Family Appeals for Information in Nancy Guthrie Case
The family of Nancy Guthrie issued a new appeal on Saturday for information on the whereabouts of their missing grandmother, six months after she disappeared from her home in Tucson, Arizona, and a day after local investigators released two purported ransom notes.
“Six months ago, someone took her out of her bed in the dead of night. We have lived every moment, every breath, and every heartbeat in agony and despair ever since,” a post on Instagram said, as reported by The Guardian.
“Every day, we wake up and try to be strong and go on – because that’s what our joyful and resilient Mom taught us to do. But make no mistake – our hearts are in ruins,” the Guthrie family added.
Nancy Guthrie, 84, mother of Today show anchor Savannah Guthrie, disappeared from her home on 1 February. Despite intense national attention and the involvement of the FBI, no suspects have been arrested in connection with her disappearance, according to The Guardian.
Investigation and Ransom Notes
The Pima County sheriff’s department posted a message saying, “The Guthrie investigation remains active and ongoing,” and later released notes received by news outlets soon after Guthrie disappeared, as reported by The Guardian.
The first note came from someone who claimed they had Guthrie – and that “she is safe but scared” and would not be released until payment in the form of $4m in bitcoin was received, according to The Guardian.
The second said that she had “perished shortly after she was taken. We believe it was heart related. She is buried in nature now.” The presumed abductors added: “Nothing you could have done could have changed the outcome. We want your family to know this and hope you all can find peace. We are truly sorry,” as reported by The Guardian.
BBC’s reporting noted that two ransom notes were sent to news media, with the first demanding millions in Bitcoin for her release and the second stating that she had died, according to US media, which cited unnamed sources.
Family's Public Statements
In a video posted on Monday, Savannah Guthrie addressed the possible kidnappers, as reported by BBC. “It has been months since our mom was taken from us,” Guthrie said. “Our family is in agony. We are in a nightmare that will not end. Nothing about our situation has changed. We have done our part, and we will never stop looking for her. We will always ache for her and feel that hole in our hearts.”
She added: “Help us bring this situation to an end. For all of us, no matter where we’ve been and what we’ve done, I believe there is always a way home. Please make the right choice.”
The Pima County Sheriff's Department has not commented on the contents of any apparent ransom notes, but the department said their investigation “remains active and ongoing,” as reported by BBC.
Case Background
The FBI and Pima County have spent months investigating her mysterious abduction from her Arizona home, according to BBC. Nancy Guthrie, who needs daily medication, vanished sometime after she was dropped off at her home by relatives on the January evening almost six months ago, as reported by BBC. She failed to show up the following morning at a friend's house to watch a virtual Sunday church service.
Earlier this year, authorities released images of a masked and armed suspect who covered the front door camera at Nancy Guthrie's home before her disappearance, as reported by BBC. An initial ransom note was sent the day after she went missing and demanded millions in Bitcoin for her release, according to BBC.
The Guardian reported that two men who were detained and questioned in the days immediately after Nancy Guthrie vanished had issued a “notice of claim” against the Pima county sheriff, Chris Nanos, and a detective on the case, citing NBC News.
On Saturday, the family issued a new appeal for information leading to Guthrie’s recovery, as reported by The Guardian. “We are begging for help. We are desperate. We need someone to come forward,” the family said in their Instagram post.