US news anchor Savannah Guthrie says 'we will pay' in plea for mother's return

February 8, 2026

Nancy Guthrie, the mother of NBC news anchor Savannah Guthrie, vanished from her Tucson, Arizona residence last weekend in what authorities suspect was an abduction. Evidence suggests foul play, including disconnected doorbell cameras and her pacemaker app being deactivated around 2:30 in the morning. Multiple media outlets have reportedly received ransom demands seeking millions in cryptocurrency, prompting the FBI to investigate while warning that one fraudulent ransom note has already surfaced.

Who is affected

Nancy Guthrie (the kidnapping victim)
Savannah Guthrie and her two siblings (Camron Guthrie and one other sibling)
Members of Nancy Guthrie's church
Multiple media outlets who received ransom communications
FBI and Pima County Sheriff's office personnel
One individual arrested for sending a fake ransom note

What action is being taken

The FBI is investigating a potential ransom note and inspecting new messages for accuracy
Authorities are offering a $50,000 reward for information
The Guthrie family is releasing video messages attempting to communicate with the kidnappers
Law enforcement is working under the assumption Nancy Guthrie is still alive
Federal law enforcement is providing assistance at President Trump's direction

Why it matters

This case represents a serious violent crime involving the abduction of an elderly woman who requires medication to survive and avoid suffering. The involvement of cryptocurrency ransom demands highlights modern criminal tactics that are difficult to trace. The high-profile nature of the victim's family, combined with the life-threatening medical situation and the presence of fraudulent ransom attempts complicating the investigation, makes this case particularly urgent and significant for both the family and law enforcement agencies.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC