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Law enforcement chiefs in Arizona on Thursday confirmed that they found blood belonging to Nancy Guthrie, the mother of the TV anchor Savannah Guthrie, on the 84-year-old’s porch after she was reported missing from home at the weekend.
The sheriff of Pima county, Chris Nanos, said during a press conference authorities do not yet have a suspect in the apparent kidnapping.
But they believe Nancy Guthrie is “still out there” and their protocol in such a situation is to assume she is alive until there is any information otherwise “and we’re going to continue thinking that way until we find her”, Nanos said.
The FBI has become involved and the special agent in charge of the investigation, Heith Janke, announced a $50,000 reward for vital information and also said that a ransom note that is being investigated gave an initial deadline of 5pm local time on Thursday for a response.
Nanos confirmed that blood found near the front door of Nancy Guthrie’s house, just north of Tucson, has tested positive for her DNA. Additionally, at 2.28am on Sunday, Nancy Guthrie’s pacemaker disconnected from her personal device, Nanos said. Her doorbell camera had also been removed, but software detected a presence, although without images it was not possible to know at this point if the movement was a person or an animal, Nanos said.
The sheriff added that he is “certainly fearful” of a worst-case scenario where Nancy Guthrie is no longer alive, saying: “I think we all are … especially without the medication that she needs every day.”
Savannah Guthrie is the longtime news anchor of Today on NBC.
It appears that Nancy Guthrie disappeared overnight Saturday, and her absence was discovered late Sunday morning by the family. She was reported missing just after midday. That prompted an investigation that authorities have said includesthe suspected ransom note.
Investigators believe Nancy Guthrie was taken against her will. Janke said on Thursday it was not clear whether the apparent kidnapping was specifically related to Savannah Guthrie being a well-known national journalist.
On a ransom, Janke said: “We are in communication with the family. While we advise and recommend, from a law enforcement perspective, any action taken on any ransom is ultimately decided by the family.”
Law enforcement leaders expressed sympathy with the family.
“This entire team is hurting with you,” Nanos said of law enforcement personnel, addressing his comments to Nancy’s distraught children – Savannah and her sister and brother.
The siblings released a tearful public appeal via video on Wednesday night, focusing on their mother’s deteriorating health and the danger posed by her lack of medication. The siblings asked for evidence that their mother is still alive.
“Everyone is looking for you, mommy,” Guthrie said. “Everywhere. We will not rest. Your children will not rest until we are together again.”
Nanos said on Thursday there had been no information in the ransom note they are primarily investigating that indicated how the family should communicate with those responsible for the apparent abduction.
Meanwhile, one person has been arrested for sending a suspected fake ransom note, with the sheriff describing that person as an impostor.
According to authorities, Nancy Guthrie was last seen on Saturday evening at her residence in Catalina Foothills, an affluent community about 6 miles (10km) north-east of Tucson. Family members dropped her off at approximately 9.30pm.
By Sunday morning, members of her church noticed she was not at home and contacted her family. A missing-person report was filed later that afternoon after relatives called 911. A search effort began immediately, drawing in volunteers and border patrol agents, and continued into the following day. By Monday, investigators had declared the house a crime scene.
In the Instagram video, Savannah Guthrie and her siblings reiterated concerns about their mother’s medical condition and said she does not have access to her prescriptions.
“She’s 84 years old. Her health, her heart, is fragile. She lives in constant pain. She is without any medicine. She needs it to survive, and she needs it not to suffer,” Guthrie said.
“We, too, have heard the reports about a ransom letter in the media. As a family, we are doing everything that we can. We are ready to talk. However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated. We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you and we are ready to listen.”
After the family’s statement, Donald Trump posted on social media that he had spoken to Savannah Guthrie on Wednesday. The US president said he was “deploying all resources to get her mother home safely”. Axios reported that Pam Bondi, the attorney general, also spoke with Savannah Guthrie and that Kash Patel, the FBI director, planned to travel to Tucson.
Savannah Guthrie has been absent from the Today show this week. NBC said she would also step away from her scheduled role as a co-host of Friday’s Winter Olympics opening ceremony to remain with her family.
“Our hearts are with her and the entire Guthrie family as the search continues for their mother,” the network said in a statement.
In Arizona and across the US, people have gathered to show support for the family.
“We need people with that connection to Savannah, to Nancy, to the community, to show the love and support that we have for this family,” Anne Moral, a friend of Savannah Guthrie, told ABC News-affiliate KGUN9 during a prayer service in Catalina Foothills.
