Savannah Guthrie Says Family Is in Agony Over Missing 84-Year-Old Mother

Seated beside her siblings Annie and Camron, Savannah Guthrie read from prepared remarks into a camera Wednesday and pleaded directly with whoever may be holding her 84-year-old mother. Nancy Guthrie was reported missing from her home in the Catalina Foothills, a suburb of Tucson, Arizona, on February 1. More than seven weeks later, she has not been found.

Nancy Guthrie was last seen on January 31 before she apparently was kidnapped from her secluded home in Arizona's Catalina Foothills without her phone or critical medications. The weeks since she vanished have been marked by disturbing twists: purported ransom notes demanding millions of dollars, an intensive investigation, emotional video pleas from Nancy Guthrie's children, and video of an armed, masked person tampering with the doorbell camera at her Tucson home.

In the tearful Instagram video posted Wednesday, Savannah, clutching her sister's hand, described her mother's condition with urgency. "She lives in constant pain. She is without any medicine. She needs it to survive, and she needs it not to suffer," she said. The family declared itself "ready to talk" and said it is aware of reports that ransom letters were sent to at least three media outlets. "We are doing everything we can," Savannah said.

She painted a portrait of who Nancy is to those who love her. "She has grandchildren that adore her and crowd around her and cover her with kisses," Savannah said. "She loves fun and adventure. She is a devoted friend. She is full of kindness and knowledge. Talk to her, and you'll see." In the closing seconds of the video, she turned her words directly to her mother: "Mommy, if you are hearing this, you are a strong woman, you are God's precious daughter Nancy."

Evidence recovered at the residence indicated that Nancy had been taken against her will, and Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos stated that he believed she had been abducted. A multi-agency investigation led by the Pima County Sheriff's Department, with assistance from the FBI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, has included extensive forensic analysis, neighborhood canvassing, and review of surveillance footage. A sheriff's spokesman said in a statement that "detectives are continuing to conduct follow-up at the home and in the neighborhood."

Bloodstains found at the scene were confirmed to be Nancy's. Multiple ransom notes of undetermined origin demanded payment in cryptocurrency, with two deadlines that had passed by February 9. Nancy's possible abductors had set a deadline of 5 p.m. on February 9 for a $6 million payment. No proof of life has been publicly confirmed, and no arrests have been made in connection with her disappearance.

President Donald Trump publicly offered the full weight of federal resources. Trump shared on February 4 that he spoke with Savannah on the phone and directed more resources to assist in the search. "I am directing ALL Federal Law Enforcement to be at the family's and Local Law Enforcement's, complete disposal, IMMEDIATELY," he wrote on Truth Social. Following an interview with NBC's Tom Llamas, Trump called Savannah on February 4, offering additional federal resources and expressing hope for her mother's safe recovery. "We are deploying all resources to get her mother home safely," Trump added. "The prayers of our Nation are with her and her family. GOD BLESS AND PROTECT NANCY!"

Federal prosecutors, accompanied by FBI Special Agents, visited the home, the U.S. Attorney's office in Phoenix confirmed. "Federal prosecutors traditionally work with all levels of law enforcement and have done so throughout this investigation," said Timothy Courchaine, U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona, adding they will "go anywhere, do anything, and persevere always to find her."

After nearly a week of silence, Savannah Guthrie posted an emotional video on social media saying the family would offer up to $1 million for information leading to her mother's recovery. Savannah visited the NBC Today Show studio in New York City for the first time since her mother's disappearance on March 5. The show said she plans to return to the air at some point but "remains focused right now supporting her family and working to help bring Nancy home."

As the search reached an eighth week, Savannah posted a statement from the family to her Instagram account, asking the Tucson and larger Arizona community to mine through images and information that could be relevant to the case. "We desperately ask this community for renewed attention to our mom's case," she wrote. Savannah also shared the FBI tip line number, 1-800-CALL-FBI, writing, "Someone knows how to find our mom and bring her home.