Savannah Guthrie asks for tips in search for missing mother
The Today co-host appealed to viewers after reports described ransom notes tied to her 84-year-old mother’s disappearance in Arizona.
By Sofia Marchetti · World Affairs Correspondent
3 min read
Savannah Guthrie appealed publicly Tuesday for information about her missing mother, Nancy Guthrie, as the Arizona case remains unsolved nearly five months after she disappeared. The Associated Press reported that the plea came after news outlets described ransom notes allegedly tied to the case, including one saying the 84-year-old had died.
Speaking from the Today show desk in New York, Guthrie said her family was in anguish and asked anyone with information to contact authorities, according to the AP. She said she was not involved in NBC News’ coverage of the case but wanted to use the moment to urge people to come forward.
Nancy Guthrie, who lived alone, was reported missing Feb. 1 from her home in the Tucson area, the AP reported. More than a week later, the FBI released video from a camera outside her front door that showed a masked person, and investigators found blood on her porch, according to the AP.
Authorities have not announced an arrest or said the case has been solved. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department directed questions about the ransom notes to the FBI, and the FBI declined to comment, the AP reported.
Reports cite ransom notes
Some news organizations previously said they had received ransom notes soon after Nancy Guthrie vanished, but they did not publish details while the investigation was in an early stage, according to the AP. Guthrie’s family knew about the notes, the AP reported.
KOLD, a Tucson television station, reported Monday that it received two notes. According to KOLD, one sought millions of dollars in Bitcoin for Nancy Guthrie’s return, while another said she had died.
CNN separately reported details from the notes, citing law enforcement sources. According to CNN’s account, one note said the people who kidnapped Nancy Guthrie had not intended to kill her, but that she died shortly after she went missing.
The AP reported that investigators have not publicly confirmed those details. The case remains open, and officials have not reported finding Nancy Guthrie.
Searches continue without a reported discovery
Search teams and volunteers spent weeks combing desert areas near where Nancy Guthrie disappeared, the AP reported. The terrain included cactus, brush and boulders.
A group also recently searched near the Arizona-Mexico border but did not report finding her, according to the AP. Earlier in the case, Savannah Guthrie and her siblings appeared in social media videos asking the public to share tips and prayers, the AP reported.
Tom Morrissey, a retired chief U.S. marshal in Arizona who is not part of the investigation, told the AP that authorities may release details of a ransom note if they think doing so could help identify a suspect. He said investigators often withhold specific claims, including whether a missing person has died, to avoid harming an active inquiry.
Bob Krygier, who retired in January as a lieutenant with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, told the AP that law enforcement generally should not say a missing person has died unless a body has been recovered or years have passed. He said speculative public statements can damage investigators’ credibility.
This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.