Savannah Guthrie pleads with kidnappers to return her mother, offers to pay ransom
The NBC Today show anchor released a video with her siblings on Saturday, entering the seventh day of her 84-year-old mother's disappearance from Arizona.
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Savannah Guthrie, anchor of NBC's "Today" show, released a video on Saturday evening pleading with those holding her mother to return her safely, as the search for Nancy Guthrie entered its seventh day.
In the 20-second message posted to Instagram, Savannah Guthrie sat flanked by her two siblings, Camron and Annie Guthrie, and addressed the purported kidnappers directly. "We received your message, and we understand," she said. "We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her. This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay."
The video did not provide details about what message Savannah Guthrie was referencing. However, authorities said Friday they were aware of a new message related to the case and were reviewing it. A local television station, KOLD in Tucson, reported Friday that it had received an email message tied to the Guthrie case, though it could not disclose the contents.
Nancy Guthrie, 84, disappeared from her home in Tucson, Arizona, on Saturday, January 31. She was reported missing after failing to appear at church on Sunday. The last person known to have seen her was Annie's husband, Tommaso Cioni, who dropped her off at her home. Police treated the residence as a crime scene on Monday.
Authorities believe Nancy Guthrie was taken from her home against her will. According to the FBI's special agent in charge of the Phoenix field office, Heith Janke, a ransom note that investigators said they were taking seriously included a deadline of 5 p.m. Thursday.
The FBI is offering a reward of $50,000 for information leading to Nancy Guthrie's safe return. Authorities said they have not yet identified a person of interest or suspect in the case. Officials said the 84-year-old woman is believed to still be alive.
This video marked the second public appeal from Savannah Guthrie and her siblings. They had previously released a video several days into the disappearance, on the seventh day of Nancy Guthrie's absence.