Family releases new appeal in Nancy Guthrie case after ransom deadline passes
The family of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie, released a new video appeal after a ransom deadline passed without contact from whoever is holding her.
In the video, Cameron Guthrie, the eldest of her three children, asked whoever is holding his mother to contact the family and confirm that she is alive so communication can begin.
“Whoever is out there holding our mother, we want to hear from you,” Cameron said. “We need you to reach out and we need a way to communicate with you so we can move forward. But first we have to know that you have our mom, we want to talk to you and we are waiting for contact.”
The appeal came after a 5 p.m. deadline referenced in a ransom note passed without contact, which authorities said was the first of two deadlines included in the message. Investigators did not disclose the timing of the second deadline.
The FBI confirmed it is investigating ransom material sent to local and national media outlets, including a letter received by TMZ. The agency said the ransom letters did not include communication protocols or proof of life.
“We believe Nancy is still out there,” Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said at a press briefing earlier Thursday.
Investigators released a timeline detailing Guthrie’s last known movements. According to authorities, she traveled to a family member’s home at 5:32 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, and was dropped off at her residence at 9:48 p.m., when the garage door opened. The garage door closed at 9:50 p.m.
Early the next morning, at 1:47 a.m. Sunday, a doorbell camera disconnected. At 2:12 a.m., software registered a person on the camera, but no video was available because there was no subscription, authorities said. At 2:28 a.m., a pacemaker app showed Guthrie’s device disconnecting from her phone.
Family members checked on her at 11:56 a.m, followed by a 9-1-1 call at 12:03 p.m. and patrol arrival at 12:15 p.m., the sheriff’s office said.
Nanos said blood found on the porch was confirmed to belong to Guthrie. He said DNA testing was rushed on selected items but yielded limited results, and that additional evidence has been submitted for analysis.
The sheriff said authorities have not recovered the missing doorbell camera and are not confirming reports that any cameras were smashed or destroyed. He also said investigators spoke with an Uber driver after learning Guthrie had taken an Uber to a family residence for dinner earlier that evening.
The FBI announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to Guthrie’s recovery and the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance. The FBI’s Phoenix division said additional agents and analysts have been deployed, along with a critical response group from Quantico, Virginia, and a cellular analysis team.
The FBI said a separate impostor ransom demand led to an arrest early Thursday and is not believed to be connected to Guthrie’s case.
Guthrie’s daughter, NBC “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie, issued a public appeal Wednesday night, asking whoever is holding her mother to provide proof she is alive and warning that she depends on medication for her health.
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
