On her return to the Today Show after a two-month break, Savannah Guthrie found herself once again the target of heartless ransom note writers.
Guthrie had taken time off following the mysterious disappearance of her mother, Nancy, from her Arizona home on February 1. Nancy’s whereabouts remain unknown.
Since the suspected abduction, Guthrie and her relatives have been plagued by ransom demands, with the perpetrators demanding Bitcoin in exchange for information about Nancy.
Many of these notes have been sent via TMZ, and on Monday, the outlet reported receiving yet another message.
As Guthrie made her return to the morning show, a familiar source, who has been offering to reveal the kidnappers’ identities for months, contacted TMZ once more.
According to TMZ, the note reiterated their proposal to expose the culprits for the price of 1 Bitcoin, promising to “deliver them on a silver platter.”
Not too long after, the outlet received a second letter that claimed to have seen Nancy alive.
‘I Saw her alive with them in the state of Sonora Mexico,’ it read, according to the outlet.
Savannah Guthrie has yet again been taunted by cruel ransom note writers – on the day she returned back to work on the Today Show after her two-month hiatus
Nancy disappeared from her home on February 1. She is pictured with her daughter in happier times
However, in the first note the sender said, ‘she is dead.’
The outlet forwarded the letter to the FBI, who are skeptical about whether it is legitimate as the bitcoin address has received no deposit since its creation in February.
‘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 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.’
The sender offered information for half a bitcoin, with the other half sent over as public interest grows.
They also tried to clear themselves of any suspicion by stating they had been out of the US for five years and had nothing to do with the ‘horrific crime,’ TMZ reported.
‘I just want what’s fair and to live peacefully with enough to start my life again quietly without having to join a witness protection program,’ the letter claimed.
This morning, Savannah cried as she was welcomed back on air two months after her mother was abducted.
Savannah told viewers ‘it’s good to be home’ as she made her return to Today on Monday morning
The Guthrie family has offered a $1 million reward for information leading to the recovery of their mother
Linking arms with co-host Jenna Bush Hager, Guthrie made her way to Rockefeller Plaza as a crowd of supporters cheered her on
As she made her way outside, alongside her morning show co-hosts, to Rockefeller Plaza around 8.30am ET Monday, she was greeted by a team of supporters.
Wearing yellow ribbons as a sign of hope and carrying signs of support, Savannah sobbed as she met with those who gathered.
The journalist said: ‘These signs are so beautiful, you guys have been so beautiful. I’ve received so many letters, so much kindness to me and my whole family.
‘We feel it, we feel your prayers,’ she said as she wiped away tears using co-host Al Roker’s handkerchief while locking arms with Jenna Bush Hager.
At one point, she told a supporter, who was seen wearing a T-shirt reading ‘Welcome Home Savannah’, ‘I love you.’
Prior to stepping outside as part of the programming, it was business as usual from behind the studio desk as she kick-started the show with co-host Craig Melvin.
She said, ‘It’s good to be home,’ while wearing a cheerful yellow lace dress that coordinated beautifully with spring flowers placed in vases behind her.
Placing a protective hand on top of Savannah’s, Melvin said, ‘It’s good to have you home.’
The journalist speaks to one supporter who wore a T-shirt reading ‘Welcome Home Savannah’
Savannah posing for a selfie with a supporter outside the Manhattan Today studio on Monday
Savannah responded, ‘Well, ready or not, here we go, let’s read the news,’ and got stuck into an in-depth piece on Iran.
About half an hour after Savannah’s return, the camera panned to show a number of people outside the Manhattan studio with signs of support.
She said: ‘Some beautiful signs out there. I’m excited to see them [and] give them all a hug. I’ve been really feeling the love so much.’
NBC is said to have created a comprehensive plan to help Savannah return. It is unclear what will happen if there is an update about Nancy’s case just before the star goes on air, or while she is hosting live.
Nancy, 84, was last seen entering her $1 million home on the evening of January 31 after having dinner with her daughter, Annie, and son-in-law, Tommaso Cioni.
The next morning, she was reported missing after failing to attend a virtual church service with friends.
Ten days later, terrifying photos and videos of a potential suspect were released by the FBI, showing an armed, masked figure wearing black latex gloves at the door of her home.
The figure was seen tampering with her Nest doorbell camera. The footage has so far been the only major evidence breakthrough that has been made public.
The FBI previously released images of a potential suspect at Nancy’s door on the night she vanished
Nancy was last seen entering her $1 million home, seen here, on the evening of January 31 after having dinner with her daughter, Annie, and son-in-law, Tommaso Cioni
Since Savannah’s mother vanished, there have been a series of ransom notes sent to the family and to media outlets demanding money in Bitcoin in return for Nancy.
Savannah told Kotb she believed two of the notes were genuine, but nothing ever came of them.
Authorities and the family also could not verify the authenticity of the ransom notes, despite their willingness to pay.
Over the course of the investigation, only a few people have been taken in for questioning. No one has been arrested.
This is a breaking news story.
