Donald Trump has said he hopes Nancy Guthrie is found after a ransom note allegedly from her kidnappers claimed she died shortly after being taken. The 84-year-old mother of NBC presenter Savannah Guthrie was kidnapped from her home in Arizona on February 1 and remains missing.
Trump's Statement on the Case
Speaking to the media, Trump said: 'I hope they find her. I mean, Savannah's gone through a rough — that family's gone through hell. I hope they find her.' He previously vowed in February to direct the Justice Department to seek the death penalty for those responsible if she was killed.
The president called Savannah to offer support and said he directed 'ALL Federal Law Enforcement to be at the family's, and Local Law Enforcement's, complete disposal, IMMEDIATELY. We are deploying all resources to get her mother home safely.' He also stated that the consequences for the kidnappers would be 'very, very severe — the most severe' if they killed the older Guthrie.
Ransom Note Details
A series of ransom notes were discovered in a new investigation. The first note, demanding $4 million (approximately £3 million) in Bitcoin by a February 5 deadline — after which the amount would rise to $6 million (approximately £4.5 million) — was forwarded to the Pima County Sheriff after being sent to TMZ and other media outlets. Investigators found the message credible due to accurate details, including a description of Nancy's clothes and a broken light at her home.
The alleged note claimed that Nancy died soon after she was taken. However, a previous note described her as 'safe but scared.' Investigators reportedly sent a far smaller sum — $152 — in an attempt to track the money.
Timeline of Events
Nancy Guthrie was last seen by her son-in-law on January 31 after dinner. She failed to attend church on February 1 and was reported missing. The sheriff stated they believe she did not leave her home willingly. Surveillance footage showed a gloved and masked man approaching the house at 1:47 a.m. on February 1, after which the doorbell cam was disconnected.
Savannah Guthrie and her siblings released an emotional video on February 7 pleading for their mother's return, offering a $1 million reward for information. A person was detained on February 10 but released the next day.
Savannah Guthrie's Emotional Plea
While discussing the case live on air, Savannah broke down in tears and begged viewers to help. 'I love you guys, and I love this place,' she said. 'This is unusual and unprecedented — to say the least — to be sitting here. But I can't pretend I'm not here. And so since I am, I wanted to just take the opportunity to ask people, really to beg people, to come forward. Somebody knows something.'
No suspects have been named by police, who are focusing on the ransom notes. Trump said on Friday that he thinks 'progress has been made' in the investigation.
