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

[NoBodyNoStory]

Seems to be over a mine or quarry of some kind

Tail # not Pima County Sheriff however, could be just mine-stuff they do

Helicopter originated from Falcon Field Airport - Mesa police department run their copters out of there. Air Support Unit (Falcon Field)

 

[jdrive]

I know TMZ is a clickbait media site, but it seems reckless (even for them) to disclose the “ransom” message. They probably could have gotten a promise of an exclusive first news release in exchange for keeping it quiet until law enforcement confirmed or debunked it.

 

[Whiteorchids]

Nancy Guthrie's Kidnapping TMZ Gets Alleged Ransom Note Demanding Big $$$ In Bitcoin​

Another scary twist in the disappearance of "TODAY" host Savannah Guthrie's kidnapped mother ... TMZ has received an alleged ransom note demanding payment for the release of Nancy Guthrie.

The note, which was sent to us Tuesday morning, demands a specific substantial amount of Bitcoin ... the amount is in the millions, and the note demands the cryptocurrency be sent to a specific Bitcoin address.

TMZ has verified the Bitcoin address is real.

There is a deadline connected to the alleged ransom ... and an element of "or else."

In the moment on our live stream above, Harvey and Charles said she was wearing the item. In fact, the note says she was not wearing it.

The alleged ransom note also describes an item the sender says was damaged at her Tucson-area home.

We forwarded the alleged ransom demand to the Pima County sheriff.

Alleged Ransom Note for Nancy Guthrie Kidnapping Demands Millions in Bitcoin

Another scary twist in the disappearance of "TODAY" host Savannah Guthrie's kidnapped mother ... TMZ has received an alleged ransom note demanding payment for the release of Nancy Guthrie.

www.tmz.com

Wow I hope this means she’s still alive asking for bitcoin sounds like a younger person what do y’all think

 

[missy1974]

From the TMZ article:

In the moment on our live stream above, Harvey and Charles said she was wearing the item. In fact, the note says she was not wearing it.

The alleged ransom note also describes an item the sender says was damaged at her Tucson-area home.

Has it been stated that she was wearing her apple watch? I can't think of anything else that would stand out as being something she was 'not' wearing?
And mentioned something specifically damaged in the home.. interesting.

Hopefully if this is not real, the SO will say so soon.

Alleged Ransom Note for Nancy Guthrie Kidnapping Demands Millions in Bitcoin

Another scary twist in the disappearance of "TODAY" host Savannah Guthrie's kidnapped mother ... TMZ has received an alleged ransom note demanding payment for the release of Nancy Guthrie.

www.tmz.com

 

[crhedBngr]

Wow I hope this means she’s still alive asking for bitcoin sounds like a younger person what do y’all think

Agreed. I think this sounds like a younger person.

JMVHO.

 

[Diddian]

Also, just a thought to everyone on the ransom train - the Lindbergh baby was long dead even before the family knew where to drop the ransom.

But was he intended to be dead at that point? If I correctly recall the details about the Lindbergh kidnapping, isn't it thought that the baby was accidentally dropped when being taken down the homemade, telescoping three-part ladder (from his nursery on the second floor) because the side support on the bottom of the ladder's three parts split and so the ladder failed and fell?

 

[thefragile7393]

If it’s real, TMZs first call should have gone to the FBI and the Pima Co Sheriff’s Office.

they probably did

 

[moonglow123]

Not for everyone. I haven't watched network news news and network television for over 25 years, and don't miss it at all. I had never heard of her before this tragedy, and her face from the photos is not familiar either. I do hope the poor mother is found alive, and soon!

Fair enough, I may be influenced by my own familiarity with her. Regardless, she is relatively well-known and has engaged in some cutting-edge journalism - famous interviews with the President and other things.

J do think it's a situation where anyone that worked with Nancy would be aware that her daughter was very wealthy and powerful.

Savannah is famous enough that someone totally random could've dug into how to target her and landed on her mother. Her mother has been featured in some shows with her, as others have said.

 

[Vaderman]

What is the possibility that there WAS a randsom note left or already been sent to LE and they just have not said so to the public? And the perps WANT someone to report on it... TMZ would look like a good plan. IMO

Or perhaps someone in LE leaked it to TMZ?

 

[pulaskiatnight]

Wow I hope this means she’s still alive asking for bitcoin sounds like a younger person what do y’all think

Not necessarily younger, but probably more tech-savvy than not. Could also be a red flag that it's a scam or that the note is a hoax.

 

[DS2021]

There are losers on the internet who will attempt to extort money from missing persons families by claiming that they have their missing loved one captive. I used to moderate a large missing persons group on Facebook and I saw it first hand. Id be shocked if it was real.

Criminals Using Altered Proof-of-Life Media to Extort Victims in Virtual Kidnapping for Ransom Scams | Federal Bureau of Investigation

The FBI warns the public about criminals altering photos found on social media or other publicly available sites to use as fake proof of life photos in virtual kidnapping for ransom scams.

www.fbi.gov

Criminals Using Altered Proof-of-Life Media to Extort Victims in Virtual Kidnapping for Ransom Scams
Alert Number: I-120525-PSA
Questions regarding this PSA should be directed to your local FBI field office.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warns the public about criminals altering photos found on social media or other publicly available sites to use as fake proof of life photos in virtual kidnapping for ransom scams. The criminal actors pose as kidnappers and provide seemingly real photos or videos of victims along with demands for ransom payments.

