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

[Zeta74]

I also don’t trust these local cops at all, between the weird pressers, opening up the house, leaks, etc. They seem way over their heads here and I’m worried they are giving credence to this ransom lead when the odds of this being ransom are so small and the letters and all the changing targets makes me think it’s BS.

 

[Frannie]

I would look at the people replacing them at the Olympics. Some People can go to all extreme to get ahead.

 

[Magic8Ball]

But how? They literally ask for proof of life in the video.

That all just seems like the stuff of a Lifetime movie to me.

I've never followed a case where there was an actual ransom demand from kidnappers.

If this is a forcible kidnapping of an 84-year-old medically compromised woman for ransom, this case is one of the biggest outliers ever.

Regardless of whether it's real or a hoax, the FBI may be using this appeal for proof of life as a way to flush them out.

IIRC, the "kidnappers" demanded their Bitcoin by tomorrow or they'd wait until 4 days later and kill her on Monday.

As one does.

JMO.

 

[DenverToCali]

So many people think they know how they’d react and what they’d say or do if faced with a horrific situation like this one but please remember that her children are grieving and scared and it’s clear they are exhausted. All the commentary about the video being questionable is so disturbing to me.

If they hadn’t made a video, there’d be people questioning why they didn’t.

 

[Heaven Leigh]

What's insane to me is that even at 84 years old, you're still not safe from violence.

 

[ab01]

I’ll be surprised if the ransoms are actually from the person or persons that ends up being responsible. moo

 

[Beans]

It looks as if Annie and Savannah are holding hands in the video.

 

[whitelilac]

IIRC, Thursday was the deadline to pay the Ransom, though also IIRC, the ransomers said they would not harm Nancy until Monday, giving more time to pay if they missed Thursday.

And if the ransom demand is real, is it expected that the family deposits an amount into that bitcoin account? Was that account # mentioned in the note? Obviously they need proof of life as well as how Nancy would be recovered safely.
This sounds like a movie, to the point that the abductors were hired and the perpetrator is in Mexico or Nigeria.
It's so unreal.

 

[snoopy100]

I respect that and you must be a great human! Lost my mom at 83; but HAD my mom been abducted and 4 days had gone by and she had meds that kept her alive within a 24 hour period, THAT would be the message. When you're that age, and you're on life sustaining drugs, THAT'S what you drive home. I think the three know she's dead and LE are setting this up to get one of them to crack.

i certainly don't rule out the possibility that a family member is responsible and this is a ruse to rattle them. obviously, an actual ransom kidnapping is extremely rare and family involvement is always far more likely.

but, i do struggle to square the level of resources and psychological gaming being needed for a relatively "routine" crime (family murder for money or personal grievances). IMO

as an aside, i'm so sorry for the loss of your mom. i'm obviously a new poster on WS (i've been a reader only on and off for years), but i lost my grandma completely suddenly and unexpectedly at the beginning of december and she was also 83. it was natural causes, but this case still hits close to home.

edit: some words

 

[wyome]

Seeing lots of comments like this. They’re exhausted and scared and grieving. I’m not sure why they’re expected to show up in any other way than how they did.

I hope I didn't convey that family members shouldn't be grieving. I pointed out specifically that their mom needs life sustaining meds that were left at the home days ago that were vital for her survival after 24 hrs. That would be my first shout out at the video.

 

[Starkville]

I feel weird about the family video.

Me too. It felt like a hostage video, as if the siblings were being held captive and they were giving proof of life. In a way, I guess they are hostages to this situation.

My heart goes out to the family.

 

[ttjo]

That all just seems like the stuff of a Lifetime movie to me.

I've never followed a case where there was an actual ransom demand from kidnappers.

You’ve never watched one where they cut out newspaper clippings to make a ransom note??
Oh maybe thats only in the hound of baskervilles

 

[LMDlong]

It would also potentially open a new line of communication - one that could be monitored or analysed or whatever.

IMO the family was coming to the deadline in the ransom note.
They had to do something in response.
I understand asking for proof of life since the deadline for the ransom payment has passed.

 

[Deepinthought52]

I’ll be surprised if the ransoms are actually from the person or persons that ends up being responsible. moo

But if it is a hoax per se, hope hey still nab the hoaxer(s)

 

[SlimPickens]

I highly doubt that’s the case, but they are certainly behaving like it might be real.

This would draw out real abductors, or those trying to profit with a ruse.

This bothers me though, because it could be an indication they are lost.

Respectfully disagree. I don't feel that law enforcement would hand out reasonable doubt to any potential defense attorney like that. If there wasn't a compelling basis to make this public plea, I don't think they would do it. Just too risky.

I also don't think they'd put out a hail Mary like that in the case that they were lost. I'm sure they are confident that the ransom demand is legitimate and likely from the abductor. Whether they think she is actually alive or not is another question altogether.

JMO.

 

[GailAnne]

I see there appears to be a pool "house" in the back. Probably houses the filter and pool tools. Hopefully they have checked in there.

I still wonder about a sleep aid, specifically Ambien. Maybe she got out of bed, went into the garage to get in the car. Possibly didn't have keys. Went back out to the front, bumped her head and started bleeding. Walked around to the back and fell in some of the brush. It's frightening what a person can do, even when dressed in night clothes and bare feet.

If she fell in bushes behind her house the search dogs would have found her. Sheriff says her home is a crime scene.

 

[Vegasgrl]

And if the ransom demand is real, is it expected that the family deposits an amount into that bitcoin account? Was that account # mentioned in the note? Obviously they need proof of life as well as how Nancy would be recovered safely.
This sounds like a movie, to the point that the abductors were hired and the perpetrator is in Mexico or Nigeria.
It's so unreal.

The account number was verified early on. Doesn't confirm anything else though.

 

[thefragile7393]

I also don’t trust these local cops at all, between the weird pressers, opening up the house, leaks, etc. They seem way over their heads here and I’m worried they are giving credence to this ransom lead when the odds of this being ransom are so small and the letters and all the changing targets makes me think it’s BS.

I feel the same. There’s been nothing this major of an investigation in a very long time and definitely nothing of this caliber. I’m glad the FBI is involved because they will have people with more experience than local LE of course.

 

[Luna20]

It would be wild if the video was made by the suggestion of LE to SG and they know who it is. It could be a staged decoy. There are things that don’t make sense but it doesn’t mean they aren’t looking at every angle.

 

[MassGuy]

The fact that this video exists, indicates to me that law enforcement is lost. If they felt they were close to figuring out who is responsible, this would not be necessary.

Going further, if this was that particular family member who has had suspicion cast upon him, they aren't in this spot right now. This crime was sloppy, with (apparent) forced entry and blood inside and outside the home.

Blood gets on clothes. It gets in cars. Phones talk. So does surveillance.

The longer this goes on, the more likely I believe that the offender is not inside Nancy's circle.