The FBI announced on Thursday that it is offering a $50,000 reward for information that leads to the recovery of Nancy Guthrie or to the arrest of those involved in her abduction.
Heith Janke, the FBI special agent in charge of the federal investigation into the disappearance of Today show host Savannah Guthrie’s mother, announced the monetary incentive during a press conference held by the Pima County Sheriff’s Office.
Nancy Guthrie, 84, appeared to be taken against her will from her Arizona home in the early hours of Sunday, sparking national scrutiny and a sweeping hunt for her kidnapper, as investigators warn time is running out for the elderly woman, due to her reliance on health medication. During the latest press briefing, Sheriff Chris Nanos continued to express confidence that “Nancy is still out there.” But he said authorities have yet to identify a person of interest or suspect in the case.
Nanos confirmed that DNA testing indicated the blood spotted at the porch area of Nancy Guthrie’s home had been traced back to Savannah Guthrie’s mother. Investigators are still waiting to probe other evidence that has been submitted for lab analysis but not processed at this point, the sheriff added.
Officials also provided a key update on numerous purported ransom notes. One of them was confirmed false, Janke and Nanos said, revealing that an arrest had been made in connection with the “impostor” demand on Thursday morning. But there are other purported ransom notes circulated this week to at least three media outlets that Janke said were all “the same.” The message to the media contained details about the floodlights hanging outside the home and Nancy Guthrie’s Apple Watch. “The one that went to the media is the one we’re currently investigating,” Janke said, noting it is “tricky” to authenticate the message because the details about the watch and floodlight were widely reported in press coverage surrounding the abduction. The note to media had a deadline of 5 p.m. Thursday and a second deadline of Monday if a money transfer was not made, Janke added.
“Those are the time frames we’re looking at as we move forward,” he said.
The FBI said the note to the media did not establish communication protocols and that no further contact was made with the Guthrie after the message was sent to the outlets.
“That is what I think is important, that if someone has Nancy and is demanding the ransom, that there is communication with the family,” Janke said. “We talked about there has been no proof of life, and there was no other demands within that letter, so they’re still waiting for communication. And so if those that may have Nancy are watching this, the family is ready to talk, to get proof of life, because there has been no contact after that ransom note went to the media.”
“My next message is to those impostors who are trying to take advantage and profit from this situation: We will investigate and ensure you are held accountable for your actions,” the FBI agent added. “This is an 84-year-old grandma who needs vital medication for her well-being. You still have the time to do the right thing before this becomes a worse, much worse scenario for you. Please return Nancy home.”
Authorities say Nancy Guthrie’s doorbell camera was removed and disconnected at 1:47 a.m. Sunday. Software detects a person on a camera at 2:12 a.m., but there’s no video available, Nanos said. Law enforcement sent the camera to a technology company but hit another hurdle, according to the sheriff.
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“They’ve said they’ve run out of ways to recover any video,” Nanos told reporters.
At 2:28 a.m., Nancy Guthrie’s pacemaker disconnected from her personal phone.