Savannah Guthrie’s Mom Search: FBI Make Arrest Over False Ransom Note

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More details are coming to light about the ransom notes relating to Savannah Guthrie’s mom. 

The FBI announced an arrest in the Nancy Guthrie search. Investigators say someone was pretending to be the person holding the 84-year-old hostage and made a false ransom demand.

After confirming the arrest, Heith Janke, the head of the FBI’s Phoenix office, stated on February 5th that there’s no connection between this incident and Nancy’s case. He described the perpetrator as someone attempting to financially benefit from the situation – a complete fraud.

Police haven’t released the name of the person arrested, but they stated that charges will be filed in court later today.

Investigators are treating a new ransom note, sent to both national and local news organizations, as a very serious threat, according to Janke.

He explained that they are currently investigating and addressing the issue that was brought to their attention through the media.

He explained they received a note containing details of a demand, including a deadline and a specific monetary amount. The ransom requests involved an Apple watch and a floodlight, but he declined to share further specifics. He emphasized the need to protect the ongoing investigation and prevent others from exploiting the information for financial gain.

Even though investigators are looking closely at the ransom notes, Janke pointed out that whoever might have taken Nancy hasn’t actually contacted anyone yet.

He stated that the letter contained no evidence of life and made no requests. The Guthrie family continues to await a response.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve been following this story closely, and it’s quite unsettling. The ransom note, as reported by TMZ and other news sources, demanded a cryptocurrency payment – we’re talking millions of dollars worth – to a particular Bitcoin address. It’s a clear indication of how digital currency is unfortunately being used in criminal activity.

For a complete timeline of the search of Nancy, keep reading…

Police say 84-year-old Joan Guthrie, mother to Annie, Camron, and Savannah Guthrie, was last seen at her home in Tucson, Arizona, around 9:30 p.m. on January 31st.

I was absolutely frantic when I heard Nancy was missing! Apparently, a friend of hers noticed she hadn’t been at church Sunday morning, which was so unlike her, and let her family know. Her kids immediately started searching everywhere on her property, but after about an hour of looking, they had to call the police. It was just awful – I couldn’t believe something like this could happen to sweet Nancy!

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos later explained the first steps of the investigation, which involved detectives specializing in homicides, at the victim’s home.

It’s unusual for the sheriff to be called to a scene like this, but the information we’re gathering from the house is deeply troubling,” he said at a press conference on February 2nd. “This case was particularly striking based on what officers described and what we discovered at the scene.

“This isn’t how things usually work,” Nanos explained. “Normally, our homicide team is called out when someone dies, when there’s a body. In this case, we sent them based solely on the information the surveyors gave us.”

Okay, so after they looked around Nancy’s place, the police finally admitted something bad happened there. It wasn’t just some accident, it was a crime! I knew it, I knew something was wrong! It’s just awful, but at least they’re acknowledging it now. I’ve been saying it all along!

During a press conference on February 2nd, Nanos stated that investigators now believe they have confirmed a crime scene after processing the area. He asked for the public’s assistance, noting that the community has historically been helpful in solving difficult cases, and he hopes they will come forward with information again.

The sheriff pointed out that Nancy had trouble getting around – she couldn’t walk even a short distance on her own – which led him to suspect something wasn’t right with her disappearance.

He stated, “We’re certain she didn’t simply leave on her own.” He also mentioned there was other evidence at the location suggesting she didn’t leave voluntarily.

The search for Nancy is still ongoing, and officials are concerned because she requires daily medication to stay healthy, and she probably doesn’t have it with her.

During a press conference on February 2nd, Nanos explained that an 84-year-old woman under their care is facing serious health problems and urgently needs medication. Without it within 24 hours, her condition could become life-threatening.

We’re asking anyone with information about this case – if you’ve seen or heard anything at all – to please come forward. Call 911. We want to avoid another tragedy and need the public’s help.

Although Nancy has faced some health challenges, Dr. Nanos highlighted that her thinking and mental skills remain sharp.

