As the search for Savannah Guthrie’s mother enters its 10th day, a terrifying threat made in a ransom note by Nancy Guthrie’s suspected kidnappers has been revealed.
TMZ founder Harvey Levin spoke with CNN’s Erin Burnett on Monday about the second ransom deadline that passed this afternoon.
“I’ll read you a line from the ransom note we received,” the 75-year-old told the station. “And they say, ‘It’s in everyone’s best interest to get this done as quickly as possible.'”
“This was when the first ransom note was issued.”
Earlier this month, TMZ and several local media outlets in Tucson, Arizona, where Nancy lives, reported that they had received the first ransom note in connection with the 84-year-old’s disappearance from her home.
Nancy was last seen on January 31st, when she was dropped off at home after having dinner with her daughter Annie and son-in-law Tommaso Cioni.
She failed to arrive at a friend’s house to watch a virtual church service and was reported missing the next day. Police said she was likely snatched from her bed while she was sleeping.
At a press conference, FBI Phoenix Special Agent Heiss Janke confirmed the existence of two deadline memos. The first deadline was set at 5pm local time on February 5th, and the second deadline was set at 5pm local time on February 9th.
Tucson television station KGUN, which received one of the ransom notes, said the potential kidnappers demanded $6 million in Bitcoin.
After the second deadline passed, FBI officials said in a statement that they were “not aware of any ongoing communication between the Guthrie family and the alleged kidnappers.”
They also said they “have not identified any suspects or persons of interest in this incident at this time.”
Savannah, who was absent from the “Today” show last week because she was in Tucson, released another emotional video and said, “I wanted to share some thoughts as[they]go through another week of this nightmare.”
The TV personality thanked everyone for the “love” and “prayers” felt by herself, her brother Camron, sister Annie and even her mother.
“Somehow she feels this prayer and we believe that God is lifting her up in this moment and in this darkest place,” the journalist continued.
“We believe the mother is still out there and we need your help. Law enforcement is working around the clock to bring her home and are trying to find her.”
“She was taken away and we don’t know where she is. She needs help,” she added.
Savannah urged the public to “not only pray,” but be on the lookout for anything suspicious, even if you’re far from Tucson, where the investigation is underway.
“We are in a desperate situation right now and we need your help,” she concluded.
Savannah and her brother shared a video over the weekend saying they had agreed to pay the ransom after local news outlet KOLD received a second message related to Nancy’s disappearance.
“We received your message and we understand it,” the “Today” show co-host said Saturday.
“We now ask you to return our mother to us and celebrate with us. This is the only way we can have peace. This is very precious to us and we will pay.”
However, as of Monday, the ransom had not been paid.
