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TUCSON, Ariz. – A critical deadline is approaching in the case of missing 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, who was last seen on Saturday, Jan. 31 at her residential Tucson home.
Alleged ransom notes, and the Guthrie family’s response to those alleged notes, have been dominant storylines as authorities continue to search for the mother of NBC’s “Today” anchor Savannah Guthrie.
Monday night marks the second deadline of a first alleged ransom note, which was received by local news outlet KOLD last Monday, and by TMZ last Tuesday.
That original note had two deadlines. The first was last Thursday at 5:00 p.m. The second one is tonight.
After the Thursday night deadline passed, TMZ reported that the note contained a separate Monday deadline, and the outlet’s founder told Sean Hannity on Fox News’ “Hannity” that the second deadline is “far more consequential.”
On Friday, a second alleged statement from captors was received by 13 News in Tucson. Reports indicate that the alleged captors are demanding $6 million in Bitcoin. TMZ said it verified the Bitcoin address is “real,” and noted that the purported ransom note included unreleased details about her disappearance.
Despite three separate pleas from the Guthrie family, posted to Savannah’s Instagram account, the family still has not received proof that Nancy is still alive.
Authorities continue to analyze the notes as the hunt for Nancy continues.
“We are aware of reports circulating about possible ransom note(s) regarding the investigation into Nancy Guthrie,” officials wrote in a statement last Tuesday afternoon.
The sheriff’s office added it is taking all tips and leads “very seriously.”
“Anything that comes in, goes directly to our detectives who are coordinating with the FBI,” officials wrote.
INVESTIGATION INTO DISAPPEARANCE OF SAVANNAH GUTHRIE’S MOTHER TAKES DARK TURN AND MORE TOP HEADLINES
On Wednesday night, Savannah, sister Annie and brother Camron spoke directly to the alleged ransomers in an emotional plea, asking them to contact the family. The alleged note reportedly does not contain any contact information from the senders.
Savannah opened the family’s plea by thanking supporters for their prayers before describing her mother as the heart of their family and making a direct appeal for contact, stressing Nancy Guthrie’s fragile health and urgent need for medication.
“Our mom is a kind, faithful, loyal, fiercely loving woman of goodness and light,” Savannah Guthrie said. “She’s funny, spunky. She has grandchildren that adore her and crowd around her and cover her with kisses. She loves fun and adventure. She is a devoted friend. She is full of kindness and knowledge. Talk to her and you’ll see.”
Camron took to Savannah’s Instagram in a second video, pleading with the alleged captors to reach out to the family.
“Whoever is out there holding our mother, we want to hear from you,” he said. “We haven’t heard anything directly. We need you to reach out, and we need a way to communicate with you so we can move forward. But first we have to know that you have our mom. We want to talk to you, and we are waiting for contact.”
On Saturday, the family sent a third message, saying they “will pay” for the return of their mother.
In an interview with Fox News Channel’s Bret Baier on “Special Report,” FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed federal officials are aware of a ransom note while reiterating that local police are acting as the lead investigative agency in Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance.
“The local authorities notified the FBI of it, and we are working with them in any manner they choose,” Patel said. “But remember, they’re the lead right now, and we have to respect that. But we are there to help them in any way we can – on ransom notes or otherwise.”
TIMELINE: NBC HOST SAVANNAH GUTHRIE’S MOTHER DISAPPEARS AS SHERIFF SAYS SHE MAY HAVE BEEN ‘ABDUCTED’
Retired FBI special agent Jason Pack told Fox News Digital the letters will need to be authenticated, cautioning that scammers are known to take advantage of families involved in missing person cases.
”Scammers will do things that are very distasteful, like scamming the loved ones of people missing, but the police have to take it seriously until they can prove it’s not real,” Pack said. “And it ties up resources that could be devoted to an investigation.”
Guthrie, 84, was last seen at her Tucson home at about 9:30 p.m. Saturday, according to the sheriff’s office.
While officials did not immediately elaborate on the circumstances of her disappearance, they said they believe Guthrie was either kidnapped or abducted.
A law enforcement source told Fox News Digital that there were “blood drops” leading from the entryway outside down the house’s pathway toward the driveway.
Guthrie did not attend her Sunday church service, leading another churchgoer to notify the family, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said.
Family members went to the house at about 11 a.m. and called 911 around noon.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE ASKS FOR PRAYER AS HER MOTHER REMAINS MISSING: ‘WE NEED YOU’
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department told Fox News Digital on Monday that officials believe Nancy Guthrie was either kidnapped or abducted.
It is unclear if she was targeted, or if the suspected kidnapping was random.
Savannah Guthrie spoke out on Instagram in a post Monday, writing “We need you.”
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“We believe in prayer. We believe in voices raised in unison, in love, in hope. We believe in goodness. We believe in humanity. Above all, we believe in Him,” she wrote. “Thank you for lifting your prayers with ours for our beloved mom, our dearest Nancy, a woman of deep conviction, a good and faithful servant. Raise your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment.”
Anyone with information on the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie is asked to call the tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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