The Scam
Criminal actors typically will contact their victims through text message claiming they have kidnapped their loved one and demand a ransom be paid for their release. Oftentimes, the criminal actor will express significant claims of violence towards the loved one if the ransom is not paid immediately. The criminal actor will then send what appears to be a genuine photo or video of the victim’s loved one, which upon close inspection often reveals inaccuracies when compared to confirmed photos of the loved one. Examples of these inaccuracies include missing tattoos or scars and inaccurate body proportions. Criminal actors will sometimes purposefully send these photos using timed message features to limit the amount of time victims have to analyze the images

 

[Magic8Ball]

We all know Savannah could and would offer a lot more, but perhaps this is strategic in some manner by LE. Maybe to discourage others from attacking family members of the rich and famous.

Spitballing.

That, and the larger the reward , the more whackadoos, psychics, randoms, etc., will be lighting up the tip line with a bunch of fake tips and false sightings from all over the country that LE has to chase down.

 

[UsernameRequired]

BREAKING: Savannah Guthrie Receives Ransom Note... | TMZ​

 

[StarryStarryNight]

I know TMZ is a clickbait media site, but it seems reckless (even for them) to disclose the “ransom” message. They probably could have gotten a promise of an exclusive first news release in exchange for keeping it quiet until law enforcement confirmed or debunked it.

If the kidnappers wanted it all kept secret, they had other ways to get out their ransom demands.
By going through TMZ, to me, it just means they don’t care if it’s out in the open. Maybe they prefer it that way.
I hope it’s legit.

 

[Whiteorchids]

Criminals Using Altered Proof-of-Life Media to Extort Victims in Virtual Kidnapping for Ransom Scams | Federal Bureau of Investigation

The FBI warns the public about criminals altering photos found on social media or other publicly available sites to use as fake proof of life photos in virtual kidnapping for ransom scams.

www.fbi.gov

Criminals Using Altered Proof-of-Life Media to Extort Victims in Virtual Kidnapping for Ransom Scams
Alert Number: I-120525-PSA
Questions regarding this PSA should be directed to your local FBI field office.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warns the public about criminals altering photos found on social media or other publicly available sites to use as fake proof of life photos in virtual kidnapping for ransom scams. The criminal actors pose as kidnappers and provide seemingly real photos or videos of victims along with demands for ransom payments.

The Scam
Criminal actors typically will contact their victims through text message claiming they have kidnapped their loved one and demand a ransom be paid for their release. Oftentimes, the criminal actor will express significant claims of violence towards the loved one if the ransom is not paid immediately. The criminal actor will then send what appears to be a genuine photo or video of the victim’s loved one, which upon close inspection often reveals inaccuracies when compared to confirmed photos of the loved one. Examples of these inaccuracies include missing tattoos or scars and inaccurate body proportions. Criminal actors will sometimes purposefully send these photos using timed message features to limit the amount of time victims have to analyze the images

If this is a scam what a sick person

 

[Lalalacasbah]

With Harvey being a lawyer I had always thought TMZ albeit being gossipy/tabloid - still know what they're legally allowed to put on that show. I always thought TMZ followed the law when it comes to putting stories out.

It could be a hoax, but guess it's not illegal to publish that they received this. It could very well be legit. Attention-seeking suspects if so.

 

[303gmf]

he's under fire for a lot of things that aren't relevant to this case. He's likely sweating over how this is a high profile case under his watch by the nation vs the things happening locally.

From reading what I could find about him he sounds like a very experienced leader and a really good man, I’m not understanding why the under fire comment?

 

[thefragile7393]

Nancy Guthrie's Kidnapping TMZ Gets Alleged Ransom Note Demanding Big $$$ In Bitcoin​

Another scary twist in the disappearance of "TODAY" host Savannah Guthrie's kidnapped mother ... TMZ has received an alleged ransom note demanding payment for the release of Nancy Guthrie.

The note, which was sent to us Tuesday morning, demands a specific substantial amount of Bitcoin ... the amount is in the millions, and the note demands the cryptocurrency be sent to a specific Bitcoin address.

TMZ has verified the Bitcoin address is real.

There is a deadline connected to the alleged ransom ... and an element of "or else."

In the moment on our live stream above, Harvey and Charles said she was wearing the item. In fact, the note says she was not wearing it.

The alleged ransom note also describes an item the sender says was damaged at her Tucson-area home.

We forwarded the alleged ransom demand to the Pima County sheriff.

Alleged Ransom Note for Nancy Guthrie Kidnapping Demands Millions in Bitcoin

Another scary twist in the disappearance of "TODAY" host Savannah Guthrie's kidnapped mother ... TMZ has received an alleged ransom note demanding payment for the release of Nancy Guthrie.

www.tmz.com

I'm betting it's a stupid hoax. People are terrible even more so nowadays IMO.

 

[thefragile7393]

With Harvey being a lawyer I had always thought TMZ albeit being gossipy/tabloid - still know what they're legally allowed to put on that show. I always thought TMZ followed the law when it comes to putting stories out.

It could be a hoax, but guess it's not illegal to publish that they received this. It could very well be legit. Attention-seeking suspects if so.

Harvey is still a lawyer and isn't a dummy (what we may think about him personally is a different story). He knows what can and cannot be sued over.

 

[diggndeeperstill]

I suppose the statement about needing meds in a 24 hour timeline could be made to encourage ransom holders to act fast.

Although, I don’t believe it’s ransom related.

Wow I hope this means she’s still alive asking for bitcoin sounds like a younger person what do y’all think

Nah, it’s a way to move money anonymously. I’m not young and fully aware of and understand bitcoin.