Sheriff Says Savannah Guthrie’s Mother Was ‘Taken’ From Home; Blood Reportedly Found at Scene

Authorities have reportedly discovered blood inside the Tucson, Arizona-area home of Nancy Guthrie, with Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos saying on Tuesday, “We do believe Nancy was taken from her home against her will.”The 84-year-old mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie was last seen Saturday night. Concerns for her safety have intensified following the discovery of blood and signs of forced entry at her residence, law enforcement officials told The Los Angeles Times.During a press conference Tuesday, Sheriff Nanos confirmed that investigators are treating the disappearance as a kidnapping or abduction. Family members rushed to Ms. Guthrie’s home on Sunday afternoon after she failed to appear at church. Upon arrival, they found her personal belongings — including her wallet, cellphone, and car — still at the property, but she was nowhere to be found.“We don’t see this as a search mission so much as it is a crime scene,” Sheriff Nanos said, noting that Ms. Guthrie has limited mobility and would not have left on her own accord. “We’re doing all we can to try to locate her. Every tool we have, we will use.”While officials have not publicly theorized a motive, Sheriff Nanos issued a direct plea to any potential abductor regarding the 84-year-old’s release. “Just call us. Let her go. Just call us. The family will tell you, there’s no questions asked here,” he told NBC News. “We don’t need another bad, tragic ending. We need some help.”Adding to the urgency of the investigation, Sheriff Nanos warned that Ms. Guthrie’s life is in immediate danger if she does not take her daily medication.“If she’s alive right now, her meds are vital. I can’t stress that enough. It’s been better than 24 hours, and the family tells us if she doesn’t have those meds, it can become fatal,” the sheriff said. “We have a lot of work in front of us. We have someone’s life in jeopardy.”The FBI has joined the local Sheriff’s Department in the investigation. Jon Edwards, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI office in Tucson, emphasized the aggressive nature of the search.“Every lead and tip is important, we are aggressively pursuing and looking into every single one,” Mr. Edwards said at the press conference. “We’re downloading and analyzing cell phones, obtaining cell tower information, conducting interviews and providing any and all investigative support that the sheriff’s department needs. Again, please help us bring Nancy Guthrie home.”Regarding the evidence found at the scene, Sheriff Nanos confirmed there was an empty frame for a security camera near Ms. Guthrie’s front door, though investigators are unsure if the camera was taken during the alleged abduction. While he declined to elaborate on specific findings, he addressed the processing of the home.“I’m not saying there’s blood inside that house or outside that house,” he told reporters, despite sources confirming the presence of blood to The LA Times. “What I’m saying is our team will process the scene. Like you would think of any crime scene, we go in and we process it. We look for things like that, blood, DNA, any kind of physical evidence, fingerprints, anything, and all of that is gathered and submitted to a lab.”Meanwhile, TMZ claimed a ransom note demanding millions in cryptocurrency was sent to their offices on Tuesday morning, but noted they have not been able to verify its authenticity. According to the outlet’s report, the note contained an explicit threat, described as including an “…or else” element. It also reportedly referenced a specific item the sender claims was damaged at Ms. Gutherie’s home.The outlet provided specific details about the demands. “The note, which was sent to us Tuesday morning, demands a specific substantial amount of Bitcoin … the amount is in the millions, and the note demands the cryptocurrency be sent to a specific Bitcoin address,” TMZ reported. They further confirmed that the Bitcoin address included in the message was verified as legitimate.TMZ said that they have forwarded the alleged ransom note to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department for investigation. “We are aware of reports circulating about possible ransom note(s) regarding the investigation,” Sheriff Nanos said in a statement. “We are taking all tips and leads very seriously.”Savannah Guthrie broke her silence on Monday evening, sharing a heartfelt statement on Instagram asking for public support.“Thank you for lifting your prayers with ours for our beloved mom, our dearest Nancy, a woman of deep conviction, a good and faithful servant,” she wrote. “Raise your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment.”The White House also pleaded for information. “The search for Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy Guthrie, is ongoing, and authorities are requesting assistance from the public. Anyone with information is urged to contact 911. Our prayers are with the Guthrie family as we hope for Nancy’s safe return home,” the White House said in a post on X.

Sheriff Says Savannah Guthrie’s Mother Was ‘Taken’ From Home; Blood Reportedly Found at Scene

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