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

[Bernie54]

I put the transcript of the latest SG video in to ChatGPT to get an analysis of it from the viewpoint of an investigator and here is what it said, very interesting:

"Every line feels carefully chosen.

W. O. W. This is awesome. I was mystified by the verbiage in the latest video. THANK YOU for doing this. It makes perfect sense to me why those words were chosen.

 

[Stunned]

Not everything is political, this thread since day 1 has been toxic in its handling of politics. Perhaps something to learn in future to deal with differently?

He inserted himself. IMO

 

[meade]

It's possible she died while captive, perhaps accidentally or from injuries sustained, and the kidnapper communicated that but is still trying to get money out of the situation.

But IMO the "kidnapping" is a farce for murder.

 

[frankieparcheesi]

Hey, longtime lurker, don’t really post, but something’s been bugging me:

It seems like there is a lot of predictions that the perpetrator is someone close to NG, perhaps even close family. If this is the case, SIL or otherwise, why would they set up a weeklong kidnapping event, knowing NG can’t survive without her medication and the ability to track her pacemaker? If we are assuming that the perpetrator is close to NG, why would they have expected her to be able to sustain herself without her important medical items until a Monday deadline? Why would they have not brought her medication as she is, and I do hate to say this, probably worth more alive than deceased to them? It just seems to me that if the horrible person who did this knows NG as well as we suspect, they must have known that what we are all hoping didn’t happen was a possibility. All respect to the family, but I do wonder if the “Thursday was the deadline for life” theory was correct, or if she was never intended to be returned alive. It’s devastating, prayers to the Guthrie’s. I can’t imagine.

 

[MommaV]

Wow, the next deadline is Monday. Surely there will be more info before Thursday!

Why next Thursday? So specific.

 

[TheDinks]

Maybe the roof camera that was recovered showed she was not alive when she was abducted? It didn't sound like second note confirmed she was dead--unless there was specific info in that communication hat only the family could interpret this way. Very sad. I really can't imagine the family's pain.

Savannah's opening words "we received your message... and we understand." Everything she said following relates to this.

I can't see how definitive proof of death could be seen on cam footage, in this case anyhow...a body would have to be pretty messed up to confirm being deceased.

 

[keek]

Bad bunny is a Puerto Rican Multi winning Grammy Star who has MAGA in uproar for preforming fo the Superbowl. So they created an alternative. IMO

Of course the SUPERBOWL an the performers do not need to be dragged into such an awful and sad thread that exists due to this tragedy. IMO Not directed at you 'Stunned' at all. Perfect explanation so now people know what's what on that score/IMO

 

[Fromeaster]

If I were the kidnapper, I definitely wouldn't return the body, I would just take the money and that's it, because if I were caught it would be harder to convict me for murder.

 

[ChicagoSleuth]

FBI says that today's Guthrie video was in response to yesterday's message. Just wanted to share since I know some of us were curious whether a new/additional message was received today.

Snips from source: "Savannah Guthrie told the potential kidnappers of her mother Nancy Guthrie on Saturday that the family is prepared to pay for her safe return." [...] "Guthrie was referencing a message that was sent to the Tucson-based television station KOLD on Friday afternoon, according to Kevin Smith, a spokesperson for the FBI office in Phoenix."

Source: 'We will pay,' Savannah Guthrie says in desperate video plea to potential kidnappers of her mother

 

[CSIDreamer]

Tucson area has a lot of old mines. It would have been easy to take her there, and deep. MOO.

I'm still wondering if thats what the maps were for. JMO

 

[SeattleStew]

Wow that's nuts. It always amazes me how they were able to solve cases like that back then. Just good old fashioned detective work.

Fortunately, true kidnapping for ransom involving low-risk people has fallen off a cliff thanks to modern technology.

Indeed. That George later offered one of his kidnappers a job is gobsmacking.

 

[aafromaa]

It appeared to me that SG was reading a script.

At least reading some notes she had laying on the floor or a low table off camera

 

[txsleuth70]

NG chutes into the 50yrd line with Bad Bunny

That was in very poor taste.

 

[shadowsc]

I wonder if that was the nature of the two deadlines: the first for the return of her alive and the second would mean returning her body. They didn't explicitly say "return her body pls" but there's ambiguity there and I suspect that's deliberate for some reason or another.

That's the only explanation I can think of for a scenario in which the 'kidnapper' might have told them she was gone - and we don't know for certain that they did, of course.

Maybe it's just a desperate last attempt to grab some money when they realised they couldn't provide proof of life, either because she isn't alive or because they don't actually have her at all.

