Despite that uncertainty, Savannah Guthrie and her siblings, Annie and Camron, publicly announced their willingness to comply. In a video posted to Instagram on Saturday, Savannah Guthrie spoke directly to the unknown sender: “We beg you now to return our mother to us so we can celebrate with her. This is the only way we will have peace. … We will pay.” The short statement, filmed with her brother and sister at an undisclosed location, marked the first time the family explicitly agreed to satisfy the ransom condition. Investigators have not disclosed whether they have advised the family against payment or, alternatively, whether law enforcement might attempt a controlled delivery should the family proceed.
Authorities have conducted multiple searches of two primary sites: Nancy Guthrie’s home and the nearby residence of her daughter Annie, where the 84-year-old spent Saturday evening, January 31, eating dinner and playing games before returning home. Crime-scene technicians removed a vehicle from Nancy Guthrie’s driveway for forensic processing, reviewed footage taken from rooftop-mounted security cameras, and canvassed neighbors for additional recordings or eyewitness accounts. Investigators also re-entered Annie Guthrie’s property several times to clarify the family timeline and to recover any digital evidence that might indicate whether Nancy Guthrie was followed after leaving her daughter’s house.
While detectives have not singled out a suspect or identified a vehicle of interest, the sheriff’s office characterizes the matter as “an active and ongoing investigation.” The agency confirmed that local deputies, FBI special agents, and technical experts specializing in cyber extortion are collaborating on the case. According to federal protocols outlined by the FBI’s Violent Crime program, ransom demands involving cryptocurrency are typically assessed by tracing wallet addresses, monitoring blockchain transactions, and coordinating with digital-asset exchanges capable of flagging suspicious transfers. Authorities have not indicated whether such measures have produced leads in this incident.
Public involvement has become a cornerstone of the search effort. Investigators are urging anyone with knowledge of Nancy Guthrie’s whereabouts or details about suspicious activity near her home around February 1 to contact 911 or the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at 520-351-4900. Detectives have emphasized that even minor observations—such as unfamiliar vehicles, late-night lights, or altered neighborhood routines—could help reconstruct the hours immediately preceding the abduction.
The disappearance has drawn national attention because of Savannah Guthrie’s high-profile role as co-anchor of NBC’s “Today” show. Nevertheless, law enforcement officials say they are treating the investigation like any other missing-person and kidnapping case: methodically gathering evidence, validating each lead, and avoiding premature conclusions. They have not commented on whether the family’s prominence may have influenced the ransom strategy, nor have they revealed if the bitcoin demand corresponds to a sum calibrated to the Guthries’ perceived financial capacity.
Imagem: Internet
Security analysts consulted by ABC News noted that the timeline—between cutting power to home surveillance equipment and disabling Nancy Guthrie’s pacemaker connectivity—suggests a degree of planning. Yet investigators have not ruled out scenarios ranging from a single opportunistic perpetrator to a broader conspiracy. Forensic examinations of the seized vehicle and digital artifacts, including router logs, cloud-stored doorbell video remnants, and data from the pacemaker’s medical interface, are expected to continue through the week.
As the 5 p.m. deadline approaches, authorities face several possibilities: they could receive verifiable proof of life and proceed with negotiations, they might obtain a final communication containing instructions for payment, or the deadline could pass without any further contact. In the absence of new evidence, detectives plan to sustain ground searches, distribute updated missing-person alerts, and widen the radius of neighborhood canvassing. Additionally, the sheriff’s department is coordinating with state police and U.S. Customs and Border Protection to monitor traffic on major highways and regional border crossings for any hint that Nancy Guthrie was transported out of the area.
For now, the Guthrie family remains in close contact with investigators while making intermittent public appeals. Their latest message focused exclusively on securing Nancy Guthrie’s safe return and avoided mention of legal consequences for the abductor. Authorities have neither endorsed nor criticized that approach, reiterating instead that every decision ultimately rests with the family, provided it does not compromise the wider investigation.
The coming hours could prove pivotal. Whether the bitcoin demand represents a genuine threat or a hoax, the Monday deadline has become a focal point for all parties: law enforcement intensifying its operational tempo, the public waiting for updates, and a family willing to pay whatever sum is required to see their mother again.
Crédito da imagem: Reuters / AP
