A ransom note related to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie, has reportedly stated that the 84-year-old died shortly after her abduction. The note, received by media outlets, indicated that the kidnappers did not intend to kill her, according to law enforcement sources cited by CNN and other news organisations.
Nancy Guthrie vanished from her home in the foothills near Tucson, Arizona, in early February. Authorities believe she was taken against her will after blood was found near her front doorstep. The FBI has released surveillance footage showing a masked man on her porch the night of her disappearance.
Savannah Guthrie appeared on Today on Tuesday, pleading for information about her mother. She referenced a combined $1.1 million reward offered by her family and authorities for information leading to her mother's recovery and the conviction of suspects. “We are begging for your help,” she said, adding that her family is living in “agony” and “cannot be at peace” as long as her mother's fate is unknown.
Media outlets, including CNN and Tucson station KOLD, received ransom notes but agreed not to disclose their contents publicly to preserve the integrity of future communications with the kidnappers. The Pima County Sheriff's Department declined to comment on the note's contents, and the FBI did not respond to requests for comment.
Volunteers and search teams have scoured the desert terrain near Tucson, and a recent search near the Arizona-Mexico border did not yield any findings. Savannah Guthrie has vowed to continue searching for her mother, stating, “We love our mom, and we will never stop looking for her.”
