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

[SRWCF]

While I think it's likely the ransom email is from the actual perpetrators of this crime I don't believe it originated as a kidnapping for ransom. I believe this started out as a different crime - robbery, sexual assault, extortion, domestic argument - and the killing (yes, I believe Ms Guthrie is deceased, unfortunately) and the "kidnapping" is an after the fact red herring.

I believe professional kidnappers would have left a ransom letter on the property. Common paper, common ink, no fingerprints, no DNA, untraceable, rather than electronic communication that WILL be traced sooner or later.

Life isn't a James Bond movie and the odds are overwhelmingly that this crime started in a garden variety way done by garden variety people who committed a rash act and a panicked series of events followed afterwards.

I would look close to home.

This is all my personal opinion.

I like your theory.

 

[SRWCF]

I don't at all understand the meaning of that '$2500 reward if leads to apprehension and conviction'. Why in the world would you decide on stating $2500 as 'the right amount'? Has ANYONE put up a reward by now--can't some private person post a big reward?

The FBI has put out a $50K award.

 

[thefragile7393]

My Mom would be shocked to see how she "should" be behaving haha She never 'acts her age'

My parents are almost 90 and I guarantee you they'd be having issues with a lot of these comments. Heck they both still drive, although my dad really really should not drive at night....but he does. ugh

 

[Silverstorm]

I wonder if AI apps like Chat GPT keep any kind of records of use. Based on Harvey Levin's analysis today, I had the thought that the perp may have used AI to construct the ransom letter. I also wonder is they used AI in planning the crime and if LE could determine that from the AI vendor. If I was one of these companies' leaders I would love to help solve this crime. I would also be very disappointed if the FBI is behind on using this tactic in the broader sense already.

I was just using chatgpt this morning. I recieved an email that my conversation was saved so I didnt have to repeat work I already did. So, that’s interesting to think about.

 

[pixiepixel]

It's not similar at all TBH. IMO

I think it's possible the Scottsdale mastermind(s) could be behind the ransom note sent to TMZ et al, not the kidnapping. Perhaps they saw Nancy's disappearance as an opportunity to make some money after failing in Scottsdale.

 

[SRWCF]

Good question! I don’t have a ChatGPT account, but I do use it on my phone’s browser. I was shocked when I asked it about a vitamin supplement and it referenced a prescription I take, and the condition I take it to treat! Like it said “Since you’re taking XXX for YYY, you should be aware that…”. I had asked it a bunch of questions about my prescription medication a month earlier. It was a bit unsettling. If I were planning on committing a crime, I wouldn’t use my phone or any computer that could be traced to me!

It does keep data. When AI first started getting big, the company I worked for told employees not to put any of our product info on Chatgpt because it wasn't secure and our intellectual property could be stolen.

 

[Friday Fan]

me too, and I posted a pic of it the other day ~ the clippings look fresh, two have tiny flowers on them. I was wondering if there are identical plants on her property that she may have picked walking up to her home; maybe some inside her home or her last known location and she brought them home.

I id'd the plants and know exactly what they are. I grow them too. (Lantana) They aren't something Nancy would pick nor would florists put in an arrangement. They stink like cat pee and everyone who grows them knows they smell like cat pee. No one picks them to bring inside!

 

[GailAnne]

Yes, the plant at the door also looks like lantana. Doubt it was part of an arrangement.

It's weird that they're so close to the door and not next the the sidewalk. It would seem "juvenile" "immature" to cut a few lantana stems and pass them off as a "gift". Yet, there are people who do this with lantana. (There are little kids who pick mine) I wouldn't expect Nancy to do this. I wouldn't expect another homeowner to do this.

It's almost as if someone came to the door with these in their hand to lure someone out. MOO MOO

Thanks for your observation....

Image source: https://www.justjared.com/photo-gallery/5275540/guthrie-home-01/

I see a couple of blood drops have plant pieces sitting on top of them, suggesting the plant pieces were dumped there after the blood.

 

[justwannahelp]

Maureen in her discussion yesterday with Brian Entin mentioned that she does not understand the sheriff and normally defends LE but finds the Sheriff Nanos strange (or some similar words) ie I can tell she is not a fan of how he is handling the crime.

Interesting. There has always been 2 schools of thought and then somewhere in the middle of those 2 schools of thought.
keeping the public fully informed and not keeping the public fully informed and somewhere in between.

