Savannah Guthrie made another emotional plea Saturday on the six-month anniversary of her mother Nancy's disappearance by pleading with her kidnappers to come forward, one day after two full ransom notes were made public.
“This is our beautiful Mom,” Savannah Guthrie wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of the missing 84-year-old.
“Six months ago, someone took her out of her bed in the dead of night. We have lived every moment, every breath, and every heartbeat in agony and despair ever since,” the Today co-host continued.
Nancy Guthrie was abducted from her Tucson-area home in the early hours of February 1 after her family dropped her off the night before. Despite doorbell camera footage showing a masked man outside her home and a hair found at the scene that yielded no new DNA clues, investigators still have not identified a suspect.
“Every day, we wake up and try to be strong and go on – because that’s what our joyful and resilient Mom taught us to do. But make no mistake – our hearts are in ruins,” Savannah Guthrie said.
.png)
“Cam and Kristine, Annie and Tommy, Mike and me – we spend every waking moment thinking of her, longing for her, looking for her,” Guthrie said of her family members. “There is a hole inside us that can never be filled. There is an ache that cannot be softened. And there is a determination in us that cannot be quenched – to find out what happened to her, so that we can give her the dignity of a proper goodbye – a celebration of her remarkable life that she so deserves.”
Speaking on behalf of her family, Guthrie urged anyone with information to come forward, reminding the public that a reward is being offered for tips that help solve her mother's disappearance.
“We are begging for help. We are desperate. We need someone to come forward,” Guthrie said. “Someone knows something. Someone suspects something. Someone recognizes the writing in the ransom demand notes. Someone has noticed something different, strange, troubling or just unusual – perhaps with someone they deeply love. Perhaps they are afraid to come forward. Perhaps they are conflicted. Perhaps they are angry or upset for being in this situation.”
“There is a way out – to tell what you know. You can do so anonymously. The reward is available. There is a way to end this situation and do the right thing,” she said.
Guthrie wrapped up her message by reminding the public that she and her family are “are real people, facing real grief, doing the best we can, and counting our many blessings along the way.”
“If you are following this story for entertainment or for profit, you are not on her side – you are part of the harm perpetrated against her,” Guthrie continued.
“We will never stop looking for answers - and we will never stop looking for the light. We will always be hoping and praying and believing in the best of our world - in spite of circumstance. This is what our faith makes possible. Please. Bring her home,” she concluded.
Guthrie’s plea came just one day after the Pima County Sheriff's publicly released the full text of two ransom notes that investigators say were sent shortly after Nancy Guthrie's disappearance.
The first note, sent on February 2, claimed Nancy Guthrie was alive and demanded $4 million in Bitcoin for her safe return, threatening to kill her if payment was not made before a deadline.
“Hello Savannah, We have your mother Nancy. She is safe but scared. She will be held for ransom and once payment is received she will be released unharmed,” the note stated.
“We will be holding her for a maximum of 7 days. You will need to send bitcoin in the amount of $4 million USD before 5PM on Thursday the 5th. If payment is not received, the ransom will be increased to 6 million USD which will need to be paid by 5PM on Monday the 9th.”
A second note, sent four days later, claimed the kidnappers had not intended to harm Nancy but that she died shortly after being abducted. Nancy Guthrie has heart problems and high blood pressure, and investigators said her pacemaker app disconnected from her phone shortly after she was believed to be taken from her home.
“Guthrie Family, We did not fully grasp the seriousness of her physical condition. We never intended to hurt her, that was not our intention. She perished shortly after she was taken. We believe it was heart related. She is buried in nature now. Nothing you could have done could have changed the outcome. We want your family to know this and hope you all can find peace. We are truly sorry,” it read.
The sheriff's office redacted the sender's name, email address and date of birth from the publicly released letters.