According to Nanos, Nancy Guthrie is mentally alert and this situation isn’t related to dementia. She’s still very sharp, and her family wants everyone to understand she didn’t simply wander away. Any physical limitations she has are just due to her age.

With the search for Nancy still ongoing, Nanos expressed his wish for her to come home safely.

“I hope we find her safe and sound,” he emphasized, “but we cannot ignore what’s in front of us.”

The day after Nancy was reported missing, the anchor of the Today show publicly shared how difficult this time is for her family.

In a statement to NBC’s morning show on February 2nd, she expressed her family’s gratitude for all the support, prayers, and kind messages they’ve received. Their main priority right now is bringing Nancy home safely.

She expressed gratitude to law enforcement for their efforts in the case and asked anyone with information to please reach out to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.

Once Savannah Guthrie learned her mother, Nancy, had been reported missing, her colleagues on the Today show publicly expressed their support.

Jenna Bush Hager shared on the February 2nd episode of Today with Jenna & Sheinelle that she and Nancy are close friends, saying, “We love Nancy.”

My heart goes out to Savannah and her family right now. I’m sending all my prayers and positive thoughts their way, hoping they find strength during this difficult time. It’s just awful, and they’re constantly on my mind.

Meanwhile, Sheinelle Jones emphasized the importance of community during this difficult time. 

She felt the show was at its best when it asked viewers to help, encouraging anyone with information for the Pima County Sheriff’s department – even seemingly insignificant details – to come forward.

She added, “So we’re sending our prayers but we’re also sending our collective action.”

Before concluding the segment, both hosts continued, “We love you, Savannah.”

And Sunday Today anchor Willie Geist also urged fans to keep an eye out for Nancy.

On February 2nd, he posted on Instagram asking anyone with information about the whereabouts of Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy, to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department in Arizona. He also included the relevant phone number, stating that she was missing.

Savannah’s former colleague, Hoda Kotb, responded to the surprising announcement by sharing a heartwarming picture of Savannah and Nancy together on the Today show set. In a simple Instagram post on February 2nd, Hoda included only a red heart and praying hands emoji.

Police have labeled Nancy’s home in Arizona a crime scene, but they don’t think the public needs to worry about their safety.

As a long-time follower of Sheriff Nanos, I was relieved to hear him say at the February 2nd press conference that he doesn’t believe there’s an immediate danger right now. He did add, though, that the investigation is far from over and there’s still a lot of work to be done, which is understandable.

Savannah hasn’t been on Today since February 1st, when her mother was reported missing. However, local authorities have been checking in with her to make sure she’s okay.

The sheriff confirmed they had spoken with her. Her security team has been communicating with them all night, but they aren’t ruling anything out at this point.

On Feb. 2, Pima County police shared a series of updates on the timeline of Nancy’s disappearance.

Investigators now think she was likely taken from her home against her will, potentially while she was sleeping, according to a Pima County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson. They are currently investigating the possibility that she was kidnapped.

After news broke that Nancy might have been taken from her home in Arizona while she was sleeping, Savannah made a heartfelt plea.

In a recent Instagram post on February 2nd, she shared her faith, writing about the power of prayer, the strength of unity, and a belief in love, hope, goodness, and humanity – ultimately placing her faith in God.

Savannah continued, expressing gratitude for everyone’s prayers for her mother, Nancy, whom she described as a woman of strong beliefs and unwavering faith. She asked for continued prayers, believing they would offer comfort and strength to Nancy right now.

She added, “we need you.”

To conclude her plea, Savannah shared a Bible verse from Isaiah.

She shared a verse from Isaiah, writing, “He will keep those with unwavering hearts and trust in the Lord in perfect peace.” She believed this message held true for everyone, always.

Savannah continued, “Bring her home.”

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos stated that DNA evidence was discovered at Nancy’s house, which is now being treated as a crime scene.

We collected samples and are hoping they contain enough DNA to help us identify what we’re investigating,” he told NBC News in a report on Today on February 3rd.

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2026-02-05 23:18