I’m surprised they haven’t asked for the public’s help with a suspicious vehicle or “vehicle of interest” yet.

I am relieved to hear the questioning of neighbors in A & T’s neighborhood. They may not be telling us everything, but it sounds like they’re doing the investigative work.

 

[thefragile7393]

Until he’s cleared SIL still far away the lead suspect IMO. Police won’t even say his name or clear him with rumors swirling 3 days in a row.. what does that tell you?

That they don't want to add to the speculation. They also need to bring back professionalism to this case after a lot of high profile things happened so they aren't going to say a thing anymore until they have a suspect I'm betting

 

[emigrate]

Lol! I'm old, too! I got a call a few years ago in the wee hours of the morning from an ex-boyfriend from 30 years ago. He was like, "Hey, it's me, Justin." I said, "Justin who???" The dude was high or drunk or something because he said he was calling to say he was sorry to hear my dad had passed. I told him that happened a year prior. That's when he said he only just found out because he had recently gotten out of jail. G R E A T. Anyway, after I made it clear I didn't want to talk to him, I did a quick Google search of my name and, lo and behold, there was my cell number out there on the interwebs for anyone to find! Where there's a will, there's a way!

Yikes start changing it once a year

 

[Van Helsing]

Good question! I don’t have a ChatGPT account, but I do use it on my phone’s browser. I was shocked when I asked it about a vitamin supplement and it referenced a prescription I take, and the condition I take it to treat! Like it said “Since you’re taking XXX for YYY, you should be aware that…”. I had asked it a bunch of questions about my prescription medication a month earlier. It was a bit unsettling. If I were planning on committing a crime, I wouldn’t use my phone or any computer that could be traced to me!

Some vendors track you IP address and use even though you don't have an account. YouTube does this and it has been subpoenaed by the government and provided.

 

[tkcrockett]

She doesn't have a hateful bone in her body

Do you know her? Local?

 

[LaLaw2000]

Not sure if someone already mentioned this but regarding the flowers on the ground by the blood at the front door...I just watched on my big screen TV a video (versus looking on my phone like usual) that showed a close up of the Nest cam bracket where the camera was taken from. It looks like on the top left corner behind the bracket is a green stem/leaf. Maybe she had flowers tucked behind the Nest cam as a decoration that got knocked down when the person removed the camera?

This video at 19:28:

Or, she could have had that pot on the back patio and decided to put it in front for better sunlight. The iron door might have been a challenge to maneuver with the pot. She also could have scraped her arm on the door and bled. It would be a straighter path through the house and out the front door with the plant. JMO

 

[thefragile7393]

I don't at all understand the meaning of that '$2500 reward if leads to apprehension and conviction'. Why in the world would you decide on stating $2500 as 'the right amount'? Has ANYONE put up a reward by now--can't some private person post a big reward?

That's already happened. Also, crimestoppers is the $2500 reward-the max they can offer

 

[Wsimm]

Ok, if we assume it is not a ransom for money and it was not a burglary gone wrong (by a stranger or peripheral person in her life) and that it is the family, the most likely reason for family would be money (i.e. an inheritance). If she remains missing, it could take years for her to be declared deceased and/or tie up her estate for years. Unless she is found deceased, and the family is cleared, how soon is any family really going to see any significant money any time soon? What would be other motives for family members to have her gone, aside from money, that seem plausible?

In this day and age those motives may be a little to much to elaborate fully on here. If its indeed family related, I think the motive is less about monetary value, and maybe more about the value of what attention brings? Just thinking out of the box here

 

[CandyKiss]

I don't at all understand the meaning of that '$2500 reward if leads to apprehension and conviction'. Why in the world would you decide on stating $2500 as 'the right amount'? Has ANYONE put up a reward by now--can't some private person post a big reward?

Two days ago someone posted that a small charity posted this to help out... you'll have a few posts to go through but they provided details about the charity.

 

[thefragile7393]

Two days ago someone posted that a small charity posted this to help out... you'll have a few posts to go through but they provided details about the charity.

that was from crimestoppers actually

 

[JoeFromLB]

If she's lacking her daily meds for a heart condition she might already be dead. Hate to say it but it's quite possible.

 

[unresolvedmystery]

Anyone else considered that this could be the remains of a bouquet of flowers? Seeing as how NG's birthday was only days before? Could be a way a perpetrator both blocked the camera until they had removed it and also how they gained entry without forcing the door?