Savannah Guthrie has issued a direct plea to the people responsible for her mother’s disappearance, asking them to end her family’s nearly six-month “nightmare” and reveal where Nancy Guthrie can be found.
The Today co-anchor appeared alone in an Instagram video posted July 27 and said her family remains in agony despite its continued cooperation with investigators and repeated appeals for information.
“Make the right choice. Help us find her. Tell us where to look for her,” Guthrie said. She added that she believes it is never too late for someone to do the right thing.
Nancy, 84, disappeared from her home in the Catalina Foothills near Tucson, Arizona, during the early hours of February 1. Authorities believe she was abducted, but no suspect has been publicly identified and no arrest has been announced.
Guthrie Asks Those Responsible to End the Family’s ‘Nightmare’
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“Our family is in agony,” she said. “We are in a nightmare that will not end. Nothing about our situation has changed. We have done our part. We will never stop looking for her.” Guthrie said she, her sister Annie and brother Camron would continue feeling the absence their mother’s disappearance had created.
She then addressed the person or people she believes can provide answers. “The world can be a cruel and unforgiving place,” she said. “So I’m asking you, begging you, to do the right thing now.” Guthrie concluded by asking for help bringing the situation to an end and saying that, regardless of what someone has done, “there is always a way home.”
Investigators Released Footage of an Armed Person at Nancy’s Home
Nancy was last seen at her residence on the evening of January 31. She was reported missing the following day after she failed to join friends for an online church service. The FBI later released surveillance footage from the property showing a masked, armed individual near the front door on the morning of her disappearance.
Investigators are seeking information that could establish the individual’s identity. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said on July 28 that authorities still had extensive DNA and video evidence to review and remained confident that the case would be resolved.
Nancy is considered a vulnerable adult. The FBI says she has difficulty walking, uses a pacemaker and requires daily medication for a heart condition. The agency is offering up to $100,000 for information leading to Nancy’s location or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance. Her family has offered a separate $1 million reward for information that leads to her being found.
Reported Ransom Messages Have Complicated the Investigation
Multiple alleged ransom and extortion messages have surfaced since Nancy disappeared, although investigators have not publicly authenticated every communication associated with the case.
Journalist Briana Whitney recently read what she described as the first ransom message during an episode of the Crime Junkie podcast. According to People’s account of the episode, the message claimed Nancy was being held and demanded $4 million in bitcoin by February 5.
The demand reportedly increased to $6 million if the first deadline passed, with the sender threatening to kill Nancy if payment was not received by February 9. The message also allegedly contained details about her home that were not widely known at the time.
A second message sent to Tucson media outlets reportedly claimed Nancy had died shortly after being taken and had been “buried in nature.” Sources told ABC News that investigators considered two of the communications potentially credible and attempted to trace their origins.
The Guthrie Family Says It Will Never Stop Searching
Guthrie previously told anyone holding her mother that the family was prepared to communicate but needed proof that Nancy was alive. After the July 27 video, Nanos told NBC that investigators were continuing to process evidence. “We have so much DNA to sort through,” he said. “We have so much in terms of video evidence to look at.”
Anyone with information may contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at 520-351-4900 or the FBI at 1-800-225-5324. Tips may also be submitted through the FBI’s official tip portal.