Individuals claiming responsibility for the abduction of Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy, have issued a demand for $6 million in Bitcoin to secure her release, as reported by a local television station.
The suspects have insisted that the ransom be paid by 5 p.m. local time on Monday.
According to KGUN 9 in Tucson, Arizona, the chilling ransom note threatened harm to the 84-year-old if the substantial payment was not made by the specified deadline.
The station also disclosed that it had received a ransom note asking for millions, and that similar communications were sent to other media outlets.
In an emotional appeal, the Today show host, along with her siblings Annie and Camron, implored the kidnappers to return their mother safely in a heartfelt message shared on Saturday night.
“We received your message and we understand,” Savannah stated in a video posted on her Instagram account, flanked by her siblings, their hands clasped in a show of unity and support.
‘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.’
Savannah did not share details about the communication her family received nor the demands that she agreed to pay to the abductors.
Nancy Guthrie, 84, the mother of Today Show star Savannah Guthrie, vanished from her home in Tucson, Arizona, eight days ago. The pair is pictured together in Sydney, Australia in 2015
Savannah Guthrie has released a new video message to her missing mom Nancy’s captors, telling them her family has ‘received your message’
Nancy has been missing for eight days. She was last seen on January 31 after having dinner and a game night at Annie’s house in Tucson.
Her family reported her missing to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department (PCSD) the next day around noon.
Relatives went to her house when members of Nancy’s church alerted them that she did not attend a service that morning.
When they arrived, the mother of three was nowhere to be found.
Investigators found blood on her front porch. They also discovered that her doorbell camera was disconnected at around 1:45 am.
Less than 30 minutes later, her security camera detected movement. Her pacemaker was disconnected from her phone shortly after that.
Newsrooms including TMZ and KOLD have reportedly been receiving ransom notes for Nancy. Authorities have not verified the legitimacy of those notes.
Savannah and her siblings shared a video demanding ‘proof of life’ of their mother after news broke that ransom demands had been made to those outlets.
Savannah has pleaded with the alleged abductors for her mother’s return. Savannah and Nancy are seen together in 2023
Investigators were seen scouring the roof of Nancy Guthrie’s home in Tucson, Arizona on Friday evening, and reportedly found a camera that had been missed in previous searches
It is unclear if her family has received any such proof.
The search for Nancy escalated on Friday night when forensics teams returned to her home for a third time to collect new evidence including a car from her garage and a camera from her roof.
Earlier that day, PCSD Sheriff Chris Nanos told NBC News that he believes that Nancy is ‘still alive.’
While Nanos offered an optimistic view of the search, he previously admitted that investigators are in a race against time, as the elderly woman is suffering health problems and is believed to be without daily medications.
Authorities also said a ‘vehicle of interest’ was identified and believed to have been seen at a Circle K convenience store in the Tucson area on Friday.
A Circle K spokesperson told the Daily Mail that a ‘tip’ led law enforcement to the vehicle, and said the company was assisting investigators by providing access to its surveillance video.
It is unclear why the vehicle appeared to be connected to the disappearance, nor whether any suspects have been identified.
Cops swept Annie and Nancy’s homes on Saturday. It is unclear what – if anything – was recovered during those operations.
Nancy Guthrie lives in a rural part of Tucson, Arizona. Aerial drone footage shows the sparse homes in the area
Officials previously said they have no reason to believe Nancy may have been targeted because of her daughter, but have also not ruled out any inquiries
President Donald Trump suggested the investigation had progressed promisingly on Friday evening, even though no suspects or persons of interest have been publicly named.
Trump told reporters on Air Force One that the investigation was going ‘very well,’ and that investigators ‘have some clues that I think are very strong.’
‘We could have some answers coming up fairly soon,’ Trump teased, saying that ‘a lot has taken place in the last couple hours’ in the search.
Officials previously said they have no reason to suspect the abduction is tied to Savannah’s celebrity profile, but said they have not ruled out any inquiries.
Savannah earns a reported $8 million salary at NBC and has a net worth estimated at around $40 million.
