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

[Sadi]

Ok. Per this clip I see that AB reports that her source told her that AG's car was taken:

But I haven't caught Brain Entin reporting that.

NG’s car had damage to the front, not knowing if that was there previously or something happened recently? She could have been transported in it and driven to a remote area that was rocky and it was damaged if it hit something? Maybe they drove without any headlights? Another thing, were any tools missing from her house or SIL’s, shovel, rope, tarps? Were they returned, but had evidence of being recently used and had DNA on them? Same with her car, door handles, steering wheel etc?

 

[Cassie P]

I’m hopelessly and helplessly a million pages behind and won’t be able to catch up until I get back to New York ( if the plane isn’t canceled due to weather).

I saw this post though as I am hurrying through. I agree it seems like a strange thing to say in this context of literal real life and death.

I wonder if perhaps, in the ransom note which we have not read, maybe Savannah was instructed by the kidnappers to say this? Some kind of coded language that is supposed to be a message back to the kidnappers?

Just speculating.

Hope your plane took off and you are not stranded!

Yes it is odd.

Why go to a 35 year old movie to make a point about humanizing NG?
When in fact it didn't actually humanize her at all. A reference to a fictional character in an old movie is distancing NG's humanity in my opinion. Why not talk about NG's role as a grandmother, mother, widow, church goer, volunteer or other info about her life.

But of course the best way to humanize someone is to talk to them directly. A kidnap victim is just an object, a money making tool. Turn them into a real person by talking to them directly. So the advice to the kidnapper to go talk to NG is good. And assumes NG can make the case herself.

But still begs the question why use an old movie to do this? Why not just tell the kidnapper to talk to NG, get to know her, etc.

Why introduce the idea of a serial killer to a kidnapper holding your mother? This goes against psychological crisis management. If you have an aggressive person threatening to harm others, you don't start talking about other killers who are famous and made a name for themselves by killing people.

Yes perhaps the kidnapper instructed SG to say this as a coded message. Perhaps it verifies that SG read the ransom note they sent. Or indicates that SG is agreeing to certain terms without publicly disclosing the specifics.

Or perhaps there was something about the crime scene and note that made the FBI profilers think it was a good idea to go in this direction. A criminal leaves their personality fingerprint on the crime scene. The crime is not a personality aberration but a reflection of their daily personality. It is a picture of who they are.

So perhaps there was something in the RN and crime scene that caught the profiler's eye.

IDK. Again just speculating of course.

 

[Curiousraccoon]

Hope your plane took off and you are not stranded!

Yes it is odd.

Why go to a 35 year old movie to make a point about humanizing NG?
When in fact it didn't actually humanize her at all. A reference to a fictional character in an old movie is distancing NG's humanity in my opinion. Why not talk about NG's role as a grandmother, mother, widow, church goer, volunteer or other info about her life.

But of course the best way to humanize someone is to talk to them directly. A kidnap victim is just an object, a money making tool. Turn them into a real person by talking to them directly. So the advice to the kidnapper to go talk to NG is good. And assumes NG can make the case herself.

But still begs the question why use an old movie to do this? Why not just tell the kidnapper to talk to NG, get to know her, etc.

Why introduce the idea of a serial killer to a kidnapper holding your mother? This goes against psychological crisis management. If you have an aggressive person threatening to harm others, you don't start talking about other killers who are famous and made a name for themselves by killing people.

Yes perhaps the kidnapper instructed SG to say this as a coded message. Perhaps it verifies that SG read the ransom note they sent. Or indicates that SG is agreeing to certain terms without publicly disclosing the specifics.

Or perhaps there was something about the crime scene and note that made the FBI profilers think it was a good idea to go in this direction. A criminal leaves their personality fingerprint on the crime scene. The crime is not a personality aberration but a reflection of their daily personality. It is a picture of who they are.

So perhaps there was something in the RN and crime scene that caught the profiler's eye.

IDK. Again just speculating of course.

BBM - I think this is an interesting theory. Something like "say XYZ if you want to send us a message that you are willing to make the payment"

 

[TheDinks]

NG’s car had damage to the front, not knowing if that was there previously or something happened recently? She could have been transported in it and driven to a remote area that was rocky and it was damaged if it hit something? Maybe they drove without any headlights? Another thing, were any tools missing from her house or SIL’s, shovel, rope, tarps? Were they returned, but had evidence of being recently used and had DNA on them? Same with her car, door handles, steering wheel etc?

Interesting news about damage to the car.

 

[birdbox]

On the garage door topic: Does anyone know if she has pets? Each night I have a cat that likes to come in through the garage door for bedtime. We let it up and down for her quickly. But then again, I have a really weird cat.

 

[tkcrockett]

I don't know. I think he's a bit engrained in this because his show was on at NBC.

