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

[Nikynoo]

I agree.. I personally would've made sure EVERYTHING was done and even stay a bit.

It is odd.. but families are odd as well. Out of the 12 years doing this, I can only count on 1 hand the times families were actually very helpful. Most times... I've literally seen it happen before. Son or Daughter drops client off and speeds off, I've even had the sibling call me "Oh I dropped so-so off in the garage and left without closing the door.. oh that was 5 minutes ago -- click".

Thankfully I was nearby when that call happened. and was there in less than couple minutes. I'm even dealing with it now the past 2 years I've been trying to get the siblings to be around their parent more and more, but it's like I'm rubbing salt on a wound each time I tell them the importance, especially getting closer to EOL.

It bothers me so much when I see it, and I've seen/heard worse than what 'supposed' IL did if that is the case and not surprised. I'm not defending the IL either, just giving a 'it is plausible' scenario.

But we don’t know whether the person who dropped her off stayed or not. Remember, LE don’t have to and probably won’t, give the public a full timeline of events. I think for the most part, the timeline is take the heat off of the person or persons who dropped NG off and not for any other reason.

 

[LaLaw2000]

i believe your interpretation is the right one.
They are different events.
A Celebration of Life is usually down the road, not very close to the person's death. The event is meant to be more spiritually "lifting" the person who had died to the afterlife through love compassion memories and jovial comraderie.

Like a New Orleans jazz funeral where they march down the street playing jazz music? Also like an Irish Wake where most everyone gets smashed, tells jokes, and laughs? No disrespect meant.
A celebration of life to me is sometimes the same as a funeral, and other times without an actual deceased person more appropriately called a memorial service.

 

[CrimeDawg123]

Any thoughts on why the SIL bands Facebook page might’ve been removed?

TC and two other musicians have had a heavy metal band called ‘Early Black’ for quite a few years and they posted photos and updates frequently on Facebook. I read through most of it on Tuesday night and by Wednesday the page was gone.

JMO

If it were me and I had a bandmate suspected of foul play in a disappearance, yeah, I'd not be putting anything out there until it is resolved. For sure they aren't doing gigs right now anyway, which is the reason you'd put your band on social media. So take it down.

 

[shonyakay]

Re POL -- if the "kidnappers" are associated with the family, the kidnappers themselves might be privy to information "that only those close to Nancy would know".

This is true. I just don't see how they could be sending these notes, if they are legit, with LE all around.

Edited: My bad - I now see you stated associates not necessarily immediate family.

 

[Nikynoo]

Is there any reason they would be doing this unless AG's home is considered part of the crime scene?

I am just guessing, but could it be that it was the last place she spent any amount of time in before going missing?

 

[katydid23]

A family member having a financial motive to murder is fairly common in terms of motives for murder in general, but if the goal is to collect an inheritance or administer property on behalf of the deceased then a death certificate is required. And a death certificate requires a body unless the murderer wants to wait 7-10 years to petition the state to issue one in absentia.

In other words, a family member murdering another family member for an inheritance or financial gain isn't uncommon, but he/she isn't going to get it by hiding a body so well that LE hasn't found it in going on 7 days now. And he/she sure isn't going to foment a worldwide media spectacle as his/her "diversion" and/or backup plan to get paid.

Defies all reason.

JMO.

It might be already planned out---they may wait a little bit for things to cool down, then maybe a letter will be sent with a map to the remains site.

OR it is being kept somewhere that will eventually be discovered?

They could even call a tip in anonymously with a burner phone after a couple of months---by then the remains will be skeletal and not hold any tell tale forensics.

 

[clearskies1]

At this point I'm landing on an after the fact "kidnapping" misdirection by the perp. Perp took advantage of public conjecture about whether this was a kidnapping. Seems like someone close to the family (not a stranger) would have a motive to hide NG if they killed her. The blood outside the front door could have been missed by the perp. If that blood was missed what other blood was missed? JMO.

 

[shonyakay]

I am just guessing, but could it be that it was the last place she spent any amount of time in before going missing?

Good point, but I have to admit that the timing is a bit odd. The delay might be because they were waiting to get a search warrant and finally got one. Just a guess.

 

[Nikynoo]

Any thoughts on why the SIL bands Facebook page might’ve been removed?

TC and two other musicians have had a heavy metal band called ‘Early Black’ for quite a few years and they posted photos and updates frequently on Facebook. I read through most of it on Tuesday night and by Wednesday the page was gone.

JMO

Could it be to prevent comments on their page after AB pointed the finger?

 

[TheDinks]

Yes, but I was just describing the notes received since we just learned last night of the actual ransom demand amount and the actual deadline times.

Who do you think they are appealing to in the latest appeal - Annie's husband?

So firstly, imo POL has never been provided. I don't think the siblings have been made aware yet of the official direction the main investigation may be going... the appeal was to the kidnapper(s), whomever that may be.

It is possible, with all their digital forensics etc that FBI have just not been able to ascertain yet (definitively) whether ransom demands have come from actual abductor (or accomplice) in which case they have to support the family in going ahead with responses to the ransom notes. The siblings desperately want their mom returned, even if that means deceased and agreed to pay.

