By: Serena Edwards
Nancy Guthrie was last seen by relatives and friends on Jan. 31. The mother of Today Show host Savannah Guthrie was not present for her virtual church service, prompting an immediate home visit from family that confirmed her disappearance.
Guthrie, 84, wears a pacemaker and takes prescribed medication to aid her health.
During the first week, multiple news organizations were given a suspected ransom letter. According to NBC, “A ransom note is sent to media outlets, including a local Tucson television station.”
On Feb. 3, there was blood found on Nancy Guthrie’s front porch, which was later confirmed to be hers.
In an Instagram video, the Guthrie children state they have also received a ransom letter with two deadlines given for Feb. 5 and Feb. 9. However, due to the rise in AI, they held suspicion of the authenticity of the letter and asked for them to authenticate and show “proof of life”.
“As a family, we are doing everything we can. We are ready to talk […] We need to know without a doubt that she is alive, and that you have her. We want to hear from you, and we are ready to listen. Please reach out to us,” stated Savannah Guthrie.
In the second Instagram video, Guthrie’s son, Camryn Guthrie, makes a video asking for a way to stay in contact with the suspect holding their mom. “I am speaking for the Guthrie family, whoever is out there holding our mother, we want to hear from you […] we need a way to communicate with you so we can move forward.”
On Feb. 6, Arizona news station KOLD received another ransom letter. To which the Guthrie’s children released a following Instagram video expressing that they are willing to pay for the safe return of their mother.
“She lives in constant pain. She is without any medicine. She needs it to survive, and she needs it not to suffer,” stated Savannah Guthrie.
On Feb.9, Guthrie’s daughter, Savannah Guthrie, posted an Instagram video asking for help. “We are at an hour of desperation […]”, stated Guthrie.
In a press statement on X from the Phoenix FBI, “numerous FBI agents are conducting an extensive search along multiple roadways in the Catalina Foothills area related to the Nancy Guthrie investigation.”
On Feb. 10, footage was released from Guthrie’s ring camera depicting a man wearing a ski mask fiddling with the camera.
Since then, they detained a suspect who was later released due to being wrongfully detained. According to NBC, he was stopped while driving and was detained and questioned because officers thought his eyes matched those seen in the doorcam footage released by the FBI.
The investigation is still active, and Guthrie’s children hold on to the hope of being reunited with their mother one day.