The family of "Today" show host Savannah Guthrie is "desperate" and "begging for help" in the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of her mother, Nancy Guthrie, who went missing from her home near Tucson, Arizona, on February 1.
Authorities released two ransom notes in connection with the case, hoping the distinctive writing style might prompt someone to come forward. The notes were initially sent to a Tucson television station days after the 84-year-old woman vanished. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department stated that the linguistic characteristics in the notes may be recognizable to someone familiar with the writer.
"We are begging for help. We are desperate. We need someone to come forward. Someone knows something. Someone suspects something. Someone recognizes the writing in the ransom demand notes," Savannah Guthrie wrote on Instagram, sharing a photo of her mother. She added, "Someone has noticed something different, strange, troubling or just unusual - perhaps with someone they deeply love... Perhaps they are afraid to come forward. Perhaps they are conflicted. Perhaps they are angry or upset for being in this situation. There is a way out - to tell what you know."
The first note, dated Feb. 2, stated that Nancy Guthrie was safe but scared and would be released unharmed in exchange for $4 million in cryptocurrency, with the ransom amount increasing if the initial demand was not met. It threatened her life if the ransom was not paid and stated, "Your mother is aware of this and her life is in your hands."
The second note, sent Feb. 6, claimed that Nancy Guthrie had died shortly after her abduction. "She is buried in nature now," the note read. "Nothing you could have done could have changed the outcome." It concluded with an apology: "We are truly sorry."
Saturday marks six months since Nancy Guthrie disappeared, and no suspects have been arrested. The investigation has faced numerous unanswered questions, including the number of individuals involved in the abduction and whether she was taken by someone known to her.
The sheriff's office also revealed that two videos recovered from Guthrie's doorbell camera suggest an unidentified male may have prepared the scene before the abduction. Authorities are seeking information regarding anyone exhibiting unusual behavior, altering their appearance, abruptly leaving the Tucson area, or showing an unexplained interest or disinterest in the case.
In 2026, the FBI released surveillance footage of a masked individual believed to have tampered with a camera on Nancy Guthrie's front porch, blocking it with a plant. The individual was described as a male approximately 5 feet, 9 inches tall. Investigators are continuing to explore all available leads, emphasizing the vital role of community members in providing answers for the family.