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

[gammagirl]

There is SO much we dont know....

 

[BigCityAccountant]

Actually 100% agree - I think it’s possible, even likely, the family paid the first ransom prior to the Thursday deadline.

THIS!! I think they did pay. I think the "we understand" came from additional communication that hasn't been made public and that communication indicated that NG had passed away. Come on guys this is an elderly lady with heart issues. With the added distress, IMHO it wouldn't take much for NG to go into cardiac arrest. I think today's video was ok we understand you didn't intentionally kill her even though we paid you--but---we will pay you the rest of what you asked for so that we can have closure and receive our mom's remains back. JMHO

Nevertheless, this whole situation is just so heartbreaking. I sure do hope that somewhere down the line---think of the older cases where the perp is JUST NOW being brought to justice---this perp is held accountable for their actions.

 

[MommaV]

Savannah's opening words "we received your message... and we understand." Everything she said following relates to this.

I can't see how definitive proof of death could be seen on cam footage, in this case anyhow...a body would have to be pretty messed up to confirm being deceased.

Is it possible the message received that they’re responding to has nothing to do with the first two known ransoms? Maybe an additional source of communication was made to them?

 

[katydid23]

I also thought that SIL couldn't do it physically without wife's knowing because they live together and he needs an alibi, she would notice that he wasn't at home

Maybe, maybe not. They have a pretty big new house. SIL likely has a 'man cave' set up somewhere----guest room, garage, guest house? Many middle aged couples have separate spaces they can hang out in at night. I think it's possible he could have taken a secret trip while she was asleep, without her noticing. imo

The main problem might be the cameras at SILs home, if he tried to make a late night drive.

 

[mikeshanty]

why wouldn't SG just say we understand our mother has died and we are willing to pay.

something is weird...I think it sounds a little coded or something. mOO

Because explicitly acknowledging death could escalate or shut down negotiations. Families are often advised to avoid statements that remove incentive for compliance or provoke anger. Keeping language neutral (“return her”) preserves ambiguity and leverage, even when the family fears the worst.

 

[LayzeeDayzee]

Sorry if this has been talked about or verified, but do they think device on roof was planted by kidnappers?

Sorry, what device on the roof? I've not understood what investigators were doing up on her roof, what they were looking for.......did they find some kind of device? What kind?

 

[Curiousobserver]

Here is the entire clip of the anchor from KOLD talking about receiving the second message. I do not get the impression that messages said that Nancy was deceased.

I hope you’re right

 

[Pharmasgirl]

Who thinks AG died soon after being kidnapped, the murder(s) went on a out their way, and these ransom notes are just a sophisticated way to scam the family?

SG's, "We understand" could be in response to the writer saying. "You think I'm joking. I'm going to do x, y, z to you mom if you don't pay up". MOO


Many pages back. IIRC, it was mentioned it's the 30th anniversary of the movie and that Cameron was wearing a shirt with the same pattern as an actress in the movie. Some speculated the FBI might have suggested the line.

The more I hear, the more I don't know. Where's Stephen King? All of this is totally bizarre!

 

[MommaV]

Sorry, what device on the roof? I've not understood what investigators were doing up on her roof, what they were looking for.......did they find some kind of device? What kind?

A camera

 

[LRinCA]

Just sitting here pondering this Silence of the Lambs angle. Obviously, someone who would kidnap another person is demented to a certain degree. Is it possible that this kidnapper signed his/her note with Buffalo Bill (the name given to the character in SOL) and they are trying to humor this person by responding in kind? Just a wild thought.

 

[ChicagoSleuth]

Is it possible the message received that they’re responding to has nothing to do with the first two known ransoms? Maybe an additional source of communication was made to them?

Per the FBI, today's Guthrie video is in relation to the second/Friday note. Source: 'We will pay,' Savannah Guthrie says in desperate video plea to potential kidnappers of her mother

 

[Sundog]

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

63K views · 702 reactions | Savannah Guthrie and her siblings have released a new video in which they address whomever abducted their mother. “We received your message and we understand. We beg you now to return our mother to us that we may celebrat

Savannah Guthrie and her siblings have released a new video in which they address whomever abducted their mother. “We received your message and we understand. We beg you now to return our mother to...

www.facebook.com

Listening to this again, it is possible that the abductor gave the family proof of life in that the abductor relayed something to them that Nancy told them while in captivity. And the family said, basically, okay this is very valuable to us and we will pay. So they took it as proof of life.

 

[shadowsc]

Is it possible the message received that they’re responding to has nothing to do with the first two known ransoms? Maybe an additional source of communication was made to them?

That's what I first thought, but it would contradict what the FBI said. Assuming they are being forthcoming.

“We received your message, and we understand. We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her,” she said in a video posted on social media, flanked by her siblings. “This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay.”

The “Today” show host was referencing a message that was sent to the Tucson-based television station KOLD on Friday afternoon, according to Kevin Smith, a spokesperson for the FBI office in Phoenix.

KOLD said it received an email related to the Guthrie case on social media that day but declined to share specific details about its contents as the FBI conducted its review.

'We will pay,' Savannah Guthrie says in desperate video plea to potential kidnappers of her mother

Savannah Guthrie has told the potential kidnappers of her mother Nancy Guthrie that the family is prepared to pay for her safe return.

apnews.com

 

[Sakura2Sophia4Lucia]

One theory could be that there is a reason that SG conveyed the message that she did and that perhaps they want the abductors to think that the family thinks she is dead. I borrowed this theory from someone i listened to and I am not sure what the advantage is but my point is it may not be what is seems to us the listeners.

Agree that messages are being conveyed to project a particular message.

With SG, who surely got strong guidance from the FBI, her message was conveying what FBI and SG wanted to convey to the abductors.

LE and FBI has consistently been communicating in a way to get across the message they want to heard rather than to convey accurate facts. JMO

 

[MCB1151]

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

Excellent question.

I feel like it's a power move. If only the ransom demanders see them plead for their mother, that's all well and good, but if the world watches them essentially beg the ransomers for their mother, THAT is control.

 

[academyrd]

It is horrific to think of what SG has gone through this week. She probably has not slept. I believe they look like they are losing hope in this latest video because they are… People can only take so much. But it might not be an indication that they know anything further or received 100% confirmation she is dead.

 

[Moonsie]

But didn't they say her pacemaker disconnected from app/ Bluetooth like 2:30am which means she was in the home up until that time?

The official timeline does not say “pacemaker disconnected from app.”

It says “pacemaker app shows disconnect from phone.”

moo.

 

[TheDinks]

Listening to this again, it is possible that the abductor gave the family proof of life in that the abductor relayed something to them that Nancy told them while in captivity. And the family said, basically, okay this is very valuable to us and we will pay. So they took it as proof of life.

No, sorry.

 

[Megnut]

Taking a moment because this isn't Season 4 on Netflix. A real family, a real Grandma, a real nightmare. Whether this was one crime or two, this part is twice ruthless. IMO no one intended to hold her hostage nor return her. Whoever is behind this, it's the rawest clash of good and evil, playing on heartbroken people's emotions. Extortion of the highest order. Or lowest.

Sometime I wonder if we're even the same species.

JMO

 

[Sakura2Sophia4Lucia]

why wouldn't SG just say we understand our mother has died and we are willing to pay.

something is weird...I think it sounds a little coded or something. mOO

Agree that SG's message is coded. Very carefully scripted, I would guess, with the FBI script.