Savannah Guthrie marked six months since the disappearance of her mother, Nancy Guthrie, with a public appeal for information and for those responsible to come forward. Nancy Guthrie, 84, was last seen on the night of January 31 when she was dropped off at her Tucson, Arizona home by family members. Authorities estimate the abduction occurred between 1:47 a.m. and 2:28 a.m. on February 1.
The case has remained unresolved despite the release of two ransom notes by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. The notes were sent to news outlets shortly after Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance but were publicly released nearly six months later in an effort to generate new leads. Officials have not confirmed the authenticity of the notes but noted the distinctive language may be recognizable to someone familiar with the author.
The first ransom note, dated February 2, demanded $4 million in Bitcoin for Nancy Guthrie’s safe return, with a deadline of February 5. The demand would increase to $6 million if payment was not made by February 9. The note threatened that she would be killed if the ransom was not paid by the final deadline and included details about Nancy Guthrie’s home, such as a broken floodlight and a white smartwatch on the bedroom floor, which investigators believe support its potential authenticity.
However, a second note arriving on February 6, before the final ransom deadline, stated that Nancy Guthrie had died unexpectedly from a medical condition believed to be heart-related. The note expressed regret, saying the author never intended to harm her and that she had been buried "in nature." It also suggested that the outcome could not have been changed regardless of any actions taken by the family.
Savannah Guthrie has expressed belief that the ransom notes are likely genuine. While she has indicated she fears her mother may no longer be alive, she and her family remain focused on uncovering the truth about what happened to her. In the immediate aftermath of the disappearance, Guthrie and her siblings issued multiple videos pleading with the kidnappers to release Nancy Guthrie and offered to pay the ransom but requested proof that her mother was still alive.
In addition to public appeals, Savannah Guthrie announced a $1 million reward for information leading to her mother’s whereabouts, supplementing a $100,000 tip reward from the FBI. Local investigators have asked the public to consider whether they know of any individuals exhibiting changes in behavior, appearance, or unexplained injuries around the time of the abduction, or anyone who may have left the region abruptly.
The investigation remains active, but law enforcement officials have yet to identify or apprehend a suspect. Guthrie’s ongoing appeals highlight the family’s desperate desire for answers as the case reaches the half-year mark.