The FBI and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said Friday they are “aware of a new message regarding Nancy Guthrie” and are examining it for authenticity, the sheriff’s office posted on social media.
Nancy Guthrie, 84, the mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie, went missing last weekend and authorities believe she was abducted from her Arizona home. Earlier this week, investigators said they were also reviewing possible earlier ransom notes sent to media outlets.
The FBI announced Thursday it is now jointly investigating the case and is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to Nancy Guthrie’s recovery and/or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance. The agencies urged anyone with tips to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Officials did not disclose the contents of the new message, but sources told ABC News a note was sent to a local media outlet and is being taken seriously by law enforcement.
According to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, Guthrie was last seen at her Catalina Foothills home north of Tucson on Saturday night after being dropped off shortly before 10 p.m. following dinner with family. Relatives reported her missing Sunday around noon after she failed to attend church.
Investigators detailed a timeline at a Thursday news conference: a doorbell camera at her home was disconnected at about 1:45 a.m. Sunday, and shortly before 2:30 a.m. Guthrie’s pacemaker app indicated it was disconnected from her phone. Blood belonging to Nancy Guthrie was found on the porch, the sheriff said.
No suspect or person of interest has been identified, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said. “Right now, we believe Nancy is still out there,” Nanos said. “We want her home.”
Savannah Guthrie and her siblings posted an emotional plea for their mother’s return earlier this week. In a separate video posted Thursday, her brother Camron Guthrie addressed anyone holding their mother, urging them to contact the family and provide proof that she is alive so they can move forward.
“Whoever is out there holding our mother, we want to hear from you,” Camron said. “We haven’t heard anything directly. We need you to reach out and we need a way to communicate with you so we can move forward. We want to talk to you, and we are waiting for contact.”