Nancy Guthrie Search Intensifies After Ransom Deadline, FBI Joins Probe

TUCSON, ARIZONA (Azat TV) – The search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie, intensified on Friday as a first deadline in an apparent ransom demand passed without contact, prompting her son, Camron Guthrie, to issue a renewed public plea for her safe return. Authorities confirmed new details, including the discovery of her blood on her porch and a missing front-door camera, as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officially joined the Pima County Sheriff’s Department in the now six-day-old investigation, offering a $50,000 reward for information.

Family’s Urgent Appeal Amid Ransom Demands

As the first deadline in a purported ransom note passed on Friday, Camron Guthrie, speaking on behalf of the family, released an emotional video message. “Whoever is out there holding our mother, we want to hear from you,” he stated, emphasizing the family’s urgent need for direct communication and proof of life. “We need you to reach out and we need a way to communicate with you so we can move forward.” This plea follows an earlier video from Wednesday where Savannah Guthrie also addressed potential abductors, highlighting her mother’s fragile health.

Multiple media outlets have received email-based ransom notes demanding millions of dollars in Bitcoin for Nancy Guthrie’s safe return. While the authenticity of these notes remains under investigation, a second deadline for these demands is set for Monday, according to the FBI. Cybersecurity experts have noted that Bitcoin is “unusual” for ransom demands due to its high traceability, which could potentially aid investigators.

New Clues Emerge in Nancy Guthrie Investigation

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos revealed new details about the circumstances surrounding Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance from her home in the Catalina Foothills area, north of Tucson. Blood found on her porch has been confirmed to belong to her. Furthermore, a front-door security camera that detected motion around 2:12 a.m. on Sunday, February 1, is now missing. Sheriff Nanos explained that the camera’s software detected a “person on camera” but no video footage was available because the system lacked a subscription and would loop, overwriting old data. The doorbell camera had disconnected at 1:47 a.m. Sunday, and her pacemaker app showed a disconnect from her phone at 2:28 a.m. that same morning.

Nancy Guthrie, last seen Saturday night, February 1, after dinner with her family, was reported missing Sunday around noon when she failed to appear for church. Sheriff Nanos expressed his belief that Guthrie is “absolutely” alive, despite the lack of direct contact or named suspects in her disappearance. He underscored the critical nature of her health, noting she suffers from a heart condition and constant pain, requiring vital medication daily, which, if missed, “could be fatal.”

Challenges and Expanding Resources in the Search

The investigation has been complicated by the challenging terrain of Nancy Guthrie’s residence. Sheriff Nanos described the area as “a very suburban, rural area of the Tucson area, in a very mountainous side of town where vegetation is extremely thick” and “not very well lit.” These conditions have made obtaining comprehensive surveillance video extremely difficult, though authorities continue to canvas neighborhoods and draw data from street and intersection cameras.

In response to the growing complexity, the FBI has significantly ramped up its involvement, deploying additional agents and experts to Pima County. The agency is actively reviewing and analyzing information from all digital sources, including banks, social media companies, and phone providers. A Google spokesperson confirmed that the company, which produces Nest home security cameras, is also assisting law enforcement. The FBI’s joint investigation includes a $50,000 reward for information leading to Nancy Guthrie’s recovery or the arrest and conviction of those involved.

Illegitimate Threats Amidst Genuine Concerns

The high-profile nature of the case has also attracted malicious actors. Authorities arrested Derrick Callella, a California man, for sending an illegitimate ransom threat to members of the Guthrie family. Callella was charged with transmitting a demand for ransom and intending to abuse, threaten, or harass using a telecommunication device. He allegedly used a fake phone number to text Guthrie’s daughter and son-in-law, asking if they had Bitcoin, shortly after the family posted a public plea. The complaint clarifies that Callella is not linked to the primary Bitcoin ransom demands sent to media outlets. FBI Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke issued a warning to “imposters who are trying to take advantage and profit from this situation,” vowing to hold them accountable.

Security has also been heightened at NBC’s “Today” show, where Savannah Guthrie is a co-host, as a precautionary measure, according to sources at the network. Even the White House has acknowledged the case, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirming that President Donald Trump watched the latest news conference on Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance.

The ongoing investigation is a race against time, particularly given Nancy Guthrie’s advanced age and critical medical needs, placing immense pressure on both law enforcement and the family as they navigate complex digital threats and a challenging physical search environment.