If you watch any of the clips of Harvey Levin of TMZ making the media rounds, he says that the ransom note stated that if the ransom wasn't paid by the first deadline, the demand would change. Perhaps the amount would go up or whatever the kidnapper was asking for. If the ransom wasn't paid by the second deadline, Harvey didn't come out and say it but left it at "serious consequences" would happen.

 

[MassGuy]

Anyone know why the family seemingly post these instagram videos around dinner time? Think there's any significance in that?

JMO

Might be maximizing the news cycle (nightly news broadcasts), and taking advantage of many people being home at that time.

 

[SlimPickens]

When it happens, it’s almost always criminal elements kidnapping other criminals.

I have never seen a true kidnapping for ransom in my life, and I still don’t believe I have.

I think this is an evil hoax.

I kind of wish I agreed with you, and I'm kind of glad that I don't. Your belief would mean that she never had a chance. I hope you're wrong, as I'm sure that you do as well. Logic, probabilities, and experience dictate your beliefs about the cases we comment about on here, and you're usually right. I usually lean as heavy as my intelligence will permit to that side myself. But if there ever was the possibility of an outlier, you have to admit this case sure has all the components to be one!

Indeed, the tiny strand of hope I'm clinging to is that there was obviously something in those ransom emails that led authorities to believe that the writer of them perpetrated the act in which he purports. I pray we'll all know shortly if that was the case.

Good reporting and insights as usual, MassGuy.

 

[unresolvedmystery]

Hey, longtime lurker, don’t really post, but something’s been bugging me:

It seems like there is a lot of predictions that the perpetrator is someone close to NG, perhaps even close family. If this is the case, SIL or otherwise, why would they set up a weeklong kidnapping event, knowing NG can’t survive without her medication and the ability to track her pacemaker? If we are assuming that the perpetrator is close to NG, why would they have expected her to be able to sustain herself without her important medical items until a Monday deadline? Why would they have not brought her medication as she is, and I do hate to say this, probably worth more alive than deceased to them? It just seems to me that if the horrible person who did this knows NG as well as we suspect, they must have known that what we are all hoping didn’t happen was a possibility. All respect to the family, but I do wonder if the “Thursday was the deadline for life” theory was correct, or if she was never intended to be returned alive. It’s devastating, prayers to the Guthrie’s. I can’t imagine.

It's a pretty simple explanation really, if you are someone close that accidentally or intentionally harmed her you know you will be scrutinised as a close family member. These supposed ransom demands are a simple way in the modern age to make it appear this was a different kind of crime to what it actually is.

I still remain convinced this is close to home and likely to be solved as its unlikely LE are convinced by this.

 

[Lore Listener]

I could see both results from this video. Maybe they are willing to pay now that they indeed have "Proof of Life?"

That was my first thought when I heard "This is very valuable to us."

That they were not referring to the return of Nancy dead/alive as valuable, but instead whatever the second note contained that could be considered "proof of life" or simply possession of Nancy. Especially because it was said immediately prior to "We will pay." The two sentences taken together meaning: What you sent us was of a quality to convince us you indeed have our mom--now we will send you the money."

 

[katydid23]

And do we (i.e. - You all) know if she actually ever made it into the house after being "dropped off"?

rsbm.

AFAIK there is zero independent confirmation that she ever made it back to her house. Period.

moo.

The garage door was opened and then closed 2 minutes later. So it seems like the driver who dropped her off, at the very least, would have watched her go inside the access door of her house, before the garage door was closed. imo

 

[GMG1999]

Hey, longtime lurker, don’t really post, but something’s been bugging me:

It seems like there is a lot of predictions that the perpetrator is someone close to NG, perhaps even close family. If this is the case, SIL or otherwise, why would they set up a weeklong kidnapping event, knowing NG can’t survive without her medication and the ability to track her pacemaker? If we are assuming that the perpetrator is close to NG, why would they have expected her to be able to sustain herself without her important medical items until a Monday deadline? Why would they have not brought her medication as she is, and I do hate to say this, probably worth more alive than deceased to them? It just seems to me that if the horrible person who did this knows NG as well as we suspect, they must have known that what we are all hoping didn’t happen was a possibility. All respect to the family, but I do wonder if the “Thursday was the deadline for life” theory was correct, or if she was never intended to be returned alive. It’s devastating, prayers to the Guthrie’s. I can’t imagine.

Call this crazy, but if this was done by someone close to the family or knowing of her, then it's entirely possible they grabbed enough meds for the time they were planning?