I just realized Savannah used to be at Court TV. I used to get her and Kimberly Guilfoyle mixed up because they may have been on at the same time. (Not because they looked alike..LOL) I often wouldn't pay attention to the reporter's names and I would see Kimberly on there and think her name was Savannah Guthrie.

ashleigh banfield was also there

 

[Cassie P]

If NG and her SIL entered through the garage door, which closed 2 mins later, it could be because it was easier for her to enter the house that way. Doesn’t mean he left through the garage door before it closed. He could have accompanied her through the house and left through the front door.

Yes usually it is easier to go from the garage to the house. There are no stairs or maybe one or two. Front porches usually have more stairs.

So yes NG and SIL could have come in through the garage and then he left via the front door.

 

[Curiousraccoon]

Hope your plane took off and you are not stranded!

Yes it is odd.

Why go to a 35 year old movie to make a point about humanizing NG?
When in fact it didn't actually humanize her at all. A reference to a fictional character in an old movie is distancing NG's humanity in my opinion. Why not talk about NG's role as a grandmother, mother, widow, church goer, volunteer or other info about her life.

But of course the best way to humanize someone is to talk to them directly. A kidnap victim is just an object, a money making tool. Turn them into a real person by talking to them directly. So the advice to the kidnapper to go talk to NG is good. And assumes NG can make the case herself.

But still begs the question why use an old movie to do this? Why not just tell the kidnapper to talk to NG, get to know her, etc.

Why introduce the idea of a serial killer to a kidnapper holding your mother? This goes against psychological crisis management. If you have an aggressive person threatening to harm others, you don't start talking about other killers who are famous and made a name for themselves by killing people.

Yes perhaps the kidnapper instructed SG to say this as a coded message. Perhaps it verifies that SG read the ransom note they sent. Or indicates that SG is agreeing to certain terms without publicly disclosing the specifics.

Or perhaps there was something about the crime scene and note that made the FBI profilers think it was a good idea to go in this direction. A criminal leaves their personality fingerprint on the crime scene. The crime is not a personality aberration but a reflection of their daily personality. It is a picture of who they are.

So perhaps there was something in the RN and crime scene that caught the profiler's eye.

IDK. Again just speculating of course.

The movie was released in 1991.

If the quote was a secret message to the person who sent the ransom letter, might that say something about their age? For example, someone 50 years old now would have been 16 when the movie came out.

 

[Jge24]

BBM - I think this is an interesting theory. Something like "say XYZ if you want to send us a message that you are willing to make the payment"

This is one of my theories, too. SG was very deliberate when she said that part, pausing, looking direct at the camera. It also seemed misplaced with the rest of their plea (IMO). I think there was something in that note that made reference to the movie and they were communicating back to the kidnapper.

 

[shonyakay]

What could be in NG's car that shouldn't be? Someone's DNA? There'd be a plausible explanation for any family member, imo, so not looking for evidence of one of them. Data showing it went somewhere on that night?

Morning all.

Maybe Nancy's DNA i.e. blood from being transported - either alive or deceased.

If the vehicle of interest that was seen at Circle K was Nancy's, I am not understanding how her vehicle would have gotten back into her garage if the only opening of the garage was at 9:48 p.m. and the only closing was two minutes later at 9:50 p.m.

Maybe there was another opening and closing of the garage Sunday morning that LE just hasn't shared with the public.

Or the vehicle of interest seen at Circle K wasn't Nancy's and belongs to someone else.

 

[amelia65452]

I am trying to catch up. This camera that they pulled yesterday, is this something that had put there for several days? One of Nancy's they missed? A camera that no one knew existed before this case?

 

[mikeshanty]

Hope your plane took off and you are not stranded!

Yes it is odd.

Why go to a 35 year old movie to make a point about humanizing NG?
When in fact it didn't actually humanize her at all. A reference to a fictional character in an old movie is distancing NG's humanity in my opinion. Why not talk about NG's role as a grandmother, mother, widow, church goer, volunteer or other info about her life.

But of course the best way to humanize someone is to talk to them directly. A kidnap victim is just an object, a money making tool. Turn them into a real person by talking to them directly. So the advice to the kidnapper to go talk to NG is good. And assumes NG can make the case herself.

But still begs the question why use an old movie to do this? Why not just tell the kidnapper to talk to NG, get to know her, etc.

Why introduce the idea of a serial killer to a kidnapper holding your mother? This goes against psychological crisis management. If you have an aggressive person threatening to harm others, you don't start talking about other killers who are famous and made a name for themselves by killing people.

Yes perhaps the kidnapper instructed SG to say this as a coded message. Perhaps it verifies that SG read the ransom note they sent. Or indicates that SG is agreeing to certain terms without publicly disclosing the specifics.

Or perhaps there was something about the crime scene and note that made the FBI profilers think it was a good idea to go in this direction. A criminal leaves their personality fingerprint on the crime scene. The crime is not a personality aberration but a reflection of their daily personality. It is a picture of who they are.

