes later. However, Nancy Guthrie did not have an active subscription to the camera’s video storage service, meaning no footage was recorded. “It is concerning, it’s actually almost disappointing, because you’ve got your hopes up,” Sheriff Nanos told the Associated Press. “OK, they got an image. ‘Well, we do, but we don’t.’”
The FBI has joined the investigation and is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to Nancy Guthrie’s safe return. Authorities have received “hundreds of leads” but have yet to identify any persons of interest.
Adding to the urgency of the situation is concern for Nancy Guthrie’s health. Authorities have stated she requires daily medication and that her condition is likely deteriorating with each passing day. She is known to have a pacemaker and has a history of high blood pressure and heart issues, according to dispatch audio obtained from broadcastify.com. “Her conditions, I would imagine, are worsening day by day,” Sheriff Nanos said. “She requires medication. And I have no way of knowing whether they’re getting that medication to her.”
Law enforcement personnel were back at Nancy Guthrie’s neighborhood on Friday, restricting access to the road in front of her home to facilitate the investigation. The Catalina Foothills Association informed residents that authorities were resuming searches in the area and expressed appreciation for their cooperation in sharing camera footage and allowing access to their properties.
The timeline of events, as established by authorities, indicates that Nancy Guthrie left her home in an Uber at on Saturday, , to visit family for dinner and games. She returned home at approximately , with the garage door opening and closing within two minutes. The following day, Sunday, , her doorbell camera was disconnected at , and software detected a person on camera at , although no video was available. Her pacemaker app also disconnected from her phone at .
U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking on Air Force One on Friday, stated that the investigation was progressing “very well” and that authorities had “some clues that I think are very strong” and “some things that may be coming out reasonably soon.”
