Savannah Guthrie Issues Desperate Plea to Mother’s Abductor in Emotional New Video: ‘We Will Pay’

Seven days in, the questions continue to outnumber the answers. As the search for Nancy Guthrie stretches on, her family is living with the unbearable weight of not knowing where their mother is.
In a gut-wrenching new video, the Guthries laid bare that pain, speaking not just as a family in crisis, but as children desperate to bring their mom home. Savannah Guthrie shared a deeply emotional video message directed at whoever is holding her beloved mother.
The “TODAY” co-anchor, visibly shaken, spoke directly to the apparent abductor while authorities confirmed they are actively reviewing a newly received message tied to the case.
Savannah Guthrie Breaks Down in Emotional Video
“We received your message, and we understand,” Savannah said in the video. “We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her. This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay.”
Law enforcement officials in Arizona have said they believe the 84-year-old grandmother is still alive, though no suspect or person of interest has been identified.
Investigators Review New Message and Follow Leads as Search Continues
Federal and local authorities confirmed this week that they are “actively inspecting” a new message connected to Nancy’s disappearance. Officials have not released details about its contents.
Investigators are also searching for a vehicle possibly linked to the case. A report in the New York Post states that a Circle K spokesperson confirmed that law enforcement requested surveillance footage from a store on Oracle Road in Tucson after receiving a tip involving a vehicle of interest.
Days before Nancy vanished, a neighbor reported seeing a suspicious white van near her home.
“It was somewhere on that street,” neighbor Brett McIntire said. “It was a white van, full-sized, with no printing on the sides. It was parked on the street.”
Authorities are offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to Nancy’s recovery or the arrest of anyone involved.
Guthrie Family Appeals Continue With Direct Messages to Alleged Captor
Savannah’s brother, Camron Guthrie, issued his own plea in a video posted to Instagram earlier in the week, addressing whoever took their mother.
“Whoever is out there holding our mother, we want to hear from you,” Camron said. “We haven’t heard anything directly. We need you to reach out. We need a way to communicate with you so we can move forward. But first, we have to know you have our mom. We want to talk to you, and we are waiting for contact.”
In another emotional message—the first from the Guthrie family —Savannah appeared alongside her siblings, Annie and Camron, stressing the need for proof that their mother is alive.
“We need to know without a doubt that she’s alive and that you have her,” Savannah said. “We want to hear from you, and we are ready to listen. Please reach out to us.”
She also addressed reports of ransom letters.
“We too have heard the reports about a ransom letter in the media,” she said. “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.”
Family Earlier Made an emotional plea to the abductors detailing Nancy’s Fragile Health
NBCUniversalReading from prepared remarks, Savannah described her mother’s medical needs and the urgency of her return.
Their mother, she said, lives in “constant pain” and requires daily medication to survive.
“She has grandchildren that adore her and crowd around her and cover her with kisses,” Savannah said through tears. “She loves fun and adventure. She is a devoted friend. She is full of kindness and knowledge. Talk to her, and you’ll see.”
She closed the message with a direct plea. “Mommy, if you are hearing this, you are a strong woman,” she said. “Everyone is looking for you, Mommy, everywhere. We will not rest. Your children will not rest until we are together again. We speak to you every moment and we pray without ceasing and we rejoice in advance for the day that we hold you in our arms again. We love you.”
Annie Guthrie also addressed her mother directly.
“Momma, if you’re listening, we need you to come home, we miss you,” she said.
Camron concluded the video with a final message: “We love you, mama. Stay strong.”
Nancy was last seen late Saturday night, around 9:30 p.m., when her son-in-law dropped her off at her home after a family dinner. By Sunday morning, concern set in when she did not arrive for church, prompting her family to report her missing.
Investigators later declared the home a crime scene. Authorities have said they believe Nancy was taken while she slept, deepening the urgency of the search.
As of writing this story, law enforcement officials say they are pursuing every lead and remain hopeful as the investigation continues.
The disappearance of Savannah Guthrie’s Mother
Investigators believe Nancy Guthrie was abducted from her bed in Arizona
Final contact
January 31
- 5:32 PM – Guthrie traveled to her family’s house for a game night.
- 6:00 PM – She dines at the home of her daughter Annie
- 9:48 PM – Her family dropped her back at home, and the garage door opened.
- 9:50 PM – The garage door closed.
Missing from church
February 1, morning
- 1:47 AM – Doorbell camera in front of Guthrie’s home disconnected.
- 2:12 AM – Software for the smart home detected a person on the camera, but no video is available.
- 2:28 AM – Guthrie’s pacemaker app shows it was disconnected from her phone.
- 11:00 AM -A friend called Guthrie’s family, telling them she had not shown up for church
- 11:56 AM – The family checks on her.
- 12:03 PM – Family calls 9-1-1 to report her missing.
- 2:15 PM – Patrol cars arrive.
Suspected abduction
February 1, afternoon
- Detectives believe Nancy was taken from inside her home against her will, possibly in the middle of the night
- Law-enforcement sources say there were signs of forced entry
- Blood was found inside the residence; it is not yet known whose blood it was
- Authorities say Nancy did not leave voluntarily
Case escalated
February 2, morning
- Sheriff Chris Nanos confirms investigators now have a clear start point because Annie Guthrie was the last confirmed contact
- The investigation officially shifts from a missing person case to a criminal case
- Homicide detectives are assigned
- Nanos says bluntly: “We do in fact have a crime scene. We do in fact have a crime.”
Public appeal
February 2, noon
- Nanos urges anyone who may have taken Nancy to release her immediately
- “Just call us. Let her go. No questions asked,” he says
- Authorities warn Nancy’s life may be in immediate danger because she requires daily medication.
Evidence and reward
February 2, evening
- Investigators confirm they are treating the case as a possible kidnapping or abduction
- Deputies canvass neighbors and review surveillance footage
- A tip line is established.
- The Sheriff’s Department offers a reward of up to $2,500 for images, video, or information leading to an arrest
Family statements
February 2, night
- Savannah Guthrie posts a public plea on social media asking for prayers and information
- She thanks the public for support and urges anyone with tips to contact authorities.
Abduction confirmed
February 3
- TMZ claims they have received a ransom note and publishes details including a demand for millions in Bitcoin
- The sheriff’s office confirm that is reviewing possible ransom notes as part of the investigation
- DNA from the home is confirmed to be Nancy. No suspect DNA identified
- Detectives are working with pacemaker and home-camera companies for data
- Sheriff nanos confirms investigators believe Nancy was abducted
Plea for mother’s return
February 4
- Savannah Guthrie and her siblings spoke out to their mother’s potential abductor and their mother in a heart wrenching video
- FBI agents swooped on Nancy’s home and temporarily cordoned it off with yellow crime scene tape. They left again a few hours later
- Sheriff said that no suspect has been identified
Still no suspect
February 5
- The sheriff said there was still not suspect or person of interest
- The FBI announced a $50,000 reward