So perhaps there was something in the RN and crime scene that caught the profiler's eye.

IDK. Again just speculating of course.

I've thought hard about this too. I started thinking maybe the perpetrator has a fixation with the movie and wanted to recreate the specific scene in the movie. However, I'm now convinced that this is just standard language from historic FBI training based on messaging considered and tested as most effective in ransom situations. In other words, the specific language is just a hangover from past scripts and there is low tolerance from LE to deviate from the specific messaging to maximise the chances of cooperation.

 

[tkcrockett]

Why go through the ruse of going to the house, with the forensic stuff, if they know the house is empty? They didn't enter. I have to believe they know where everyone is.

i wonder if they also have a camera back there that they were checking

 

[Cassie P]

The movie was released in 1991.

If the quote was a secret message to the person who sent the ransom letter, might that say something about their age? For example, someone 50 years old now would have been 16 when the movie came out.

Exactly my thoughts. It gives us a possible age of the kidnapper?

Unless perhaps the movie is now a cult classic that young people watch? I do not know, others will have to chime in on this point.

 

[diggndeeperstill]

AB has been saying the same thing consistently. I listened carefully, and what she says is that her highly-placed and unimpeachable source told her that TC was considered a prime suspect *at this time*. There’s the qualifier.

He may or may not be NOW. Since her source told her that, investigators may have new information that confirms it, or is exculpatory.

Actually she has the word MAY in front, MAY be considered the prime suspect.

 

[birdbox]

Hope your plane took off and you are not stranded!

Yes it is odd.

Why go to a 35 year old movie to make a point about humanizing NG?
When in fact it didn't actually humanize her at all. A reference to a fictional character in an old movie is distancing NG's humanity in my opinion. Why not talk about NG's role as a grandmother, mother, widow, church goer, volunteer or other info about her life.

But of course the best way to humanize someone is to talk to them directly. A kidnap victim is just an object, a money making tool. Turn them into a real person by talking to them directly. So the advice to the kidnapper to go talk to NG is good. And assumes NG can make the case herself.

But still begs the question why use an old movie to do this? Why not just tell the kidnapper to talk to NG, get to know her, etc.

Why introduce the idea of a serial killer to a kidnapper holding your mother? This goes against psychological crisis management. If you have an aggressive person threatening to harm others, you don't start talking about other killers who are famous and made a name for themselves by killing people.

Yes perhaps the kidnapper instructed SG to say this as a coded message. Perhaps it verifies that SG read the ransom note they sent. Or indicates that SG is agreeing to certain terms without publicly disclosing the specifics.

Or perhaps there was something about the crime scene and note that made the FBI profilers think it was a good idea to go in this direction. A criminal leaves their personality fingerprint on the crime scene. The crime is not a personality aberration but a reflection of their daily personality. It is a picture of who they are.

So perhaps there was something in the RN and crime scene that caught the profiler's eye.

IDK. Again just speculating of course.

Ah, but what if the ransom note instructed SG to read that line live on TV?

 

[EJB123456]

According to this article, LE went up the roof because a neighbor noticed it looked recently redone and thought that the company which renovated it should be looked into.
Does that mean they found those cameras by chance while checking the roof? :/

As a person familiar with arizona and its homes, I have been marveling at the condition of that roof. It’s pristine and I agree, looks relatively new in its coating.

 

[mikeshanty]

I also noticed that SG's statement and prior Instagram written post is full of religious imagery. We know NG attended a church and this could have been aimed at her. However, it's much less likely NG will be scrolling Instagram or be shown these messages. As such, could it be that they believe the perpetrator is potentially from her church? I know that is an unpalatable thing to imagine, but the religious language is very obvious and it's puzzling me as to why this would feature so heavily in such a high stakes situation for a "bitcoin" ransom.

 

[Curiousobserver]

FBI and Federal Government are likely working this angle IMHO

https://www.forbes.com/sites/martinadilicosa/2026/02/06/the-kidnappers-of-savannah-guthries-mom-want-bitcoin-but-its-not-as-anonymous-as-many-think/

 

[shonyakay]

I am still trying to catch up, but possibly AB worked with LE and/or FBI to put pressure on the kidnapper to communicate by appealing to his ego and fear of not getting his ransom

What if AB's ID of SIL as prime suspect was a coordinated effort and AB was selected as the media person to do it because of her close and trusting relationship with SG

AB kept repeating the prime suspect details and that it came from a high level LE...over and over. Other news outlets were hesitant to report this because ME denied it, but it may have been enough to scare the kidnapper into reaching out

That could have helped to push the kidnapper to give more evidence of the validity of the ransom demand

This crossed my mind but I have a hard time believing that LE would sacrifice that man's reputation for the rest of his life, especially if there is not definitive proof of his involvement, by leading the public through AB to think that he is a "Prime Suspect" in this case just to rattle the alleged kidnapper(s).

I don't think they would do this even if they had definitive proof of his involvement.