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

[LRinCA]

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.

I hesitate before posting this, but it's something I can't really shake from my mind and your post reminded me of it again.

The first day the photos were shown to the public I went to the Daily Mail online website and scrolled through some of the comments, taking most with a huge grain of salt; however, one of the comments stood out. It was about the blood by the front door. Someone (who may have not know what the heck they were talking about) said with some degree of confidence (again, stranger on the internet so consider the source): the blood appears to have been blood that was aspirated.

My apologies to any and all if this is inappropriate speculation.

 

[TheDinks]

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.

I think those who believe the abductor is someone close to Ms Guthrie also believe the kidnap for ransom is an opportunist who was not involved in taking her. That or a ruse to throw scent away from the real perp.

Those are the most widely speculated alternatives being discussed.

 

[turaj]

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

that did not look like a family that just saw Proof of Life

 

[shadowsc]

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

Interesting. Because that anchor woman Mary Coleman at KOLD who saw the letter and spoke of what she could say about it, did not give off a vibe that Nancy was deceased.

 

[lilyk]

Friendly reminder there is a search button at the very top right of the screen where you can enter any key word or phrase you're interested in discovering or reviewing/following up on or seeing if it has "already been discussed" so as to not bog down the already lengthy and very fast moving thread by asking the group the question and then multiple nice people take time to answer the same question. The search will show you every time the phrase is used such as "silence of the lambs" or "white van" and the newest comment will show first chronologically. You can narrow the search to within this thread or any thread you're reading. Very handy, especially if like myself have to sometimes skip dozens of pages at a time just to keep up and are wondering what happened with something.....
IMO

 

[diggndeeperstill]

Sorry if discussed.

Why the video? Why not just pay?

Says to me that option to get body back wasn’t on the table initially OR they were told to make video with payment. It’s interesting.

Who has that kind of motivation? A sick individual, or a “group” or country wanting to terrorize other potential victims and USA as a whole by playing out this whole process in front of the country.

 

[SaraSmile]

Maybe the "valuable" reference is a quote or message from NG that is very specific. They aren't getting the current proof of life they requested, but the information that was sent is valuable. They are acknowledging that and keeping the communication open.

I think “ valuable” meant a person has worth alive or dead, as in the Christian faith. I know my grandma was the type of Christian that did not believe in cremation, the body needed to be honored, even open casket ( as much as possible).
At the end, Compete funeral, in a church, then go to gravesite, another complete ceremony there, actually watch the casket being lowered, put dirt on top, flowers. Then a big reception. This was considered “closure” seeing the person from a baby to the very end, body included.

 

[tillytatler]

Has it been mentioned about the Silence of the Lambs quotes in the family’s videos and if so, what does everyone think ?

My assumption would be that whoever was in charge of scripting the family's responses used AI to do it, and that the chatbot picked up learnt terminology that is associated with ransom notes. Either that or total coincidence.

 

[amelia65452]

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

JMO

I beleive the alleged kidnapper made rules for specific ways to communicate. JMO

 

[gammagirl]

One theory could be that there is a reason that SG conveyed the message that she did and that perhaps they want the abductors to think that the family thinks she is dead. I borrowed this theory from someone i listened to and I am not sure what the advantage is but my point is it may not be what is seems to us the listeners.

 

[nighttimesleuth]

I think the words in the video were chosen very carefully in order to account for a number of possibilities which is why some of the language isn't natural. I think they believe she's likely dead since no proof of life was given and maybe something threatening was shared. I think they wanted the word "celebration" to have two possible meanings - if she's still alive then you can return her, we will pay, and will celebrate with her (this gives them an opportunity to still return her alive while also signaling it will be happy for them not a moment where they will seek "justice" - they will celebrate!) on the other hand, they recognize she is likely dead and they also want the person to know they can return her for a celebration (of life) if so. Either of those outcomes is valuable to them.

 

[ttjo]

Sorry if discussed.

Why the video? Why not just pay?

