The sheriff of the Arizona county where NBC host Savannah Guthrie’s mother went missing says he believes the 84-year-old woman is still alive, as investigators continue to examine an alleged ransom note sent to news organizations.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos made the remarks in an interview that aired Wednesday on NBC’s Today, saying investigators are operating under the presumption that Nancy Guthrie is still alive.
“We have nothing else to go on but the belief that she is here,” Nanos said. “She’s present. She’s alive, and we want to save her.”
Nancy Guthrie was last seen Saturday night (Jan. 31) at her home in Tucson, Ariz. She has no cognitive issues but needs to take medication daily, or “it could be fatal,” Nanos told NBC News.
Individuals with tips are asked to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or the Pima County Sheriff’s Office (520-351-4900).
“The leads we’ve got coming in are critical to us,” Nanos said. “They’re valuable, and we’re sharing those with the FBI and others.”
Savannah Guthrie is the co-anchor of Today.
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Nanos told NBC News that law enforcement officials believe the woman was taken from her home against her will.
“I think she was abducted,” Nanos said. “When you’re taken from your bed, and you don’t want to go somewhere, that’s an abduction.”
He added that law enforcement officials “saw some things at the home that were concerning to us” – and that they’re also examining security footage.
Nancy Guthrie was reported missing after she didn’t show up for church Sunday morning. A source told CNN that her pacemaker last transmitted a signal to her iPhone around 2 a.m. Sunday. Her iPhone was left in her house.
Three media outlets – TMZ and Tucson stations KOLD and KGUN – reported receiving a ransom note demanding millions of dollars in bitcoin for her safe return. The sheriff’s department has not confirmed the note’s legitimacy.
“We are aware of reports circulating about possible ransom note(s) regarding the investigation into Nancy Guthrie,” the agency said. “We are taking all tips