The search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today show anchor Savannah Guthrie, has taken an increasingly disturbing turn as investigators examine purported ransom notes demanding millions of dollars for her safe return.
At least three media outlets—including TMZ and Tucson-based stations KOLD and KGUN—have reported receiving similar ransom notes this week, allegedly demanding payment in bitcoin. While authorities have not confirmed the authenticity of the messages, Chris Nanos said Tuesday that the notes are being treated as serious evidence. “Absolutely not” dismissed, Nanos told CBS News, adding that every lead is being thoroughly investigated and shared with detectives and the FBI.
Nancy Guthrie is believed to have been taken against her will from her one-story home in a secluded neighborhood north of Tucson over the weekend. Investigators say she did not wander away. Though “sharp as a tack,” Nanos has stressed that her physical mobility is limited, making it highly unlikely she left on her own.
New details are sharpening the timeline—and deepening concern. According to a source briefed on the investigation, Guthrie’s pacemaker last transmitted data to her iPhone around 2 a.m. Sunday. That phone was later found inside the home. Some pacemakers can only communicate with a nearby phone via Bluetooth, suggesting she may have been removed from the house around that time.
Law enforcement sources told the Los Angeles Times that blood was found inside the home, though officials have not disclosed whose blood it was or where it was located. The Associated Press also reported signs of forced entry, according to a person familiar with the investigation. DNA samples have been collected, but Nanos said they have not yet led to any suspects.
The sheriff’s department has urged the public to avoid speculation, warning that spreading unverified accusations could harm the investigation. “We are speaking with anyone who may have had contact with Mrs. Guthrie,” the department said in a statement posted on X, reiterating that all tips are being taken seriously and routed directly to detectives coordinating with the FBI.
Time is especially critical, authorities say, because Nancy Guthrie takes daily medication essential to her health. Being without it for an extended period “could be fatal,” Nanos warned earlier this week.
As the search intensifies, the disappearance has upended Savannah Guthrie’s professional life. NBC News confirmed she will no longer host the network’s Winter Olympics opening ceremony from Milan as planned, after she rushed to Arizona to be with her family. NBC anchors have repeatedly appealed to viewers for information, urging anyone with knowledge of Guthrie’s whereabouts to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.
President Donald Trump addressed the case during an Oval Office event Tuesday, expressing sympathy for Guthrie and saying he was open to committing additional federal resources to the search. Calling it a “very unusual situation,” Trump said he planned to reach out to Savannah Guthrie personally.