Return of Ms Guthrie is unlikely to happen, even if this is a genuine kidnap for ransom situation. Anyone that heartless to have undertaken such a heinous crime are unlikely to risk being captured by upholding their end of the bargain once they have the coin.

 

[pharmad]

I just noticed something... The front door where the blood is, I was browsing street view through different dates, and the 'plant' scattered around the door previous years had that exact plant in the pot that is now empty.

This makes me wonder if they pulled up the plant? Key? Evidence? Blood? the image I grabbed was from Nov 2025. May be nothing.. just saw this., tried my best to enhance it... best I could do. But she had that same plant in similar pots in the front.

 

[katydid23]

It's absolutely a scenario, but what a huge weight for everyone left behind. I find it difficult to process the levels of quick "panic planning" that would have to be involved, with a potential child as a witness too.

Of course, if the ransom notes are a cover up, NG isn't coming home alive either way as she'd know too much.

It's just very very sad.

I don't think the family members have anything to do with the bitcoin ransom.

Ransom demands usually come in pretty quickly and are address ONLY to the person with the family purse strings.

If this was the cartel, or a local mob/gang, or a roofer who saw a chance to kidnap an elderly woman, they'd have left the note in the house, or called Savannah herself and asked for money within 48 hours AND DONT TELL ANYONE OR SHE"S DEAD.

Nothing about these ransom notes make sense to me.

I think they are being sent by crazy opportunists, who saw it on the news and decided to do a crazy con job and see if they could get 6 million bucks for nothing.


I don't think the actual kidnappers are trying to get bitcoin. But I could be very wrong.

I guess it is slightly possible that the actual kidnappers panicked and decided this might be a good diversion to deflect attention on them?

 

[Hexe]

Im sorry then, the last I read last night it was locked. Thanks for clearing that up!
Although Ive found this just now, where did you find the information please?

There is a link in my previous reply, though DM is not the only news outlet that reported the door was unlocked.

 

[Hexe]

Any thoughts on why the SIL bands Facebook page might’ve been removed?

Pretty much because they had a flurry of very much unwanted comments about the SIL's alleged involvement in Nancy's vanishing.

MOO

 

[PacoElFlaco]

I have read little tidbits of info on several people who have stood out on this thread. Can someone point me in the direction of sources for more info on them?

Tomasso's bandmate who some have indicated may have some connection to the case.
A neighbor with a son who has a record for stalking and trespass
Another neighbor with a white beard who was enthusiastic about injecting himself into the situation.

 

[shonyakay]

I wished there was a poll for this one. I am interested in seeing the percentages.

 

[shonyakay]

I just noticed something... The front door where the blood is, I was browsing street view through different dates, and the 'plant' scattered around the door previous years had that exact plant in the pot that is now empty.

View attachment 642630

View attachment 642629

This makes me wonder if they pulled up the plant? Key? Evidence? Blood? the image I grabbed was from Nov 2025. May be nothing.. just saw this., tried my best to enhance it... best I could do. But she had that same plant in similar pots in the front.

Is that the same planter just without the plant?

 

[Napoli]

To me, SG's instagram from Saturday night sounded like she was TOLD to insert certain words by the perps as a signal. I also think that the family and the law dont understand that the perps have all the power. The perps are not going to continue with contact, emails etc. Every "contact" potentially exposes the perps. The perps have all the power. The family has none. No request for life because, possibly, that was part of the latest demand from the perps. Something like "Dont rewrite our rules". It's an effort to keep the family helpless and the perps in control. Latest instagram was more than words or agreement...IMO, it was a signal with odd words chosen by the perps that actually mean something else. JMO

 

[Nikynoo]

Good point, but I have to admit that the timing is a bit odd. The delay might be because they were waiting to get a search warrant and finally got one. Just a guess.

They had grounds for a search warrant from the get go imo. Seeing as there have been numerous searches at NGs property, nothing would surprise me for this particular search. LE are being thorough and that is all imo.

 

[tbgo]

To me, SG's instagram from Saturday night sounded like she was TOLD to insert certain words by the perps as a signal. I also think that the family and the law dont understand that the perps have all the power. The perps are not going to continue with contact, emails etc. Every "contact" potentially exposes the perps. The perps have all the power. The family has none. No request for life because, possibly, that was part of the latest demand from the perps. Something like "Dont rewrite our rules". It's an effort to keep the family helpless and the perps in control. Latest instagram was more than words or agreement...IMO, it was a signal with odd words chosen by the perps that actually mean something else. JMO

I do wonder if they already know it’s someone close to home and they’re going along with this ransom thing to keep the family distracted if it is in fact one of them. I wouldn’t be surprised. Hell, the last ransom message may have been planted by the FBI. Who knows?

Good point, but I have to admit that the timing is a bit odd. The delay might be because they were waiting to get a search warrant and finally got one. Just a guess.

They can get a search warrant pretty quickly. It doesn’t take much.