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

[Cassie P]

I think they wanted the ransomers to know that they would pay, even though they might not see it right away. LE was going to do due diligence investigation for as long as reasonably possible. If the ransomers are legit, they shouldn't have a problem with that.

Yes this is possible. SG saying we are going to pay, sit tight, the money is coming.

 

[shadowsc]

Maybe they paid the first time and heard nothing, so the second note came in and it said they wanted more money, so SG put out the post stating they will pay (more?) and maybe even since yesterday they’ve paid (more?) but the perp isn’t going to hold up their end of the bargain? I don’t think we can assume from the fact that NG hasn’t been recovered yet that it means the family hasn’t paid yet. There’s no honor among thieves and all that.

The news anchor who had read the second letter said that she would not classify the letter as another "ransom letter" so that would indicate no additional money had been requested.

Erin Burnett: And and just in terms of we understand that the initial one had obviously a very substantial ransom
demand and these two deadlines, right? One of which was last night uh and then another one of which which was far more consequential uh was Monday. Did any of that change in this one?

Mary Coleman (The news anchor who had seen the letters): I will say, you know, the FBI and PCSD were classifying the first as a ransom note. And I will say that I don't think that they will classify this second one as a ransom note. That's the best way I can characterize that.

and later:
Sure. Um, you know, there were deadlines in in the first letter. Uh, the second one, there are no deadlines. you know, in my head a ransom note is uh looking for something in return for something else and and this one is not necessarily
that.

3:44 mark

 

[turaj]

If it is the SIL why would that stop her from having her career. She would need time off to grieve but the SIL isn't going to come after her. If the perp is gone she will have to move on with her life and keep busy. Sure she has enough to retire but wealthy people live a certain way so they keep going to keep the lifestyle and that takes working. She also likes her job so that would help her get back to somewhat normal.

I've watched SG in a few interviews about her book. She is VERY religious but not sure it is enough to get thru what is ahead for her. If it is family that did this even worse but it is all beyond imagination. I hope they get all parties involved or she will be. living in fear f or the rest of her life. Going back to work? Not sure how long that will take if ever.

 

[Gemmie]

I wonder if SG has Kidnap & Ransom insurance?

I thought you were joking so had to look it up. Apparently it's a thing and called K&R insurance. I'm going to venture a guess that she does not have it. Who would think they needed it unless you're a VERY high profile individual who is known to have money out the wazoo.

Kidnap & ransom insurance is designed to help protect your organization from the financial impact of sudden and unexpected expenses related to kidnapping, extortion and ransom or illegal detention. Kidnap & ransom insurance policies provide coverage typically for monies paid to kidnappers or extortionists, loss of ransom in transit and other expenses incurred as a result of a kidnapping. 

These threats are very real and can happen to any business. Someone could have a grudge against you, your company or your employees. Someone could even try to force you to reveal company trade secrets. Even when no ransom money is paid, these stressful situations can create unexpected costs and have a significant impact on your business's bottom line. 

More at link: Kidnap & Ransom Insurance | Travelers Insurance.

 

[maskedwoman]

I keep seeing this theory about the Winter Olympics. Honestly, I am just not getting it to be honest.

Me either. The idea that someone would kidnap and/or kill a fragile 84 year old lady to keep her daughter from essentially taking a business trip just doesn't compute for me. I'm also struggling with the idea of it being at all political. In fact, if someone killed that poor lady for any sort of political reason, I may just be done with humanity in general.

 

[JKathryn]

They must be so annoyed with the journalists and would be journalists. I don't blame them for calling the cops for someone in their yard.

I was thinking it was still something to do with this one. Nancy Guthrie disappearance; police investigate trespassing case

 

[turaj]

Perhaps her employer provides it? Not unheard of with TV/Movie celebrities.
Maybe this is part of the delay, SG was trying to get that sorted out with her employer?

right now she is just concerned with dealing with the captors and apparently paying to get her mother back home. I seriously doubt she is sorting anything out with employer or that a mother would be covered.

 

[mikeshanty]

Me either. The idea that someone would kidnap and/or kill a fragile 84 year old lady to keep her daughter from essentially taking a business trip just doesn't compute for me. I'm also struggling with the idea of it being at all political. In fact, if someone killed that poor lady for any sort of political reason, I may just be done with humanity in general.

Agreed. Without disrespecting GE's victims, I just cannot follow the theory on other platforms that this all relates to the files and the fact SG did interviews with some of the victims. I guess at a stretch I could get behind an idea of this being relates to the capture of Maduro if it was the relative of a politician or diplomat, but not the elderly mother of a morning show host.

