Savannah Guthrie, the television host, issued a desperate plea on Monday for anyone with information about her missing mother, Nancy Guthrie, to contact law enforcement as the search entered its ninth day. The 84-year-old was reportedly taken from her home near Tucson, Arizona, on the night of 31 January or early 1 February. Investigators have not identified any suspects or vehicles of interest, and the authenticity of a ransom note demanding $6m remains unconfirmed.
In a video shared on social media, Guthrie said: 'We believe our mom is still out there. We need your help. Law enforcement is working tirelessly, around the clock, trying to bring her home, trying to find her. She was taken and we don’t know where.' The family has stated they are willing to pay the ransom, but the FBI has said it is not aware of any continued communication with suspected kidnappers.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that investigators have searched Nancy Guthrie’s home multiple times, finding blood and signs of forced entry. Drone footage captured officers examining a septic tank, and a vehicle believed to be hers was towed away. The sheriff, Chris Nanos, has faced criticism for attending a basketball game on the same day the family released a second emotional plea, but he has defended the investigation, noting that a disconnected smart doorbell prevented retrieval of images.
Savannah Guthrie, who has hosted NBC’s Today show since 2012, has been absent from the programme since her mother’s disappearance. The family continues to urge the public to report anything unusual to law enforcement, saying: 'We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her.'
