It has been a tense and heartbreaking week for Savannah Guthrie, who took to social media this weekend to plead for the safe return of her mother, Nancy Guthrie. In a short video message, the television journalist confirmed that her family had received communications from those claiming responsibility for the abduction—and made clear they are willing to meet their demands.
“We’ve heard your message,” Guthrie said, her voice breaking. “Please, just let her come home. We will do what you ask.”
The video, released Saturday afternoon, came after a series of ransom notes were reportedly sent to Arizona media outlets, including KOLD News 13, earlier in the week. The Federal Bureau of Investigation confirmed that the station turned over an email related to the case, though officials have not publicly verified whether any of the messages were authentic.
According to investigators, several of the notes contained details that only someone familiar with Nancy Guthrie’s home might know—references to an outdoor light fixture and to her Apple Watch were among the clues. Each message also mentioned deadlines tied to financial demands, though authorities have stopped short of labeling them credible.
Law enforcement officials say Nancy Guthrie, 68, vanished from her Tucson-area residence the night of January 31. Blood found on her porch matched her DNA, leading the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office to conclude she was likely taken by force. Sheriff Chris Nanos told reporters that an earlier false ransom note led to one arrest but declined to say whether that suspect is linked to the main investigation.
The FBI has since offered a $50,000 reward for information that could lead to Guthrie’s recovery. Friends and neighbors have joined daily searches in the desert areas surrounding her home, while family members continue to make public appeals.
Adding to the urgency, officials say Guthrie requires daily medication for heart issues and has a pacemaker—making every day critical.
President Donald Trump spoke with Savannah Guthrie earlier this week, later announcing that federal agencies were coordinating with local investigators. Speaking to reporters on Friday, he said the case was “progressing” and that authorities had gathered “promising information.”