Says to me that option to get body back wasn’t on the table initially OR they were told to make video with payment. It’s interesting.

Who has that kind of motivation? A sick individual, or a “group” or country wanting to terrorize other potential victims and USA as a whole by playing out this whole process in front of the country.

I don’t know , I am totally stumped on this case. Im just waiting for more info. Hoping someone will make some sense of this .

 

[Ladyotm]

Who thinks AG died soon after being kidnapped, the murder(s) went on about their way, and these ransom notes are just a sophisticated way to scam the family?

SG's, "We understand" could be in response to the writer saying. "You think I'm joking. I'm going to do x, y, z to you mom if you don't pay up". MOO

Has it been mentioned about the Silence of the Lambs quotes in the family’s videos and if so, what does everyone think ?

Many pages back. IIRC, it was mentioned it's the 30th anniversary of the movie and that Cameron was wearing a shirt with the same pattern as an actress in the movie. Some speculated the FBI might have suggested the line.

 

[mikeshanty]

One theory could be that there is a reason that SG conveyed the message that she did and that perhaps they want the abductors to think that the family thinks she is dead. I borrowed this theory from someone i listened to and I am not sure what the advantage is but my point is it may not be what is seems to us the listeners.

I thought this too, but it is a lot of mental gymnastics and reverse psychology when time is of the essence, no? Or maybe it is designed to allow the perp to feel like a "hero" for returning her alive. So playing to vanity. Almost like "art of the deal" where both sides need to feel as though they win so some degree.

 

[Curiousobserver]

This is how I interpreted the family video. I think the supposed abductor is telling the family that Nancy has died. He/they might not want to return the body because it could contain clues or DNA. The family is offering to pay. I immediately thought "celebrate" meant a "celebration of life", as funerals are referred to in some Christian denominations, such as my own, the Catholic church.

Agree- IMO she died during or shortly after the abduction. The delay in the first note was figuring out what to do. They took their shot at getting paid without proof of life. This is their second best chance to get paid.

 

[keek]

Of the dead body has DNA of kidnappers how wouldn't the alive human???

Right, DNA etc def on Nancy G of abductor/s . I can't imagine they will return due to this. If yes, all connected. IMO

 

[emigrate]

I can think of various reasons why he would.

like

 

[Rumination1]

can anyone tell me : do the police have her phone and Apple Watch ? Did Nancy have no meds with her ? A lady like that would have a handbag . Where is that ?

 

[Magic8Ball]

If this kidnapping does in fact prove to be an evil hoax, I hope Congress crafts legislation that stiffens penalties for this type of predation/victimization of family members who are at their most vulnerable.

JMO.

 

[Gemmie]

I'm sure everyone has seen and heard Savannah's last message to the abductors linked here. It's absolutely heartbreaking.

What this says to me" "We received your message, and we understand" sounds like they sent them another message that their mother is deceased, she didn't make it without her meds. "They understand".

Begging for her to be returned, as it's "the only way we will have peace", says to me they simply want her body back, getting their mom back, even though deceased, is "very valuable to them", and for that they "will pay" [the ransom].

“We received your message, and we understand. We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her. This is . This is very valuable to us, and we will pay.”

Nothing about this is sitting well with me. Not one thing. I do NOT like that they were beaten down mentally to have to resort to begging. Begging the very people who are responsible for her pain, her misery, her (possible) death, and the pain and misery of her family that will NEVER go away. And all for what??? GREED!!! They ONLY cared about themselves and living the high life off BAD money. Well, what about NANCY's life?? She did NOTHING to deserve this!!

This is beyond reprehensible to me. God I hope I'm wrong and that she'll be returned alive. But as the days go on, and it's now mere hours to it being a week without necessary medication to keep her alive, I think all of our hopes and dreams are about to be smashed, unfortunately.

I hope they rot in hell for eternity. But more than that, I hope that I am wrong.

ETA - JMO as I said "her death" and we do not know for sure if she's alive or deceased. It's my guess that she is.