Authorities in Arizona have stated they believe Nancy Guthrie, the missing mother of NBC News anchor Savannah Guthrie, “is still out there,” despite the absence of a identified suspect five days after her disappearance.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos conveyed that investigators are operating under the assumption that the 84-year-old is alive and affirmed they will “continue thinking that way until we find her.”
The FBI has confirmed it is analyzing two ransom notes and reported the arrest of an individual connected to a fabricated note.
On Thursday evening, the Guthrie family released their second video message this week, appealing for their mother’s safe return.
“Whoever is out there holding our mother, we want to hear from you,” expressed her son, Cameron Guthrie.
“We need a way to communicate with you so we can move forward,” he elaborated.
“But first, we have to know that you have our mom, and we want to talk to you.”
Demanding proof of life is a standard practice in hostage and kidnapping negotiations.
At Thursday’s press briefing, FBI Special Agent Heith Janke announced that the agency is examining a ransom note sent to multiple media outlets.
The note contained a demand with a deadline of 17:00 on Thursday, he stated, without specifying the time zone, and included a secondary deadline for the following Monday.
The note also referenced details about an Apple Watch and a floodlight at Nancy Guthrie’s residence.
During the news conference, investigators provided new details regarding the timeline of her disappearance.
On Saturday evening, she used a ride-sharing service to travel to her daughter Annie’s house for dinner in the Tucson vicinity. Law enforcement has interviewed the driver.
Nancy Guthrie spent the night playing games with her family before one of them returned her to her home in the affluent, secluded Catalina Foothills neighborhood, according to the sheriff.
At 01:47 local time on Sunday, a doorbell camera at her home was disconnected and removed. Officials noted that she did not have a subscription, precluding the recovery of any footage.
At 02:12, software data registered movement on a camera near the residence, but no video is available, and the sheriff conceded that the motion could have been caused by an animal.
At 02:28, the app associated with her pacemaker, an implanted cardiac device, disconnected from her phone.
Blood found on her front porch was confirmed to be hers, the sheriff stated, and law enforcement is awaiting further lab results and analysis of evidence taken from the crime scene.
Family members were alerted after she did not attend church on Sunday morning, raising concern among congregation members.
The Guthrie family “wants to be contacted” and is still requesting “proof of life,” added FBI agent Janke, acknowledging that they understand “time is of the essence.”
The FBI has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
During the briefing, Sheriff Nanos indicated that while the possibility remained that the kidnapping was not for ransom, law enforcement was treating the demands seriously.
When questioned about the potential of not finding her alive, he responded: “I’m certainly fearful of that.”
In the first family video, released on Wednesday night, Savannah Guthrie directly addressed the person or persons holding her mother.
“We are ready to talk,” the NBC host stated. “However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated.”
“We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her.”
Joined by her sister Annie and brother Cameron, the TV anchor added: “Her health, her heart is fragile. She lives in constant pain.”
“She is without any medicine. She needs it to survive. She needs it not to suffer.”
Shortly after the video was posted, former US President Donald Trump commented on Truth Social about the case.
He stated that he was directing all federal law enforcement agencies to assist in bringing the investigation to a close and “get her mother home safely.”
The sheriff has described a comprehensive search effort involving dogs, drones, helicopters, and federal agents to locate the missing woman.
On Thursday, authorities also announced that the FBI had arrested a California man that morning on suspicion of making a false ransom demand.
The accused, Derrick Callella, allegedly obtained Guthrie family members’ information online and sent them texts asking: “Did you get the bitcoin?”
Savannah Guthrie is a prominent figure in US media. She joined NBC in 2007 and was appointed co-anchor of NBC’s Today show in 2012.
She had been scheduled to co-host NBC’s coverage of the Opening Ceremony for the Winter Olympics in Milan on Friday.
However, she withdrew due to her mother’s disappearance.
Police have offered a reward of $50,000 for information on the disappearance, while the FBI says it is reviewing two ransom notes.
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