FBI Investigates New Message in Nancy Guthrie Disappearance Case
Authorities Examine Latest Communication as Search Continues
The disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of beloved “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie, has taken another turn as law enforcement officials announced Friday they are examining a new message related to the case. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department, working alongside the FBI, confirmed they have received fresh communication regarding the missing Arizona woman and are carefully analyzing it to determine whether it’s genuine. In a social media update, the sheriff’s department stated that investigators are “actively inspecting the information provided in the message for its authenticity.” This development comes as the investigation enters its second week, with authorities maintaining their belief that Nancy Guthrie was abducted from her Tucson-area home. The case has captured national attention, not only because of her daughter’s high-profile media presence but also due to the deeply concerning circumstances surrounding her disappearance. While officials haven’t disclosed the specific contents of this latest message, sources familiar with the investigation told ABC News that a note was delivered to a local media outlet and that law enforcement is treating it with utmost seriousness as they work tirelessly to bring Nancy Guthrie home safely.
The Timeline of a Troubling Disappearance
The events leading up to Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance paint a picture of what began as an ordinary Saturday evening that turned into every family’s worst nightmare. Nancy was last seen at her residence in the Catalina Foothills area, located north of Tucson, on Saturday night. According to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, she had spent the evening enjoying dinner with her family—a normal, pleasant evening that gave no indication of the horror that would unfold just hours later. A family member dropped her off at her home shortly before 10 p.m., and everything seemed perfectly fine. When Nancy failed to appear at church services the following day—Sunday—her family knew immediately that something was terribly wrong. It was so out of character for her that they reported her missing around noon local time. As investigators pieced together the timeline, disturbing details emerged during a Thursday news conference where authorities provided a more comprehensive picture of what they believe happened. Technology that was meant to provide security and health monitoring instead became crucial evidence: a doorbell camera at Nancy’s home was disconnected at approximately 1:45 a.m. on Sunday morning, and shortly before 2:30 a.m., her pacemaker app indicated it had been disconnected from her phone—two chilling indicators that something had gone seriously wrong during those dark early morning hours.
Disturbing Evidence Points to Abduction
The investigation took an even more ominous turn when authorities discovered physical evidence that strongly suggests Nancy Guthrie didn’t leave her home voluntarily. During Thursday’s press briefing, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos revealed that Nancy Guthrie’s blood was found on the porch of her home—a detail that sent shockwaves through the community and confirmed the family’s worst fears. This grim discovery, combined with the disabled security devices and the timing of events, has led investigators to conclude with increasing certainty that the elderly woman was taken against her will. Despite these troubling findings, Sheriff Nanos emphasized that the investigation remains active and hopeful. “Right now, we believe Nancy is still out there,” Nanos stated firmly during the press conference. “We want her home.” So far, no suspect or person of interest has been publicly identified in the case, leaving the community on edge and the family desperate for answers. The FBI’s involvement, announced Thursday, has brought additional resources and expertise to the investigation. The federal agency is now offering a substantial $50,000 reward for information that leads to Nancy Guthrie’s safe recovery and the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance—a reward that officials hope will encourage anyone with knowledge of the case to come forward.
Multiple Ransom Communications Under Investigation
The case has been further complicated by the emergence of what authorities are treating as potential ransom communications. Earlier in the week, before Friday’s announcement of the new message, investigators revealed they were already reviewing possible ransom notes that had been received. These earlier communications were sent to several local and national media outlets, according to reports. During Thursday’s news conference, an FBI official addressed these ransom notes directly, telling reporters that investigators are taking them seriously and thoroughly examining each one. The fact that multiple communications have been sent to media organizations rather than directly to the family or law enforcement adds an unusual dimension to the case and raises questions about the motivations and methods of whoever is behind Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance. Law enforcement officials are walking a careful line, needing to investigate every lead thoroughly while also being cautious not to release information that might compromise the investigation or put Nancy in further danger. The latest message announced Friday represents yet another piece of this complex puzzle that investigators must carefully evaluate. While authorities work to verify the authenticity of these communications, they continue to urge the public to remain vigilant and to report any information, no matter how insignificant it might seem.
A Family’s Desperate Plea for Their Mother’s Return
As the investigation unfolds, the human toll of this tragedy has been heartbreakingly visible through the public appeals made by Nancy Guthrie’s children. Savannah Guthrie, known to millions of Americans as the co-anchor of NBC’s “Today” show, joined her siblings in making an emotional plea for their mother’s safe return in a video message posted to social media earlier this week. The message showcased a family in anguish, setting aside privacy and pride to speak directly to whoever might be holding their beloved mother. In another video posted on Thursday, Savannah’s brother, Camron Guthrie, took a different approach, directing his words specifically toward his mother’s potential kidnappers in a carefully crafted message that balanced desperation with an olive branch. “Whoever is out there holding our mother, we want to hear from you,” Camron said in the video, his voice steady despite the unimaginable stress his family is enduring. “We haven’t heard anything directly. We need you to reach out and we need a way to communicate with you so we can move forward.” His plea was strategic as well as emotional, attempting to open a direct line of communication between the family and the abductors. He closed his brief but powerful message with words that captured both hope and helplessness: “We want to talk to you, and we are waiting for contact.” These public appeals represent a family doing everything in their power to bring their mother home, using their platform and visibility to reach whoever has taken her.
Community Support and the Ongoing Search for Answers
As the investigation continues, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI are emphasizing that despite the new message and ongoing examination of previous communications, they still need the public’s help. In their Friday social media post announcing the new message, authorities made clear that this is just “one new piece of information” and that the broader investigation requires continued community involvement. The agencies are asking anyone with tips or information, regardless of how minor it might seem, to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI. The case has resonated far beyond Tucson, with people across the country following developments and hoping for Nancy Guthrie’s safe return. The image of her home in the Catalina Foothills area has been broadcast repeatedly, with media outlets camping outside the residence where this nightmare began. The combination of factors—an elderly victim with a pacemaker, a beloved public figure’s family in crisis, ransom notes sent to media outlets, and the physical evidence suggesting violence—has created a case that touches on many of our deepest fears while also inspiring hope that justice can be served and that Nancy can be found alive. As investigators work around the clock to analyze every piece of evidence, verify every communication, and follow every lead, the Guthrie family waits in agony for news of their mother. The $50,000 reward stands as a testament to how seriously authorities are taking this case, and the joint FBI-local law enforcement investigation represents the full resources of both federal and local agencies working in concert. For now, the focus remains on one goal that Sheriff Nanos expressed so simply yet powerfully: bringing Nancy Guthrie home.
