When authorities were initially called to Nancy Guthrie’s desert home a few miles north of Tucson on Sunday, they immediately found what officials described as suspicious and concerning circumstances.
There was no sign of Guthrie, the mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie, but essentials she would travel with remained: her cellphone, wallet, car and medication. Although the 84-year-old is of sound mind, she has physical ailments that keep her from walking very far — suggesting she didn’t leave on her own.
According to law enforcement sources not authorized to speak about the case publicly, someone appeared to have forced their way inside, and there was blood at the scene. Images reviewed by The Times showed blood spatters near the front door of the home. A security camera frame at Guthrie’s front door was empty, though it was unclear for how long.
Now, three days into the search for her and her possible abductors, the mystery has only deepened.
Authorities on Tuesday said they couldn’t rule out that she was kidnapped for ransom. About an hour later, TMZ reported that it had received an alleged ransom note demanding millions in cryptocurrency for Guthrie’s release. The outlet did not report when or how it received the note, nor did it reveal the entirety of its contents, but did say the note had been turned over to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, which is leading the investigation.
Sheriff Chris Nanos said the department was aware of “reports circulating about possible ransom note(s)” in the Guthrie case but did not verify the TMZ report.
“We do believe Nancy was taken from her home against her will,” Nanos said at a news conference Tuesday.
FBI Director Kash Patel, speaking on Fox News on Tuesday, was asked by the anchor if he was aware that TMZ.com had received an alleged ransom note.
“The local authorities notified the FBI of it,” Patel said, “and we are working with them in any way they choose. But remember they’re the lead right now and we have to respect that, but we are there to help them anywhere we can on ransom notes or otherwise.”
Nancy Guthrie, who lived alone in a ranch-style home in the Catalina Foothills community, was last seen Saturday night when family dropped her off at her residence, and local authorities say she may have been forcibly taken in the middle of the night.
Family members went to check on her at her home after they were alerted that she didn’t show up for church services Sunday morning, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
Officials have not theorized about why she may have been snatched, but Nanos appealed directly to any potential abductor while speaking with the media the day after she was reported missing.
“Just call us. Let her go. Just call us. The family will tell you, there’s no questions asked here,” he told NBC News.
Adam Bercovici, a former lieutenant with the Los Angeles Police Department who worked on numerous kidnappings and abductions, said he expected that investigators were working to verify any possible ransom letter, but he worries that if a note is found to be legitimate, local investigators are already at a disadvantage. He said it’s ideal not to let an abductor know that law enforcement is involved, because of the publicity.
“Kidnapping 101 is don’t let the crooks know the police are on to them,” Bercovici said. “It compromises the effectiveness of the investigation and any possible rescue.”
Still, detectives will continue to work the case, Bercovici said, trying to verify the legitimacy of any ransom letter by confirming specific information from the crime scene with the person or people making the demands.
At Tuesday’s news conference, officials continued to plead for information that might help lead to Nancy Guthrie.
“Every lead and tip is important; we are aggressively pursuing and looking into every single one,” said John Edwards, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI office in Tucson, which is assisting with the ongoing investigation. “Again, please help us bring Nancy Guthrie home.”
Since Guthrie disappeared, investigators have completed searching and processing her home for evidence and reopened the property to her family, officials said. They did not provide details on what was found inside.
Nanos declined to answer many questions about the case Tuesday but did confirm that there was an empty frame for a security camera near Guthrie’s front door. He said investigators did not know if it was taken during her disappearance but said they were looking into it.
The sheriff said investigators did not know what Guthrie was wearing when she disappeared and did not speculate on how many people could have been involved in taking her.
“We have a lot of work in front of us,” Nanos said. “We have someone’s life in jeopardy.”
A tip line was set up Monday evening, and the Sheriff’s Department is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for images, information or videos that lead to the arrest of the person or people involved in her disappearance.
“We don’t need another bad, tragic ending,” Nanos said. “We need some help.”
Adding to the urgency of the case, Nanos said Nancy Guthrie’s life was in immediate danger if she did not take medication every day. Although Guthrie has some health issues, Nanos has repeatedly said that she does not have any cognitive issues.
“We’re doing all we can to try to locate her,” Nanos said. “Every tool we have, we will use.”
On Monday evening, Savannah Guthrie shared a statement on Instagram asking people to pray for her mother’s safe return home.
“Thank you for lifting your prayers with ours for our beloved mom, our dearest Nancy, a woman of deep conviction, a good and faithful servant,” she wrote. “Raise your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment.”
Nancy Guthrie has joined her daughter on the “Today” show several times, with clips showing the mother-daughter duo beaming with shared pride. She was described as devoutly religious, an avid reader and a dedicated mom and grandmother.
“Today” hosts shared a statement from Savannah Guthrie that thanked viewers for their “thoughts, prayers and messages of support.”
“Right now our focus remains on the safe return of our dear mom,” the longtime “Today” personality and journalist wrote on behalf of her family. She encouraged anyone with information about her mother’s location to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.
The post Savannah Guthrie’s mom ‘taken,’ sheriff says; blood drops are found and ransom questions raised appeared first on Los Angeles Times.