 

[Bodhi]

Nice sleuthing! That is curious! IMO

I imagine reporters and social media bloggers would love to get a look at what's happening from a different perspective. It has to be extremely stressful for the neighbors. Their neighbor disappeared, apparently kidnapped from her home in the middle of the night. Their distress has to be compounded by media and wannabees looking for a scoop camped out right in front of their house and possibly traipsing through their side yard. They've lost their privacy and sense of security too.

 

[turaj]

I was thinking it was still something to do with this one. Nancy Guthrie disappearance; police investigate trespassing case

actually considering the number of reporters at all sites 24/7 I think the public or media may crack this case.

 

[Cassie P]

The news anchor who had read the second letter said that she would not classify the letter as another "ransom letter" so that would indicate no additional money had been requested.

Erin Burnett: And and just in terms of we understand that the initial one had obviously a very substantial ransom
demand and these two deadlines, right? One of which was last night uh and then another one of which which was far more consequential uh was Monday. Did any of that change in this one?

Mary Coleman (The news anchor who had seen the letters): I will say, you know, the FBI and PCSD were classifying the first as a ransom note. And I will say that I don't think that they will classify this second one as a ransom note. That's the best way I can characterize that.

and later:
Sure. Um, you know, there were deadlines in in the first letter. Uh, the second one, there are no deadlines. you know, in my head a ransom note is uh looking for something in return for something else and and this one is not necessarily
that.

3:44 mark

So if it was not a ransom note what was it? What did this message say?
Can we speculate?

 

[ivylambs]

I keep seeing this theory about the Winter Olympics. Honestly, I am just not getting it to be honest.

Agreed -- if you were trying to pull a Tonya Harding (because you're next in line to report on the Olympics in Italy and you want Savannah out of the way), you'd go for her kneecaps, so to speak... not murder her elderly mother.

 

[TheDinks]

So an attempt to protect TC from further speculation?

Avoiding to pinpoint who "exactly" since it was part of the investigation details that they didn't want specifically divulged. Not so much to protect him personally. I dunno... just my take on it... it seemed to be an intentional direction

 

[mikeshanty]

I've just watch Brian Entin's latest video. Seriously, that footage of the flashes taking place inside AG's darkened house are the most chilling clips I have seen in this whole case. Extremely eerie and ominous.

 

[Van Helsing]

The news anchor who had read the second letter said that she would not classify the letter as another "ransom letter" so that would indicate no additional money had been requested.

Erin Burnett: And and just in terms of we understand that the initial one had obviously a very substantial ransom
demand and these two deadlines, right? One of which was last night uh and then another one of which which was far more consequential uh was Monday. Did any of that change in this one?

Mary Coleman (The news anchor who had seen the letters): I will say, you know, the FBI and PCSD were classifying the first as a ransom note. And I will say that I don't think that they will classify this second one as a ransom note. That's the best way I can characterize that.

and later:
Sure. Um, you know, there were deadlines in in the first letter. Uh, the second one, there are no deadlines. you know, in my head a ransom note is uh looking for something in return for something else and and this one is not necessarily
that.

3:44 mark

I didn't think that news anchor's logic made any sense. I don't really care for some news anchor's opinion.

 

[birdbox]

Agreed -- if you were trying to pull a Tonya Harding (because you're next in line to report on the Olympics in Italy and you want Savannah out of the way), you'd go for her kneecaps, so to speak... not murder her elderly mother.

Honestly, if someone told me Tonya Harding was behind this crime, I wouldn't even be surprised at this point.

 

[InkyEvie]

Avoiding to pinpoint who "exactly" since it was part of the investigation details that they didn't want specifically divulged. Not so much to protect him personally. I dunno... just my take on it... it seemed to be an intentional direction

It's possible they also just hadn't checked all the boxes and felt confident enough to say one way or the other, especially given the attention to the case. IMO

 

[Cassie P]

right now she is just concerned with dealing with the captors and apparently paying to get her mother back home. I seriously doubt she is sorting anything out with employer or that a mother would be covered.

Are you saying that if her employer has kidnap insurance SG would not bother with it? The reason for asking is that this could be the reason for delaying the payment. IDK. Along with FBI verifying ransom note is legit.

 

[Pharmasgirl]

Anyone plan to attend Nancy’s church service online?

When is it??? Pls RSVP! Didn’t know they were doing one

 

[Gemmie]

So if it was not a ransom note what was it? What did this message say?
Can we speculate?

SG did say in their 2nd video "We received your message and we understand". I surmised upthread that that meant she found out her mother didn't make it without her meds the "we understand" part. (JMO)

Then she went on to say "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.”

https://people.com/savannah-guthrie-tells-mothers-kidnappers-we-received-your-message-we-will-pay-11901810