Nancy Guthrie, 84, (mother of TODAY Show host Savannah Guthrie) missing - last seen in the Catalina foothills area on Jan 31, 2026

[Auntie Cipation]

I agree it appears she’s no longer with us but what gets me is why do they say “celebrate WITH her” to me that indicates someone who is still alive. Again, I think they’re responding in some way to something the captor wrote in a message. But the word ‘with’ to me is really not indicating she’s deceased as of this moment. We can try and spin it in any way, but usually you’re not celebrating WITH a dead person, you’re celebrating the dead person.

Just a week ago I attended a funeral for a highly religious person, and the pastor and commenters were repeatedly talking about celebrating that she was now in Heaven, no longer suffering, etc. The only comments about sadness were aimed at those of us who will miss having her here.

I do assume that both the wording of this latest statement, as well as any payment that is made, has been done with the advice of the FBI. Whatever is the bitcoin version of tracked serial numbers or dye packs in money bags will have been employed.

And I also assume that the supposed kidnappers will have instructed the family on what communication method to use to reply. It certainly is less risky for the perps to have the reply come via publicly visible social media, rather than email or phones which can be traced.

MOO

 

[outloudthink]

why....would she?

Perhaps she is no longer wearing her wedding ring.

 

[Izzylizzy]

I had that thought too. That they now know she is dead and they want to simply bring her home. But the "celebrate with her" seemed to suggest she is still alive. So I concluded the family have received a threat to NG's life and are now resigned to paying whatever amount is being demanded. But then the "this is very valuable to us" is a very odd thing to say about a live person being returned

A celebration of ones life focuses on sharing happy memories, it's up-lifting , many have slide shows of beautiful times past, music the person loved etc.

Memorial services are somber, formal and and are more ritualistic focusing on mourning.
imo

 

[KBlackRabbit]

I'm not understanding the decision not to pay by the Thursday deadline when you believe there's a chance of your Mom being alive, but now they are will pay knowing she is not alive? I don't get that. I don't believe the last note told them she died. It doesn't make sense to tell them before the second deadline Monday.

A dead body is still leverage, families will want their loved ones returned if they are gone. Ted Bundy tried to make a deal to reveal the locations of his victims in exchange for a delay of his execution; IIRC it worked once or twice until ultimately it didn’t.

If she’s dead it’s possible if they don’t pay they don’t get the body back in “good condition” or at all.

 

[boredetective]

This might be a wild and unlikely theory, but what if police know the ransom letter is fake, and advised Savannah to make the video saying they will pay, so it angers the person who actually took her (angry that they aren't getting the money) prompting them to send in a tip that the ransom is fake (or make their own request)

 

[SlimPickens]

"We understand" what you'll do to her if you don't get your money, is far more likely than "we understand" that you've already murdered her and we will still pay you for her body back.

Kidnappers don't respect the rights of others. Sociopaths, the lot of them. They don't care if NG died in their care. They don't care if SG and family are suffering. They certainly aren't considerate enough to notify them that she passed away.

They care about getting paid. That's it.

JMO.

 

[shadowsc]

I am of the firm belief after watching that video that if in fact the ransom notes are from those who have NG that she is deceased and the note yesterday informed the kids of that. I’m now thinking that’s what the “very sensitive information” was that the lady from the news station said was in the note yesterday. I think they broke their no more communication rule to inform the family that they can’t in fact provide proof of life like they requested but they still want the money anyway for her return. So sad.

I rewatched the anchorwoman who got the second note yesterday and from her tone and demeanor, I don't think the note said that Nancy was deceased.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2019954906225127539

 

[Vaderman]

Is anyone wondering if another note came from the kidnapper today? Everyone has went radio silent.

Yes, I'm confused if the latest video is referencing the letter that came in yesterday or yet another one that has come in since that one.

 

[Chainspell]

Is anyone wondering if another note came from the kidnapper today? Everyone has went radio silent.

My guess is because they got media attention from the first one (of round two), then they didn't feel it was necessary to send to TMZ/the other local outlet. JMO.

 

[Seni]

Probably convenience. Me and my family always enter through our garage, even when being dropped off. Going in our front door is a pain, and I'm not even sure i have a key to it on my key ring. We just use our garage keypad. Or I can grab a garage door opener and bring it with me. We put our shoes and jackets in the garage too so as to not get dirt everywhere in the house. So that doesn't strike me as odd, especially if she had mobility issues.

Yes, but you are not her, nor family.

I understand and my comment comes in friendship

 

[soap mama]

Is there a reason this is all playing out over Instagram? And not privately?

I find the instagram angle to be weird. Maybe the kidnapper requested that tho

 

[nhmemorymaker]

The usage of "this" is...unsettling to me. "This is important to us." "This is the only way we will have peace"

"We understand" - I'm still not convinced completely these ransom demanders have NG BUT if they do, I could see this being an acknowledgement that while there may not have been an alleged intent to kill her, she may have passed due to her own medical issues that have now gone unmedicated for a week.

