The clock is ticking in the investigation into the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, the mother of NBC’s Today co-host Savannah Guthrie.
The FBI has revealed that a ransom note they are examining carries two deadlines, with the first set for 5pm on Thursday (11am Friday AEDT), now only hours away.
“If a transfer wasn’t made, the second demand was for next Monday,” FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke told reporters at a press conference on Thursday (local time).
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“I’m not going to go beyond that,” declining to elaborate on what might happen after either deadline.
Officials have not publicly disclosed what changes would occur if the first deadline is missed. However, TMZ, one of the media outlets that received the ransom note, has reported that missing the second deadline carries a more serious consequence.
Nancy Guthrie with her daughter Savannah. Credit: Instagram @savannahguthrie
Hosts of TMZ Live, Harvey Levin and Charles Latibeaudiere, said on Tuesday (local time) that they received a threatening ransom note referring to Ms Guthrie.
“So we got something in our email that…is written like a ransom note for Savannah Guthrie’s mother,” Levin said.
Latibeaudiere added that there were “specific requests for certain amounts of money and bitcoin”.
“It was very specific and also…there were certain things they’re saying about what she was wearing and damage to the house…we don’t know if it’s authentic or not, but when you read it, they are acting as if ‘yeah, only we would know these things and we’re serious’,” Levin continued.
“There’s a dollar demand and an ‘or else’ in there.”
The pair forwarded the note to the Sheriff’s Department, who later said they were aware of “reports circulating about possible ransom note(s)“ and were “taking all tips and leads very seriously”.
According to the FBI, the note did not include any proof of life or a way for authorities and Ms Guthrie’s family to communicate with the people who sent them.
Savannah Guthrie’s desperate plea
Ms Guthrie’s children, Savannah, Annie and Camron, took to Instagram on Wednesday (local time) to speak directly to those who are suspected of abducting their mother.
“She’s 84 years old. Her health, her heart, is fragile. She lives in constant pain. She is without any medicine. She needs it to survive, and she needs it not to suffer,” Savannah said.
“We, too, have heard the reports about a ransom letter in the media. As a family, we are doing everything that we can. We are ready to talk. However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated. We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you and we are ready to listen.”
Timeline of Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance
The grandmother was last seen at her home in Catalina Foothills, north of Tucson, Arizona, around 9.30pm on Saturday, January 31 (local time).
A frantic search began a day later after her friend noticed she did not attend a church service and raised the alarm with one of her adult children.
- 5.32pm: Ms Guthrie travels to a local family’s home
- 9.48pm: Family drops Ms Guthrie at home, and her garage door opens
- 9.50pm: Garage door closes
- 1.47am: Ms Guthrie’s doorbell camera disconnects
- 2.12am: Software detects person on camera (no video available or description)
- 2.28am: Ms Guthrie’s pacemaker app disconnects from her phone
- 11.56am: Family checks on Ms Guthrie
- 12.03pm: 9-1-1 call is made to the local police
- 12.15pm: Officers arrive at Ms Guthrie’s home
After searching Ms Guthrie’s home, police confirmed that the property was being investigated as a “crime scene” rather than a “search mission” because of “very concerning” conditions they found.
“At this point, investigators believe she was taken from the home against her will, possibly in the middle of the night. Taken against her will includes possible kidnapping or abduction,” Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said.
Mr Nanos also confirmed that Ms Guthrie’s blood was found on her porch.
Officials said they remain hopeful that Nancy is still alive.
“We have nothing else to go on but the belief that she is here,” Mr Nanos said in an interview with NBC on February 4. “She’s present. She’s alive, and we want to save her.”
