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

[Cryptic]

Express Kidnappings target individuals that are known to simply be able to pay the ransom.

And if this is a ransom based kidnapping, it is clearly not the express pros. I suspect that true pro's operate just like you titled it- "express":

Day One: Family gets the ransom note, proof of life, money transfer instructions, deadly ominous warning about going to the police.

The ransom sum is professionally tailored. Large enough to to reward the criminals. Not so large that it is hard to raise, or the victims need to liquify assets, which takes time. Better to demand less money and get out fast.

What, day four or five?: The money is sent, victim is released, and the criminals are looking for another express victim.

 

[SlimPickens]

I think they just don't have enough information to verify the veracity of those notes, and are playing it safe. You cannot afford to be wrong in a situation like this.

They might be just credible enough that they just aren't sure.

As for the latter part, I do not believe that they believe she is alive.

Fair enough. I don't feel they would've permitted the video to be released if much of the ransom demand's details were incorrect. I also don't think they would've managed it via a FBI negotiation team, which it appears they almost certainly did here. But I've been wrong with my assumptions before, so I respect that your position could be the correct one.

Something that would definitively sway me to your position is that SG can afford a team of advisors/investigators of her own, and they may be navigating this situation independently of the official investigation. Just so they can make sure they don't miss a chance to save her if it is legitimate. Understandable, of course, but I sure hope they wouldn't do something like that without advice/consent of LE.

JMO.

 

[Izzylizzy]

earlier on, i felt pretty confident that nancy would drive herself to church and this part wasn't weird to me. she had a car. she wasn't an invalid, just couldn't walk far distances.

but dailymail put out this article

Shocking truth about mystery tip off that sparked Nancy Guthrie search

Fresh doubt has been cast on the tip off that first led to alarms being raised over Nancy Guthrie's shock abduction this weekend, the Daily Mail can reveal.

www.dailymail.co.uk

saying nancy hadn't actually gone to the church in a long time and just watched a livestream. if this is accurate, how would anyone know she was missing? if the person who reported her was involved, why would they do that? could be another point toward the ransom note being legitimate in some way, whoever wrote it wanted to get their plan in motion maybe? IMO

but this part is now totally muddy and confusing too.

BBM:
Zoom?

 

[Inthedetails]

At the beginning of this case, I said I don't know what to think.

And I still don't know what to think.

jmo

 

[citizen_sleuth]

Here's why I'm skeptical the ransom note is real:

You've got this sloppy crime, with forced entry and blood.

Then you've got this seemingly well planned ransom demand, with a Bitcoin account already set up.

Those two things don't seem to jibe.

You've also got this delay in making the demand, and zero proof of life.

So either this ransom demand is real and was an afterthought, or it's being made by a different person altogether.

I am also skeptical of the ransom note, but even if the kidnapper and person making the ransom demands aren't the same, it's possible the family/LE received a ransom demand before the media did. If the family/LE did not respond to the initial demand, the person making the demand may have sent it to the media in an attempt to get a response. JMO.

 

[browneyes]

Yes, and the brother looked to have no interest in being part of that hand-holding, either.

The sibling chain did not remain unbroken, at least not physically.

I found that noteworthy.

So I noted it.

My own impression was that he didn't want to be part of that appeal at all.

JMO.

I disagree. My brother, who is very quiet, would act the same way. When our mom was dying, my sister and I were constantly by her side while my sweet brother would wait until a quiet time to sit by her and talk to her. I’m not judging any of the siblings…what a horrible situation to be in. They know the most probable outcome, but have to feign that they don’t. IMHO

 

[Inthedetails]

I am also skeptical of the ransom note, but even if the kidnapper and person making the ransom demands aren't the same, it's possible the family/LE received a ransom demand before the media did. If the family/LE did not respond to the initial demand, the person making the demand may have sent it to the media in an attempt to get a response. JMO.

SG said in the video they knew about the ransom note sent to media.

I don't think the family was contacted before TMZ and the news station that received the note.

jmo

 

[MesquiteO21]

If reports are true, it sounds like details were mentioned in the letter that were never made public. So I’m thinking the perp(s) did send it.

However I do agree that it was probably an afterthought and sadly NG may have been killed on Sunday. Really really hope I’m wrong though.

moo

Forgot to add, I’ve heard it reported a lot that LE doesn’t think she was targeted which has always seemed weird to me. I don’t know if they’ve since walked that back but if they still believe it then there’s the ransom couldn’t be real and it was an afterthought

moo

 

[diggndeeperstill]

This is really interesting- even if unrelated. How would you find out if she owns any?

