By Jack Phillips
Contributing Writer
An FBI agent said alleged ransom notes contained a Thursday deadline for the safe return of “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie’s mother, who disappeared from her Arizona home over the weekend.
Heith Janke, the FBI special agent in charge for Phoenix, said on Thursday that the notes had a deadline of 5 p.m. local time on Thursday and if that was not met, a second deadline was set for Monday.
Janke did not give details on whether the letters warned what may happen to Nancy Guthrie, 84, if either deadline is allowed to pass. Any action on the demand is up to the Guthrie family, he said.
“And if a transfer wasn’t made, the second demand was for next Monday,” he said. “I’m not going to go beyond that.”
The FBI said there has also been no communication with anyone about ransom notes, coming days after multiple media outlets said they had received letters with financial demands in connection to the return of the missing woman.
“So we are continuing in a normal kidnapping case; there would be contact by now, trying to discuss that,” Janke said. “But those are the time frames we’re looking at as we move forward.”
FBI investigators are taking any ransom notes seriously, said Janke, adding that there was no proof of life or other demands in the notes.
One of the notes contained “facts associated with a deadline with a monetary value they were asking for,” the agent said. One also “talked about an Apple watch, and one talked about a floodlight.”
Meanwhile, the law enforcement bureau arrested an “imposter” who Janke said had been making false ransom demands for the return of Nancy Guthrie. The agent warned that others might attempt to exploit the situation.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said in the Thursday news conference that DNA tests showed blood found on Nancy Guthrie ’s front porch came back a match to her. Authorities think she was removed “against her will” from her home in Tucson this past weekend.
“Right now, we believe Nancy is still out there. We want her home,” Nanos said. The sheriff, however, acknowledged that authorities have no proof she is still alive and that no suspect or person of interest has been identified.
At least three media organizations, including local Arizona news outlets and entertainment website TMZ, have reported receiving purported ransom notes that they handed over to investigators.
A day before the press conference, Savannah Guthrie and her siblings released an emotional video message, saying they are ready to talk but want proof their mother is still alive. However, there has been no public sign of a response to their plea.
“We too have heard the reports about a ransom letter in the media,” the “Today” host said on Wednesday in a video alongside her sister Annie and brother Cameron. “As a family, we are doing everything that we can. We are ready to talk. However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated. We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her.”
Nancy Guthrie was last seen on the night of Jan. 31 when she was dropped off at her Tucson home by family after having dinner with them, according to the sheriff’s department. She was reported missing about 14 hours later on Sunday after she didn’t show up for church.
Guthrie has limited mobility, and officials don’t believe she left on her own. They’ve said she is of sound mind but cautioned that she requires medication to live.
The FBI is now jointly handling the case with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, Nanos said. The FBI said it would provide a $50,000 reward to anyone with information about the woman’s disappearance or information leading to an arrest in the case.
The update came a day after President Donald Trump wrote in a Truth Social post that he would be “directing ALL federal law enforcement” to be involved in the case. He said he had spoken with Savannah Guthrie on Wednesday.
