Investigators say Savannah Guthrie’s mother, 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, is “still out there” as a high-profile search continues in Tucson, Arizona, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said Thursday. The FBI announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to Nancy Guthrie’s recovery or the arrest and conviction of those involved in her disappearance.
“Right now, we believe Nancy is still out there,” Nanos told reporters. “We want her home.”
Officials said a ransom note, which investigators are taking seriously, included a deadline of 5 p.m. Thursday; the note did not specify a time zone. Heith Janke, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Phoenix field office, said if a transfer wasn’t made, a second demand reportedly set a deadline for next Monday. Janke declined to disclose what the note said would happen if demands weren’t met and urged anyone responsible to return Guthrie.
Separately, authorities arrested an alleged impostor who made a phony ransom demand, Janke added. “To those impostors who are trying to take advantage and profit from this situation: We will investigate and ensure you are held accountable for your actions,” he said.
Investigators believe Guthrie was taken from her home after she was dropped off Saturday night following dinner with family. Blood found outside her home has been determined to be hers, Nanos said, and investigators are awaiting analysis of additional samples.
Surveillance and electronic evidence show several concerning events overnight Sunday: a doorbell camera at the home was disconnected at about 1:47 a.m.; at roughly 2:12 a.m., a home camera detected what the system classified as a person, though footage of that detection has not been recovered and could possibly be an animal; and at about 2:28 a.m., Guthrie’s pacemaker disconnected from an app on her cellphone.
Detectives returned to the neighborhood Wednesday for follow-up work at the home and in the surrounding area. Nanos said the sheriff’s office is showing the crime scene to investigators from other agencies. The department has not identified a suspect or person of interest.
Two law enforcement sources told CBS News an FBI team is on the ground in Tucson. The joint effort includes evidence recovery personnel, intelligence analysts reviewing social media, hostage negotiators, victim specialists and administrative staff. Agents and analysts are reviewing camera footage collected in the area, interviewing neighbors, family members and associates, and examining cellphone data to see which phones pinged nearby towers. A 24/7 command post has been established at the FBI’s Tucson field office.
Guthrie needs daily medication, officials said, increasing urgency. Nanos dismissed the possibility she wandered off, saying she does not have cognitive issues and her mobility is limited.
Neighbors described the Catalina Foothills area as quiet, with typical desert wildlife such as coyotes and bobcats. The unincorporated community is under a dark-sky ordinance that limits and directs outdoor lighting. Since Nancy Guthrie went missing, some residents have been installing or upgrading security systems and reviewing camera footage at deputies’ requests.
In a social media video posted Wednesday, “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie, joined by her brother and sister, appealed directly to whoever may have her mother. She said her mother’s heart is fragile, she lives in constant pain and needs medication to survive. “We are ready to talk, however, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated,” Savannah Guthrie said. “We need to know, without a doubt, that she is alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you, and we are ready to listen. Please, reach out to us.”
Family members also addressed the ransom note, saying they were doing everything they could to bring Nancy Guthrie home. In a separate video, Camron Guthrie appealed for contact with whoever is holding their mother, saying the family needs a way to communicate and must first be certain she is alive.
Former law enforcement officials contributing to coverage emphasized the importance of identifying motive to develop leads and persons of interest.
President Trump said on social media he spoke with Savannah Guthrie and that federal resources were being deployed to get her mother home safely.
The FBI’s $50,000 reward is for information leading to Nancy Guthrie’s recovery or the arrest and conviction of people involved in her disappearance. Authorities continue to ask anyone with relevant information to contact law enforcement.
