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

[nhmemorymaker]

The usage of "this" is...unsettling to me. "This is important to us." "This is the only way we will have peace"

"We understand" - I'm still not convinced completely these ransom demanders have NG BUT if they do, I could see this being an acknowledgement that while there may not have been an alleged intent to kill her, she may have passed due to her own medical issues that have now gone unmedicated for a week.

And to play devils advocate - these ransom demanders may just be continuing to exploit a situation they never had control of. It's believable an 84 year old woman could have passed away in the commission of this and whoopsie, we never intended this to happen. They pay, they don't get a body because they've never had NG. The idea that kidnappers would return a body for money just seems...insane. Locard's exchange. The potential for evidence that would absolutely nail them is an awful big risk.

i think i can undertand the "this" clearly.... the "this" is getting their mother back for them to cherish, even if she has passed.
As hard as that might sound, as a daughter, I know i would do anything to make "THIS" happen.

BUT THIS WOULD BE A HORROR at this time. And it is still a possibillity.
because they've never had NG.

 

[browneyes]

I’m still holding out hope for NG.

 

[unresolvedmystery]

I find the instagram angle to be weird. Maybe the kidnapper requested that tho

Likely due to the fact no number, address or other way to directly communicate was provided in the notes?

 

[Izzylizzy]

Live
Good panel

BREAKING: Savannah Guthrie, Siblings Respond To New Note About Nancy Guthrie​

 

[BrownRice]

Nancy could've been a victim of a romance/sweetheart scam.

Think about it. She's an elderly, single woman who may want some romantic companionship. From what I've heard, she recently lost her dog so she's probably extra lonely all alone in that big house. Sure, she has a church community but she's been attending virtually for awhile and could be spending more time online. Her Facebook account looks like the typical random mishmash of stuff and doesn't necessarily scream tech-savvy. She also appears to have lost some weight and she may have been feeling a bit more confident.

Social media is full of scammers. I could easily see a bad actor luring into their web of lies while gassing her up. They're messaging back-and-forth all day, every day. She tells him about how her life story, her hopes and dreams, her values, and how her days are going. He's a successful silver fox who actually isn't because they're all stolen photos. Maybe he isn't really just one bad actor, but a group of them who have figured out who she's related to and that she has money.

Anyway, she's telling him about her children and how Annie is a jeweler. Perhaps Nancy has told the scammer man about the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show, which if I'm not mistaken, is the largest show in the world for rockhounds. People travel from all over for this event. Scammer man/men are interested and tell Nancy that this would be a great time to meet. What they're really thinking is, "Jackpot! Now's a great time to travel to Tucson, blend in with the crowd, and rob Nancy."

What makes me pause with my theory is that these scammers usually don't ever want to actually meet. Maybe they wanted to just be in the area and wait until she's out to rob her house. Who knows, maybe they're extra bold in this instance. Let's go back to their messaging back-and-forth. On fateful January 31st, Nancy says something like "Ok, I'm going to my daughter and son-in-law's house for dinner tonight and tell them about our relationship. I'm so excited for you to meet them!!!" I've heard that a lot of seniors (not all) are embarrassed to tell their kids that they're dating again, so this could very well be a big deal for her.

Annie and Tommaso have been drinking while cooking, and don't want to pick up mom under the influence, so they request an Uber ride for her instead. Nothing weird about that. Nancy arrives and tells them her amazing news once they've all sat down for dinner. Annie and Tommaso are all "WTF!? You're talking to a scammer! Cease all communication IMMEDIATELY." Nancy is upset and has been so brainwashed that she messages scammer man when she comes home saying, "I'm home now. My family doesn't believe in our love and I'm so upset. They want us to break up now." He replies with, "Nothing can come between us, my love. They'll come around. Don't give up!"

At this point, the scammer/scammers are beyond PO'd at Annie and Tommaso. They've already bought tickets, flown into Tucson, and now their plans are this close to being thwarted. They decide to take out the ultimate revenge by kidnapping Nancy in the middle of the night and sending ominous ransom notes.

I'll be the first to admit that I have an active imagination, but you can't tell me these scams aren't common. Check out this video, this article, and this article. My mom also used to be a flight attendant and told me about a passenger she had once on a trip coming back from London. The passenger was an elegant-looking, elderly woman who was visibly upset. When the crew members asked what was going on, she said that she was totally stood up at the airport the other day by a man she was supposed to meet and had sent a lot of money to. She really thought they were in love, and was so ashamed and embarrassed to tell her kids. At least she made it home alive.

Yep. Ive thought about that. A friend of my mother in law got twisted up in something like this. It made no sense, but the friend believed it to be true. Her family is in the process of trying to protect her assets, but it’s difficult when the senior citizen is apparently of sound mind. But in NGs case, I assume they would have checked her internet history and emails and phone.

 

[keek]

Agree on CG, but SG was much more matter of fact. Less emotional in words. Negotiating .

Oh def agree she is being, cagey? Yes, she has a firm purpose through her distraught everything. IMO

 

[Luna20]

This is exactly what I think happened. But I’m still confused/curious how they would get the body once the ransom is paid. It’s hard to know how the demands are being made since we have no idea what the letters are actually saying.

The body could expose the perps so she may not be returned.

 

[Fromeaster]

Here they are responding to the third letter or the second? It could still be a fake.

 

[browneyes]

When was this said?

It wasn’t.

