“This case continues to be investigated as a kidnapping for ransom case,” the FBI said in a statement. While the bureau declined to specify an exact number, it acknowledged receiving “several” notes and said it is still evaluating those that may be authentic.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department, which is jointly investigating the case alongside federal authorities, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from NTD News.
Volunteer and professional search teams spent weeks scouring the rugged desert terrain surrounding her home—an area of dense cactuses, boulders and brush—without locating her. A separate volunteer group more recently conducted a search for her remains near the Arizona-Mexico border, also without results.
“I don’t have any comment on this story, and I’m not involved in our coverage,” Savannah said on-air. “But I can’t pretend I’m not here. And so, since I am, I want to just take the opportunity to ask people, to really beg people to come forward.”
Fighting back tears, she described the ongoing anguish her family endures. “This is a news story today that is on your radar, but this is the life that my sister lives, that I live, that my brother lives, that our extended families live, that our children live every day,” she said. “And we are in agony. And we cannot be at peace.”
Savannah also reminded viewers of a standing reward offer. “The reward is there. You can tell us. It can be anonymous. Please do the right thing for us, for our family, for our children. We love our mom, and we’ll never stop looking for her ever,” she said.
Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, embraces Savannah in an undated photograph. Courtesy NBC/Today/Handout via Reuters
The Guthrie family has offered a reward of up to $1 million for information leading to Nancy’s whereabouts. The FBI has separately offered up to $100,000 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI. Tips may be submitted anonymously.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