From the presentation, it mentioned be careful who you communicate with, who "knows" you have crypto. Don't tell people unless you trust them with your life. I was just reading about one of the cases, crazy, I had never heard of it. A gang of 12 was just convicted last year of home invasions/abductions that happened in many states. Houston-based crew among 12 sentenced in home invasion robberies to steal cryptocurrency, other valuables

 

[Kori17]

I believe that they can interrogate it remotely

yes they can

 

[Magic8Ball]

Here's why I'm skeptical the ransom note is real:

You've got this sloppy crime, with forced entry and blood.

Then you've got this seemingly well planned ransom demand, with a Bitcoin account already set up.

Those two things don't seem to jibe.

You've also got this delay in making the demand, and zero proof of life.

So either this ransom demand is real and was an afterthought, or it's being made by a different person altogether.

Ransom demand(s) also appear not to have come in until the case had been well and widely published all over the media.

AND apparently after the Sheriff said she'd been "abducted" and "taken from her bed," but not literally.

Looks very opportunistic on its face.

JMO.

 

[Pharmasgirl]

This is really interesting- even if unrelated. How would you find out if she owns any?

Even if she doesn't currently own any, she can still buy/pay them in crypto.

 

[CrimeDawg123]

Yes, and the brother looked to have no interest in being part of that hand-holding, either.

The sibling chain did not remain unbroken, at least not physically.

I found that noteworthy.

So I noted it.

My own impression was that he didn't want to be part of that appeal at all.

JMO.

I don't know if you have any brothers but mine are just like that. I'm not bothered by his behavior at all.

 

[IceIce9]

earlier on, i felt pretty confident that nancy would drive herself to church and this part wasn't weird to me. she had a car. she wasn't an invalid, just couldn't walk far distances.

but dailymail put out this article

Shocking truth about mystery tip off that sparked Nancy Guthrie search

Fresh doubt has been cast on the tip off that first led to alarms being raised over Nancy Guthrie's shock abduction this weekend, the Daily Mail can reveal.

www.dailymail.co.uk

saying nancy hadn't actually gone to the church in a long time and just watched a livestream. if this is accurate, how would anyone know she was missing? if the person who reported her was involved, why would they do that? could be another point toward the ransom note being legitimate in some way, whoever wrote it wanted to get their plan in motion maybe? IMO

but this part is now totally muddy and confusing too.

Livestream participants can see the names or photos of the other participants. If she had not logged on to the livestream her name and/or photo would be missing.

 

[txsleuth70]

There's calculus there. You raise the reward, you run the risk of a bunch of absolutely useless tips pouring in.

The family isn't going to do something law enforcement is advising them not to do.

I guess, but. Versus 2500 for no tips? Would have expected the fam member of a multi-millionaire to warrant 10K as a starting point at minimum, but the logistics of keeping it low are understood.

 

[CandyKiss]

That clip (Brian Entin) was posted 22 hours ago...

 

[Van Helsing]

I have a weird feeling about the gap in time from 11 until noon, but I'll say that her absence could have been noted even if she attended services remotely. My synagogue livestreams many of their services, and usually the same people log in each time and chat before services begin. If she was absent from a Zoom room it could have been noticed.

They may also have a process for checking regular elderly who don't log in. That would be an excellent practice for a church.

 

[Megnut]

Here's why I'm skeptical the ransom note is real:

You've got this sloppy crime, with forced entry and blood.

Then you've got this seemingly well planned ransom demand, with a Bitcoin account already set up.

Those two things don't seem to jibe.

You've also got this delay in making the demand, and zero proof of life.

So either this ransom demand is real and was an afterthought, or it's being made by a different person altogether.

Third possibility (all MOO) -- LE received a ransom letter before the media did but held that information back.... which impelled the captor to alert the media, having no way to know whether LE received their initial ransom letter.

Perhaps a captor thought the ransom would be immediate and resolved within 48 hours...

JMO

 

[avalonisland]

Serious question: has Ashleigh Banfield ever circulated the name of the wrong suspect before?

She had some issues with the Chris Watts case. I think what she is reporting is true and accurate. Son in law stated he dropped off victim and made sure she got into her house safely or something like that. Well, police will be able to see if this is true once they get video camera footage. Abducting an 84 year old elderly senior with heart and mobility health issues at like 2AM would be a Herculean task. Plus, if someone did this for randsom, the victim's med and maybe dog would be with her to make her as comfortable as possible. I think there was some sort of altercation at or after 9:45pm and it was someone known to victim which caused panic to remove victim from home to conceal whatever happened.

 

[snoopy100]

BBM:
Zoom?

i know the article is behind a paywall. this is what it says:

"It is understood that St. Andrews does not have a large-scale Zoom call for online viewing, as some religious organizations do.
Instead, the church's 9am and 10.45am services on Sundays are live-streamed and it is impossible for other participants to know who else is watching."