 

[Bluewing3102]

After thinking about the video something doesn't make sense to me: WHY WOULD A SUSPECT REVEAL THAT NG IS DEAD PREEMPTIVELY IN THE SECOND NOTE?

The mystery of NG being alive is the only leverage the kidnapper has. If the first ransom letter gave two deadlines with Monday being the hard deadline. Why not just let the family sweat it out whether to pay the demand. And come Monday if they didn't then you announce she is dead and that you'll return the body for a price?

Maybe suspect is worried that LE is closing in and running out of time?

JMO

 

[Bodhi]

no remorse. With the attention on this case not sure how they will deliver the body but for sure not releasing NG alive.

Unfortunately, leaving a body in a remote area at night entails little risk of getting identified or caught. Stop for a few minutes with no cars around, and you're quickly on your way. Email the location after you're well clear.

This kidnapper is likely to choose a remote area even if Nancy is alive. Someone concerned about the well-being of an 84-year-old woman, which they clearly do not, would drop her off somewhere with low-density population but where she'd get help quickly. But that would increases their exposure.

I expect if the ransom-emailers are the kidnappers, they will release her alive or place her body someplace remote. The body language in the video is heartbreaking. The lack of hope. The look of utter defeat. I wish them all strength tonight.

 

[mikeshanty]

I rewatched the anchorwoman who got the second note yesterday and from her tone and demeanor, I don't think the note said that Nancy was deceased.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2019954906225127539

This assumes it is the same message SG refers to. If it is, by the fact the news station said the note was "alarming", the most plausible explanation is that SG's "we understand" comment refers to something the perp said about what they will do if they are not paid by Monday. TMZ also said the previous letter had something "consequential".

 

[SaraSmile]

MassGuy said:
I've never followed a case this complex, but I have followed countless cases. In doing so, it's easy for me to gauge where law enforcement is with an investigation.

Not only am I not seeing an indication that they are lost, but I'm seeing the opposite. We're not seeing all the things we usually see when that's the case.

Press conferences have become more sporadic, no regular press releases, and they're not asking for tips about vehicles or persons of interest.

I see a focused homicide case.

***
Mass Guy, you have an excellent track record with crime cases, and I'm so glad to hear you say this. I agree with you that it's a complex case and that she likely didn't leave the house alive. If she did leave the house alive, I cannot fathom NG being alive at this point. And I hope we're wrong. MO

Thank you for always be measured, wise, and to the point. I really appreciate it.
I left for 6 hours, 50 pages to read. I need to see the Instagram video to catch up, from the comments, it sounds very sad.

 

[katydid23]

• It didn't narrow it down too much for me:

• I have an exercise for those of you who wish to try this. Ask your favorite AI or even internet query the demographics of someone who uses bitcoin, follows TMZ, and knows how to use tools to hide their identity on the internet. Then ask what occupations frequently use those tools. Then be creeped out like I am.
  
  Amateur opinion and speculation only

• Technology & Cybersecurity: Software developers, security analysts, and penetration testers use these tools as a standard part of their workflow to test defenses and protect intellectual property.
• Digital Marketing & Research: SEO professionals, market researchers, and e-commerce teams rely on proxies and privacy tools to collect pricing data and competitive intelligence without being blocked by websites.
• Journalism & Legal: Investigative journalists and legal counsel use encryption and identity-hiding tools to communicate with sensitive sources and protect client-attorney privilege.
• Freelance & Gig Economy: Freelance writers, programmers, and consultants(especially in Web3) often use these tools to secure their connections while working from various remote locations.
• Finance & Compliance: Compliance officers and crypto analysts use these tools to securely navigate global regulatory frameworks and manage blockchain-based transactions.
  

 

[auburnmomof2]

I'm wondering if they got a new note saying they could celebrate her life because she's no longer alive?
Mho

 

[Qbert]

I agree it appears she’s no longer with us but what gets me is why do they say “celebrate WITH her” to me that indicates someone who is still alive. Again, I think they’re responding in some way to something the captor wrote in a message. But the word ‘with’ to me is really not indicating she’s deceased as of this moment. We can try and spin it in any way, but usually you’re not celebrating WITH a dead person, you’re celebrating the dead person.

Yeah, that wording is throwing me off as well and agree with your thought's. But then when she says “This is the only way we will have peace” that sounds more ominous.

 

[DizzyB]

The amount of rage I would feel, I don’t think I could make a video telling you I will pay you for the body of my mother, whom you murdered.

 

[birdbox]

Ok, this might be my wildest speculation to date. You know how on 9/11 the terrorist knew they could not directly engage the US military, so they created this clever way to install fear in Americans by hitting the twin towers and civilain targets as pay back for ongoing presence of US in middle east? OK, hear me out. Lets say this is a payback for Venezuela due to US "kidnapping" their president as well as anger for ongoing ICE raids. There is no scenario where they engage us militarily. But many nations have mercenaries. Let's say they sought a high profile soft target (a media person's family) for launching this payback. It creates complete fear in US. NG could very well be in Mexico right now on property of mercenaries who are united against Venezula and ICE events. But, i honestly think she is deceased and I don't believe this theory. Just wanted to type it in here.

 

[soap mama]

Likely due to the fact no number, address or other way to directly communicate was provided in the notes?

I understand they didn't leave their address etc

But still find insta to be interesting, as opposed to televised broadcast. But who knows. This whole case is

 

[thefragile7393]

Perhaps she is no longer wearing her wedding ring.

heck of a lot of speculation. I wouldn't read too much into it.