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

[EightiesBoo]

What a heartbreaking video from SG & her siblings. I don’t think there’s any way not to take that message as they have been told their mother has died and that they believe the sender was the person who took her.

Mary Coleman from KOLD TV didn’t give much info about the 2nd message they received other than to say it appeared to be from the same sender the first one came from and that it contained sensitive information but no deadline and would not be characterized as a ransom note but a message and seemed to be a response to the family’s videos. She also said in her mind a ransom note was looking for something in return for something else and this one was not necessarily that.

Was the sensitive information that NG had died? If so but it wasn’t a ransom note - apparently didn’t say send us this amount and we’ll return the body - was there another message today making that offer? Or was the family’s video today making that offer to the one who sent the messages?

I keep asking myself if I would pay if I knew my mother had already died. And I might for 2 reasons. 1) To know for sure that this was not a scam and wonder for years if someone else had been responsible and that maybe she wasn’t dead and I accepted the word of a scammer and gave up searching too soon. 2) If doing so meant it gave the FBI a better shot at catching whoever had done this.

I also keep wondering if the kidnappers would return her body if SG actually pays. I’m not sure I think they would. If she pays they would have their money so why would they risk getting caught by evidence that might be found if they give the location of the body.

I hope that the FBI can solve this and bring her remains home for he family and put these despicable people away for murder.

It does seem as though they want her body to be at peace — I hate to say it that way. It feels awful.

 

[Wsimm]

“If they’ve shown a propensity for violence, without proof of life, you would never pay a ransom” - Dan O'Shea
Dan O Shea is a retired U.S. Navy SEAL Commander and recognized expert in kidnapping investigation, hostage survival, and crisis management.

Im wondering if this latest video was a suggestion by FBI in particular? Maybe FBI realizes no proof of life will be given by abductors indicated in their last message. In order to find the abductors, they want to keep the lines of communication open between them and the Guthrie family.

 

[birdbox]

Feb 05, 2026

Retired FBI agent & profiler provides insight in Guthrie disapperance

The search for 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, the mother of Today Show host Savannah Guthrie, is in its fifth day.

www.10news.com

"This is a very arrogant crime,” Mary Ellen O'Toole, a retired FBI Agent & Profiler, said.'

''She told ABC 10News that when building a profile of a possible suspect, investigators will look at the victim’s surroundings and day-to-day schedule.

"You start to look at the victimology. Who is the victim, and where did the crime occur? The more we know about the victim, the more we know about the offender. That's kind of our mantra,” O’Toole said.''

It's extremely arrogant.

 

[Interested Torontonian]

NG has a trust. Perhaps the second deadline was to allow time for it to be amended. Bizarre, I know, but anything is possible.

And isn’t it completely possible that the perp entered through the garage and met NG at the front door from the inside? Two minutes to open the door, meet NG at the front door and go back out? And perhaps the car was taken in for evidence in the instance that it was somehow touched by the perp?

But doesn't the timeline have all of this happening between about 1:30 and 2:30 am?

 

[MesquiteO21]

Has it been mentioned about the Silence of the Lambs quotes in the family’s videos and if so, what does everyone think ?

It’s interesting for sure, although I’m guessing someone from the FBI had helped the director when they made the movie so they probably have standard wording for hostage negotiations/kidnappings. [The fact that the wording was exact though (“talk to her and you’ll see”) does make me very curious]

I remember Jim Clemente telling my class that he’s helped write for the show Criminal Minds

Moo

 

[EightiesBoo]

This is how I interpreted the family video. I think the supposed abductor is telling the family that Nancy has died. He/they might not want to return the body because it could contain clues or DNA. The family is offering to pay. I immediately thought "celebrate" meant a "celebration of life", as funerals are referred to in some Christian denominations, such as my own, the Catholic church.

