In a raw and deeply personal video released Saturday, “TODAY” show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie directly addressed the person or group potentially holding her mother captive, making a public promise to pay for her safe release.
Seated between her siblings, Camron and Annie, a visibly shaken Guthrie spoke into the camera to acknowledge a recent communication received by the family.
“We received your message, and we understand,” she said, though she did not clarify the specific nature of that message or who sent it.
The 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie vanished from her Arizona home a week ago, and the investigation has since spiraled into a federal case involving the FBI and local sheriff’s deputies.
The appeal marks a significant shift in the public tone of the search. While law enforcement has remained cautious about labeling the disappearance, the Guthrie family’s latest statement leans heavily into the reality of a kidnapping. Holding her siblings’ hands for support, Guthrie ended the short clip with a definitive offer: “This is very valuable to us, and we will pay.”
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This public overture comes as investigators from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI scramble to verify a series of possible ransom notes sent to various news organizations. As of Saturday evening, officials have not yet confirmed if those notes are authentic or if they are connected to the specific message Savannah referenced in her video.
The mystery began last Sunday when Nancy Guthrie failed to show up for her regular church service. She had last been seen the previous night after a family dinner, and authorities believe she was taken from her home north of Tucson sometime during the early morning hours.
Despite the high-profile nature of the case and the intense resources being poured into the desert region, police have yet to name a suspect or even a person of interest.
For now, the investigation remains focused on a “possible kidnapping or abduction,” with federal agents still analyzing digital trails and local tips.
The Guthrie family remains hopeful that their willingness to negotiate will provide the breakthrough needed to bring the 84-year-old home.
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