– Good to be with you. Iu0027m Tony Dokoupil. The breaking news right now– chilling new details on the disappearance of Savannah Guthrieu0027s mother, the sheriff revealing a ransom note, pointing to signs of forced entry, and the new video showing what appears to be blood outside her home as the search enters a third day with no suspect.
– We donu0027t know where she is.
TONY DOKOUPIL: The Today co-anchor calling on the power of prayer to find her mother. Nancy Guthrie, 84, has been missing since the overnight hours, Saturday into Sunday, abducted from her home in Arizona, according to the Pima County Sheriffu0027s Office. The new details tonight, including blood at the house, as the authorities say they have no suspect– but what they do have, the sheriff told our Jonathan Vigliotti just moments ago, is a ransom note.
– The entire note. Thatu0027s what I would tell you.
JONATHAN VIGLIOTTI: The sheriff says the note contained details about what 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie was wearing the night of the crime. Video from surveillance cameras on the property have not been helpful. Our cameras captured what appears to be a small amount of blood outside the front door. Authorities say a little bit of blood was found inside the home. Itu0027s unclear whose blood. Theyu0027re testing DNA evidence and asking for the publicu0027s help.
– Youu0027ve taken her away from her home, her safest environment.
TONY DOKOUPIL: Weu0027ll stay on it.
Also tonight, shots fired– a US Navy F-35 fighter jet shot down an Iranian Shahed drone in the Arabian Sea as it aggressively approached an American aircraft carrier, according to US Central Command. Another incident involved a US destroyer aiding a threatened oil tanker. The Pentagon said one of those destroyers came to the aid of a US-flagged oil tanker threatened by two Iranian boats and a drone. The confrontations come amid threats and rising tensions between the US and Iran. Despite today, the White House said already scheduled nuclear talks with the Iranians are still going ahead.
Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will testify on camera later this month in a House investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. They agreed to sit for closed-door depositions with the House Oversight Committee. Survivors and others are responding to the release of related files; the Justice Department faces criticism for failing to redact survivors’ information.
President Trump again made news from the Oval Office talking about elections. He said the federal government should, quote, “get involved.” The Constitution says elections are run by the states.
In the South, utility crews are still restoring power after an historic storm of heavy snow and ice. In Mississippi, volunteer firefighters are conducting wellness checks and delivering water and supplies as tens of thousands remain without power. About 36,000 homes and businesses in Mississippi began a second week without electricity. In Nashville, over 230,000 were affected at the peak.
Here in the East, another Arctic blast is on the way. Temperatures will fall into the teens and single digits in parts of the Northeast. Rob Marciano reports on the deep freeze.
Also today: the White House press secretary called out criticism of ICE at the Grammy Awards, accusing celebrities of demonizing law enforcement. Relatives of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both shot to death by federal agents last month, told their story on Capitol Hill as their communities work to recover. Local officials in Minnesota say investigations into those deaths have raised concerns.
NASA announced a delay for the Artemis II mission because of a recurring liquid hydrogen leak during a fueling rehearsal. The launch will now slide to March. Engineers hope to fix the problem on the pad; NASA will not fly until the hardware is ready.
Chuck Negron, lead singer of Three Dog Night, has died at 83. Lindsey Vonn says sheu0027ll compete for Olympic gold Sunday despite tearing a knee ligament last week. She says she will try as long as thereu0027s a chance.
And the good stuff: a story of heroism from a 13-year-old boy and his mother, stranded miles out to sea. The Appelbee family was pulled almost nine miles off the coast in Western Australia. Their 13-year-old, Austin, swam for hours — more than two miles from shore after his kayak capsized — carrying on powered, he said, by prayer and happy thoughts. When he reached land, he called for help; rescue crews then saved the family. Joanne, his mother, said, “We made it. Weu0027re alive.”
TONY DOKOUPIL: For all of us here at CBS News, Iu0027m Tony Dokoupil. Weu0027ll see you right back here tomorrow night. Good night.
