TMZ reported that it received a ransom note “demanding payment for the release of Nancy Guthrie,” the 84-year-old mother of “Today” anchor Savannah Guthrie. The media claims that the ransom note was sent on Tuesday, February 3, and “demands a specific and significant amount of Bitcoin, in the millions, and that the note requests that the cryptocurrency be sent to a specific Bitcoin address.”
“TMZ has confirmed that the Bitcoin address is genuine,” the outlet added. “The ransom claim has a time limit and an ‘or else’ element…We have forwarded the ransom claim to the Pima County Sheriff’s Office.”
Variety reached out to the Pima County Sheriff’s Office, which pointed to a statement released on the
Savannah Guthrie’s representatives have not commented. Neither TMZ nor the Sheriff’s Office have verified whether the ransom note is real or a hoax.
Nancy Guthrie was last seen on the night of January 31st at her home in Catalina Foothills, Arizona. Due to her age, she was classified by police as a “missing vulnerable adult.” On February 2, the Pima County Sheriff’s Office announced that Nancy’s disappearance would be treated as a crime after “very disturbing” evidence was found in her home.
“Yes, we believe she was kidnapped,” Sheriff Chris Nanos told CBS News. “She didn’t walk away from there. She wasn’t willing to go.”
Nanos said Nancy had “no signs of cognitive problems” and was “very alert” and of “very sound mind.” At a media briefing on February 3, before TMZ reported on the ransom note, Nanos told reporters, “We saw some things at the home that were concerning to us. Now that we have processed the crime scene, we believe there is indeed a crime scene, and we are asking for the community’s help.”
Savannah Guthrie asked her Instagram followers to “keep them in your prayers” as the search for her mother continues.
“We believe in prayer. We believe in voices raised in unison filled with love and hope. We believe in goodness. We believe in humanity. And above all, we believe in God,” Savannah wrote in a social media post. “Thank you for lifting up your prayers with us for our beloved mother, our beloved Nancy, a woman of deep faith, a good and faithful servant. Please lift up your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted up by them in this moment. We need you.”
