Savannah Guthrie returned to the TODAY show on Monday morning. This came two months after her mother Nancy Guthrie, 84, was kidnapped from her home in Tucson, Arizona. Sadly, Nancy remains missing, and the search for her continues.
After Savannah’s TODAY return, two more ransom notes were sent to TMZ by someone who claims to know where Nancy is. The notes were sent by the same unknown person who previously demanded one bitcoin exchange for information on Nancy’s disappearance.
Two More Ransom Notes Come In
“We got another letter today from this person, an email saying, ‘I know where her body is, and who the kidnapper is, give me half a bitcoin and I’ll tell you,’” TMZ’s Harvey Levin said on air on Monday.
That note reportedly claimed, “She is dead.”
After this note was addressed by Harvey on TMZ Live, another note came in from the same person. In that note, the person wrote, “I saw her alive with them in the state of Sonora Mexico.”
Whoever wrote the note said that they will give more information for half a bitcoin with another half transferred to their wallet when there is a public arrest. Harvey said that the writer has been “persistent” despite being aware that they could be charged with a crime for a hoax.
The person who wrote the note has expressed frustration that they’ve been “disregarded as a scam” by law enforcement.
“It’s unbelievable that millions have been wasted and yet here I am willing to deliver them on a silver platter since the 11th of february for a bitcoin but I am disregarded as a scam,” the first note read. “they are free and the case is frozen but the ego’s remain hot when it comes to me. Arrogance at it’s finest.”
Though the person claims to hold valuable information, they also allege that they had nothing to do with this “horrific crime.” Indeed, they claim that they’ve been outside the United States for five years. In the second ransom note, the person also claimed not to be motivated by greed.
“I just want whats fair and to live peacefully with enough to start my life again quietly with out having to join a witness protection program,” the note writer insisted.
Police Respond
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department, which has been leading the search for Nancy, has since responded by saying that they are aware of the notes.
“All tips and leads are being taken seriously and are forwarded directly to our detectives, who are coordinating with the FBI,” a department spokesperson said.
During an interview with her former colleague Hoda Kotb that aired last month, Savannah said that she believes that most of the ransom notes that have been sent to her family are fakes. However, she made sure to add, “I believe the two notes that we received that we responded to, I tend to believe those are real.”
Savannah Returns To TODAY
The latest ransom notes that came in were received after Savannah returned to TODAY on Monday morning. She made no mention of her mother’s disappearance during the show.
“Good morning and welcome to TODAY on this Monday morning. We are so glad you started your week with us and it is good to be home,” Savannah said to open the show at 7am.
During the 8am hour, Savannah could not help but break down in tears as she greeted well-wishers with her colleagues on the TODAY show plaza. There, fans were holding loving signs and wearing yellow ribbons and shirts in honor of both Savannah and her mother.
“It’s a special Monday morning for us and for this crowd as well. Special, because we’re welcoming back our North Star, SG, come on out here,” Craig Melvin said as Savannah walked outside.
“These signs are so beautiful. You guys have been so beautiful,” Savannah told the crowd as she began to cry. “I’ve received so many letters, so much kindness to me and my family. We feel it. We feel your prayers so thank you so much.”
TODAY weatherman Al Roker offered Savannah his handkerchief. She then jokingly replied, “This is such a nice pocket square I don’t want to slobber on it.”
Check out the emotional moment for yourself in the video below.
Nancy’s Disappearance
Savannah had not been on air at TODAY since her mom’s kidnapping. Nancy was last seen on the night of Saturday, January 31. That evening, she had dinner with her daughter Annie and son-in-law Tommaso Cioni. They dropped her off at home afterwards at around 9:45pm, and she tragically hasn’t been seen since.
A masked intruder was captured on Nancy’s doorbell ring camera in the early hours of February 1. He managed to cover the camera with some plants before moving forward with the kidnapping.
It has since been revealed that the masked man had been seen in the doorbell ring camera prior to the night Nancy was taken. This indicates that he may have been casing out her home.
This has clearly been an excruciatingly difficult time for Savannah, and for her entire family. Please join us in saying a prayer for them, and for the return of Nancy Guthrie.