Savannah Guthrie pleaded with viewers Tuesday to come forward with any new information, following reports that one of the ransom notes sent to her family declared her mother dead.
“I just want to take the opportunity to ask people, to really to beg people to come forward. Somebody knows something. This is a new story today that is on your radar, but this is the life that my sister lives, I live, my brother lives, our extended families live, our children live every day. We are in agony,” Savannah Guthrie said Tuesday.
Sunday marked 20 weeks since Nancy Guthrie was abducted from her home in the Catalina Foothills north of Tucson.
“We cannot be at peace no matter how much I try to come out here every day and smile and find that joy, and I will, I promise I will, this is the moment to tell you that we need your help. We’re begging for your help. I’m not going to miss that opportunity. And so please, if you’re watching, no matter how small the reward is there, you can tell us. It can be anonymous. Please do the right thing for us, for our family, for our children. We love our mom. We’ll never stop looking for her, never,” Savannah Guthrie added.
Nancy Guthrie, the mother of “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie, remains missing, and the family is urging renewed attention as the search drags on. (Courtesy of NBC)
Savannah Guthrie’s call for tips comes after new reporting that the second ransom note that was sent to her family indicated that Nancy Guthrie had passed away after she was abducted, a federal law enforcement source close to the case told Fox News on Monday.
The note is believed to have indicated that Guthrie was “buried with nature,” according to the source.
Authorities haven’t confirmed or denied the two original notes’ authenticity, nor have they identified who sent them. The source told Fox News that no money or Bitcoin was sent to the individuals who sent the note, which makes it difficult for investigators to track down who sent them.
An undated photo of Nancy Guthrie and Savannah Guthrie was provided by NBC in response to the disappearance of the 84-year-old mother of the “Today” host. (Courtesy of NBC)
NBC reported on Monday that the second note sent to several media outlets claimed that Nancy Guthrie had died but didn’t include a request for payment or an apology, according to three people familiar with the situation.
A member of the Pima County Sheriff’s Office remains outside of Nancy Guthrie’s home, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026 in Tucson, Ariz. (Ty ONeil/AP Photo)
Arizona’s Family reported that the second ransom note emailed to KOLD, its sister station in Tucson, said that Nancy Guthrie had died and added that her abductors “never intended to hurt her.”
“She perished shortly after she was taken,” “she is buried in nature now,” and “We are truly sorry” were also included in the second ransom note.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told Fox News Digital on Monday that the FBI has looked into numerous ransom demands since the beginning of the investigation, with some being bogus and others with the potential to be real.
A sign of solidarity from neighbors at Nancy Guthrie’s home Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Caitlin O’Hara)
Jason Pack, a retired FBI supervisory special agent and former FBI hostage negotiator, told Fox News Digital that an apology inside a ransom communication is unusual.
“People who have leverage do not apologize. They demand,” Pack said. “A rambling, labored apology for an inadvertent death suggests something went wrong that was not part of the plan.”
