Investigators found evidence of a forced entry at the Arizona home of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today anchor Savannah Guthrie, the AP reported, citing a source familiar with the case.
Guthrie is believed to have been taken against her will.
Savannah Guthrie took to social media late Monday to ask for prayers, describing her mother as a “woman of deep conviction” and urging her supporters to have faith that she would be brought home safely, the AP reported.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI spoke to the media Tuesday but released limited details.
Sheriff Chris Nanos declined to say whether the incident appeared to be random or targeted and did not elaborate on the evidence recovered from the home, the AP reported.
He confirmed that Nancy Guthrie requires daily medication and could face life-threatening consequences without it, adding, “We hope so,” when asked if investigators were looking for her alive.
Meanwhile, footage obtained by NewsNation showed dark red stains on the flagstone outside Guthrie’s Tucson residence, consistent with earlier descriptions of the bloody scene provided to the media, the AP reported.
Authorities have not confirmed whose blood it is.
Hijackers Demand Millions of Dollars in Bitcoins?
An alleged ransom note linked to the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie’s mother was sent to media outlet TMZ on Tuesday, with the sender demanding millions of dollars in bitcoin for Guthrie’s safe return, according to a report by The New York Post.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department said it was aware of “possible ransom money in circulation,” but stressed that investigators had not confirmed the authenticity or legitimacy of the demand, the report said.
According to TMZ, the report set a deadline for payment and warned that the Today show host’s mother could be harmed if the ransom is not paid.
Trump reacts
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday afternoon, US President Donald Trump said he planned to call Savannah Guthrie “later” and described the situation as “terrible”.
“I’ve always gotten along very well with Savannah,” Trump said, according to the AP.
Guthrie, who has deep roots in Tucson, has remained off the air while the search for her mother continues.
For the second day in a row, Today began Tuesday’s broadcast with coverage of Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, although Savannah Guthrie was not at the anchor desk.
NBC Sports said Guthrie will also step back from coverage of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics as he focuses on supporting his family during what the network called a difficult time, the AP reported.
(With input from agencies)
