What to Know
- The search for Nancy Guthrie, the mother of “TODAY” co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, has entered its fifth day as local and federal authorities continue to investigate her possible abduction.
- Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said at a press conference Thursday that there are still no suspects in the case.
- Guthrie, 84, was reported missing Sunday afternoon from her home outside Tucson, Arizona, after she did not show up at church. She was last seen around 9:45 p.m. the previous day, when family members dropped her off at home.
- Authorities offered a timeline of the night Guthrie disappeared, noting that her doorbell camera was disconnected at 1:47 a.m. Sunday and that software in the home detected a person on a camera at 2:12 a.m., but no video is available.
- A man who is accused of sending texts to the Guthrie family asking about bitcoin that was demanded in a reported ransom letter has been arrested in Los Angeles, according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court of Arizona.
Authorities investigating the disappearance of “TODAY” co-anchor Savannah Guthrie’s mother on Thursday provided a timeline of the night she went missing as the search for her stretched into a fifth day.
The timeline was among the most precise information provided by Arizona law enforcement officials since Nancy Guthrie was reported missing around noon Sunday, setting off a desperate search that now includes both state and federal agencies.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, speaking to reporters at a news conference in the Tucson area, said the 84-year-old woman traveled to her daughter’s home for dinner at approximately 5:32 p.m. Saturday.
Authorities located and spoke with the Uber driver who took Guthrie to her daughter’s house, Nanos said. He did not elaborate on what investigators learned.
Guthrie’s family dropped her back at her house at 9:48 p.m., when the garage door opened. The garage door closed two minutes later, Nanos said.
In the early hours of Sunday, at approximately 1:47 a.m., Guthrie’s home’s doorbell camera disconnected, according to the sheriff’s department sequence of events. Then, at 2:12 a.m., software detected a person on camera, but there is no video available, Nanos said.
Sixteen minutes later, at 2:28 a.m., Guthrie’s pacemaker app showed it had disconnected from her phone.
The Guthrie family checked on her at 11:56 a.m. after she did not show up at Sunday morning church services. The family placed a 911 call to the sheriff’s department at 12:03 p.m. and reported her missing, and the sheriff’s patrol arrived shortly after, at 12:15 p.m.
Reports indicate that ransom notes referencing Guthrie have been sent to at least three news outlets. NBC News has not seen copies of the notes, and no law enforcement agency has substantiated news reports about them.
Heith Janke, FBI Phoenix’s special agent in charge, told reporters that one of the reported ransom notes had a deadline of 5 p.m. Thursday. He said there was a second deadline on Monday, Feb. 9.
Nanos reiterated that authorities have not identified a suspect or a person of interest in the case, which has drawn national attention. “We’re not there yet,” the sheriff told reporters. He also confirmed that blood found on the porch outside Guthrie’s house tested positive for her DNA.
Investigators believe Guthrie is “still out there” and remain committed to bringing her home safely.
Authorities say there are still no suspects in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of “TODAY” co-anchor Savannah Guthrie.
Man accused of sending ransom-related texts to the family is arrested
A man who is accused of sending texts to the Guthrie family asking about bitcoin that was demanded in a reported ransom letter has been arrested in Los Angeles, according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court of Arizona.
Derrick Callella allegedly admitted to authorities that he sent the messages using a voice over internet protocol (VoiP) application after seeing television coverage of Guthrie’s disappearance. The complaint said that he told officials he was just “trying to see if the family would respond.”
The two messages are not linked to Monday’s reported ransom demand.
Callella is facing a charge of intent to transmit a demand for ransom and a charge of utilizing a telecommunications device to anonymously abuse, threaten or harass a person.
Reports of ransom letters
The FBI on Thursday detailed ransom letters that were reportedly sent to local media and national outlets.
“As with every lead, we are taking it seriously. We are in communication with the family. While we advise and recommend, from a law enforcement perspective, any action taken on any ransom is ultimately decided by the family,” Janke said.
There was no proof of life or other demands included in the letters, he told reporters.
Janke added that one of the reported ransom notes “had facts associated with a deadline with a monetary value they were asking for.” He added that one also “talked about an Apple watch, and one talked about a floodlight.”
“We’re not going to go into specifics,” he added. “It’s very important that we keep this investigation moving forward, and we don’t want to put more facts out there that others can use to try to profit from this.”
Reports indicate that ransom notes have been sent to three news outlets referencing Guthrie. NBC News has not seen copies of them, and no law enforcement agency has substantiated the reports.
Jon Edwards, the assistant special agent in charge of the FBI’s Tucson office, said at a press conference Feb. 3 that the bureau is assisting on the case by downloading and analyzing cell phone data and cell phone tower information, conducting interviews and providing investigative support. Anyone with tips can contact them at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Reward offered
The FBI is offering up to $50,000 for information leading to either the recovery of Guthrie or the arrest of anyone involved in her disappearance.
What Savannah Guthrie has shared since her mother’s disappearance
Savannah, whom the sheriff said is in Arizona, shared a video late Feb. 4 on Instagram alongside her siblings with a plea for the safe return of their mother.
“Mommy, if you are hearing this, you are a strong woman, you are God’s precious daughter,” Savannah said. “We believe and know that even in this valley, He is with you. Everyone is looking for you, Mommy, everywhere. We will not rest, your children will not rest, until we are together again.”
Savannah’s first statement came the morning of Feb. 2.
“On behalf of our family, I want to thank everyone for the thoughts, prayers and messages of support,” she said. “Right now, our focus remains on the safe return of our dear mom. We thank law enforcement for their hard work on this case and encourage anyone with information to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at (520) 351-4900.”
She also shared an Instagram post late Feb. 2 in which she asked for people to pray for her mother’s return.
What officials have said about Nancy Guthrie’s health
Nancy Guthrie does not have cognitive issues, Nanos said at a Feb. 2 press briefing, but has physical challenges and is in need of medication that can be fatal if not received within 24 hours.
“She is very limited in her mobility. We know she didn’t just walk out of there,” Nanos said. “There were other things at the scene that indicate that she did not leave on her own.”
Nanos added that Guthrie “could not walk 50 yards by herself.”
Other details police have released
Nancy Guthrie’s family told police they were alerted to her disappearance when they received a call from someone at their local church saying she was not there. The family then went to her house and searched for her before calling police.
Authorities are in possession of Nancy Guthrie’s cell phone, according to Nanos. She lives alone and had house staff, some of whom have been in touch with law enforcement, according to the sheriff.
Police do not know if Nancy Guthrie was targeted because she is Savannah’s mother and are not aware of threats aimed at Savannah after speaking with her, Nanos said.
Nanos added that he does not believe the public is in any danger.
Nancy Guthrie is described as 5 feet, 5 inches tall, weighing 150 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. Her family last saw her at home around 9:30 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. on Jan. 31, Nanos said.
Officials had been searching using drones, a helicopter, an airplane, search-and-rescue dogs and volunteers before the search was called off on Feb. 2 due to police viewing her disappearance as a crime investigation.
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