We previously reported that the 84 year-old mother of the TODAY show host Savannah Guthrie has gone missing from her home in Tucson, Arizona over the weekend. Now, the missing person case of Nancy Guthrie has taken a terrifying turn as it enters its fourth day.
Disturbing Ransom Notes Come In
A ransom note for Nancy has been sent to a local Arizona news station. It contained some chilling details from the night that Nancy went missing, some of which had not been released to the general public. These details included what Nancy was wearing on the night of Saturday, January 31, which is when she disappeared.
The note was sent to CBS affiliate KOLD-TV in Arizona. The station received the note on Monday, but they agreed not to report on it until Tuesday as they cooperated with police.
“It’s like any piece of evidence,” Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told CBS News. “You give it to us, you give us a lead, we’re going to look at every aspect of that lead.”
Nanos went on to say that investigators are taking the note seriously and are still analyzing it at this time.
A Second Terrifying Ransom Note
TMZ was also sent a ransom note on Tuesday morning. It is unclear if that note is the same one received by the CBS affiliate. TMZ has revealed more details about their ransom note, saying that it demands a specific substantial amount of Bitcoin. While they didn’t reveal the exact amount, TMZ confirmed that it’s in the millions.
TMZ’s note reportedly also demands that the cryptocurrency be sent to a specific Bitcoin address. The publication has since verified that the Bitcoin address in the note is in fact real.
The additionally includes a description of a specific item that was damaged inside Nancy’s home during her abduction. The damage of this object has not been reported to the public by police, so the veracity of the note should be easy for investigators to identify based on this information.
There is a deadline included in TMZ’s note. It ominously states that if this deadline must be met, “or else.”
Nancy’s Disappearance
Nancy was last seen in her home at around 9:30pm on Saturday, January 31. She was reported missing around noon the next day when she didn’t show up for church services.
Police sources have since told Daily Mail that blood has been found inside Nancy’s home. There were other signs of forced entry as well. All of Nancy’s personal belongings had been left behind, including her wallet, cellphone and car. However, Nancy was nowhere to be found.
On Monday night, Sheriff Nanos nearly burst into tears when he was asked what the chances are that Nancy is still alive.
“Do you believe you are still looking for Nancy Guthrie alive at this point?” a reporter asked Nanos. “That she could be held somewhere? And if so, do you believe that is local in the Tucson area, or that she’s been taken somewhere?”
Sheriff Nanos began to tear up as he stumbled over his words, eventually saying that police are “just not going to give up hope” of finding Nancy.
A Race Against Time
Savannah, 54, has backed out of her role hosting the Milan Olympics this week. She has rushed to Arizona to be with her family during this incredibly difficult time.
Police say that while Nancy is mentally “sharp as a tack,” she is frail physically. She also depends on daily medication for survival. This medication was left behind in her home, which has created a race against time to find her.
According to a 911 call about Nancy’s disappearance that was obtained by Page Six, she “has high blood pressure, [a] pacemaker and cardiac issues.”
“If she doesn’t have [her meds] in 24 hours, it could be fatal,” Sheriff Nanos stated.
Nancy is a devout Christian who has devoted her life to her family and her church. Please join us in saying a prayer for her safe return.