And to play devils advocate - these ransom demanders may just be continuing to exploit a situation they never had control of. It's believable an 84 year old woman could have passed away in the commission of this and whoopsie, we never intended this to happen. They pay, they don't get a body because they've never had NG. The idea that kidnappers would return a body for money just seems...insane. Locard's exchange. The potential for evidence that would absolutely nail them is an awful big risk.

i think i can undertand the "this" clearly.... the "this" is getting their mother back for them to cherish, even if she has passed.
As hard as that might sound, as a daughter, I know i would do anything to make "THIS" happen.

BUT THIS WOULD BE A HORROR at this time. And it is still a possibillity.
because they've never had NG.

 

[browneyes]

I’m still holding out hope for NG.

 

[unresolvedmystery]

I find the instagram angle to be weird. Maybe the kidnapper requested that tho

Likely due to the fact no number, address or other way to directly communicate was provided in the notes?

 

[Izzylizzy]

Live
Good panel

BREAKING: Savannah Guthrie, Siblings Respond To New Note About Nancy Guthrie​

 

[BrownRice]

Nancy could've been a victim of a romance/sweetheart scam.

Think about it. She's an elderly, single woman who may want some romantic companionship. From what I've heard, she recently lost her dog so she's probably extra lonely all alone in that big house. Sure, she has a church community but she's been attending virtually for awhile and could be spending more time online. Her Facebook account looks like the typical random mishmash of stuff and doesn't necessarily scream tech-savvy. She also appears to have lost some weight and she may have been feeling a bit more confident.

Social media is full of scammers. I could easily see a bad actor luring into their web of lies while gassing her up. They're messaging back-and-forth all day, every day. She tells him about how her life story, her hopes and dreams, her values, and how her days are going. He's a successful silver fox who actually isn't because they're all stolen photos. Maybe he isn't really just one bad actor, but a group of them who have figured out who she's related to and that she has money.

Anyway, she's telling him about her children and how Annie is a jeweler. Perhaps Nancy has told the scammer man about the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show, which if I'm not mistaken, is the largest show in the world for rockhounds. People travel from all over for this event. Scammer man/men are interested and tell Nancy that this would be a great time to meet. What they're really thinking is, "Jackpot! Now's a great time to travel to Tucson, blend in with the crowd, and rob Nancy."

What makes me pause with my theory is that these scammers usually don't ever want to actually meet. Maybe they wanted to just be in the area and wait until she's out to rob her house. Who knows, maybe they're extra bold in this instance. Let's go back to their messaging back-and-forth. On fateful January 31st, Nancy says something like "Ok, I'm going to my daughter and son-in-law's house for dinner tonight and tell them about our relationship. I'm so excited for you to meet them!!!" I've heard that a lot of seniors (not all) are embarrassed to tell their kids that they're dating again, so this could very well be a big deal for her.

Annie and Tommaso have been drinking while cooking, and don't want to pick up mom under the influence, so they request an Uber ride for her instead. Nothing weird about that. Nancy arrives and tells them her amazing news once they've all sat down for dinner. Annie and Tommaso are all "WTF!? You're talking to a scammer! Cease all communication IMMEDIATELY." Nancy is upset and has been so brainwashed that she messages scammer man when she comes home saying, "I'm home now. My family doesn't believe in our love and I'm so upset. They want us to break up now." He replies with, "Nothing can come between us, my love. They'll come around. Don't give up!"

At this point, the scammer/scammers are beyond PO'd at Annie and Tommaso. They've already bought tickets, flown into Tucson, and now their plans are this close to being thwarted. They decide to take out the ultimate revenge by kidnapping Nancy in the middle of the night and sending ominous ransom notes.

I'll be the first to admit that I have an active imagination, but you can't tell me these scams aren't common. Check out this video, this article, and this article. My mom also used to be a flight attendant and told me about a passenger she had once on a trip coming back from London. The passenger was an elegant-looking, elderly woman who was visibly upset. When the crew members asked what was going on, she said that she was totally stood up at the airport the other day by a man she was supposed to meet and had sent a lot of money to. She really thought they were in love, and was so ashamed and embarrassed to tell her kids. At least she made it home alive.

Yep. Ive thought about that. A friend of my mother in law got twisted up in something like this. It made no sense, but the friend believed it to be true. Her family is in the process of trying to protect her assets, but it’s difficult when the senior citizen is apparently of sound mind. But in NGs case, I assume they would have checked her internet history and emails and phone.

 

[keek]

Agree on CG, but SG was much more matter of fact. Less emotional in words. Negotiating .

Oh def agree she is being, cagey? Yes, she has a firm purpose through her distraught everything. IMO

 

[Luna20]

This is exactly what I think happened. But I’m still confused/curious how they would get the body once the ransom is paid. It’s hard to know how the demands are being made since we have no idea what the letters are actually saying.

The body could expose the perps so she may not be returned.

 

[Fromeaster]

Here they are responding to the third letter or the second? It could still be a fake.

 

[browneyes]

When was this said?

It wasn’t.