Yes exactly

 

[birdbox]

This is how I interpreted the family video. I think the supposed abductor is telling the family that Nancy has died. He/they might not want to return the body because it could contain clues or DNA. The family is offering to pay. I immediately thought "celebrate" meant a "celebration of life", as funerals are referred to in some Christian denominations, such as my own, the Catholic church.

Of the dead body has DNA of kidnappers how wouldn't the alive human???

 

[rosesfromangels]

I could see that as a potentiality. Does anyone know how any searches have been run in the area?

The perpetrators have reportedly given no way to contact them directly, so publicly is the only way to go.

And likely they are enjoying the “publicity” and control they have momentarily. How satisfying it will be to see them in cuffs. Hope they look good in orange.

Amateur opinion and speculation

 

[MassGuy]

For those of us WS members outside of the USA, how common are abductions and ransoms in the USA? Appreciate the circumstances in this case are very unusual, but does this happen often? In my country, this does not happen, although there are sometimes cases of people being abducted and killed but it is exceptionally rare and people are brought to justice very quickly.

When it happens, it’s almost always criminal elements kidnapping other criminals.

I have never seen a true kidnapping for ransom in my life, and I still don’t believe I have.

I think this is an evil hoax.

 

[MesquiteO21]

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

There must be.

moo

 

[turaj]

I understand having a burial, funeral, especially because the family and Nancy’s faith. On the other hand, I’m sure they wondered about not paying( if she is in fact dead). I’m sure LE would prefer family not paying ransom. It just encouraged more bad behavior. Maybe even enables the kidnappers to get away, not get arrested, live off all that money, in another country.
I don’t want to be harsh, I know, very sensitive matter. God bless the Guthrie family as they decide next steps.

i don't think family cares about encouraging bad behavior. I think they have already. paid the money...probably a lower amount for the body.

 

[ldlager]

I dont see them being so seemingly casual about the first deadline if this were the case

You don’t know if money was in fact paid before the first deadline.

 

[Sundog]

"We received your message, and we understand. We beg you now to return our mother to us so we can celebrate with her. This is the only way we will have peace. She is very valuable to us, and we will pay."

What I heard Savannah say on this most recent message.

The supposed deadline to pay the ransom is Monday. Maybe the family received a communication that the deadline has changed and that NG might not make it until then, or something of that sort. Some bad news about NG's health but not necessarily that she is no longer alive. And that if the kidnapper doesn't hear from them quickly, it may be too late, and that there will be profound consequences.

I know it sounds like it is already to late to save NG, but I am praying fervently that that is not the case.

 

[Izzylizzy]

12:32 pm today
Tragically I think there's a dot to connect.
imo

 

[MommaV]

Yes! That told it all. The other sentences leave a teeny bit of room for interpretation.

The peace statement came straight from the heart too. I hope if someone has their mother's body, the appeal will be effective. But does someone who'd kidnap an 84-year-old woman have the empathy? A body tells a story. The more investigators know, the worse for the murderer.

It may also mean that they’re paying regardless of the outcome. That they won’t delay payment any longer, so they can be at peace of knowing they did everything they could. MOO

 

[Skagirl]

I have to say that I am unfortunately feeling like the family is asking for her body to be returned because of the line „this is the only way we‘ll have peace“.

 

[aafromaa]

That new IG post is so interesting— are they being asked to post on IG? That is so odd! The way she is talking is not normal.

Is there a “normal” way to talk in a situation like this?

 

[vlbay]

Maybe the roof camera that was recovered showed she was not alive when she was abducted? It didn't sound like second note confirmed she was dead--unless there was specific info in that communication hat only the family could interpret this way. Very sad. I really can't imagine the family's pain.

 

[SaraSmile]

One other interesting thing is that the Sheriff stated that there wouldn't be any more press conferences until next Thursday.

Wow, the next deadline is Monday. Surely there will be more info before Thursday!

 

[academyrd]

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

Likely was a demand from whoever is sending the ransom notes.

“All communication must be from Savannah’s IG account”