The search for Nancy Guthrie enters its eighth day, and no suspects have been named. Guthrie’s family recently released a new statement on social media pleading for their mother’s return. “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie stated, “We will pay,” when referencing an abundance of ransom notes they have received demanding millions in Bitcoin in exchange for their mother’s return.
Investigating Nancy Guthrie’s Disappearance
Nancy Guthrie, 84, was reported missing Sunday, February 1, 2026, after she failed to show up to her usual church service. Authorities stress that she has mobility issues and her health is at risk without her prescribed medication. Her family has posted numerous statements online asking for her safe return and that they will do whatever is necessary.
Guthrie was last seen at her home on January 31 around 9:30 p.m. after she was dropped off following a family gathering. Police quickly jumped to the conclusion that something happened as they found blood on her front porch that matched Guthrie. The investigation into her unexplained disappearance has developed over the last week. Law enforcement officials have been seen searching her property nearly every day, looking for any evidence of where she may have gone.
Police state they have no suspects at this time and are in the process of obtaining video footage from her home cameras, which appear to have been tampered with. However, many ransom notes began flooding in as soon as Guthrie’s disappearance was declared a possible kidnapping.
Pleading For A Safe Return
Authorities are weeding through them to make sure none of them are legit, and a more recent note surfaced where Guthrie’s supposed abductor or abductors are demanding $6 million by Monday at 5 p.m. According to CNN affiliate KGUN, the note threatens the 84-year-old woman’s life if the demand is not met.
A second note received on Friday has investigators closely examining its authenticity, as it mentions sensitive information but does not provide a deadline. In a new video posted online, Nancy Guthrie’s children address her possible kidnappers and plead for her return. They clearly state, “We will pay.”
“We received your message, and we understand,” Savannah Guthrie said in an Instagram video with her brother and sister beside her. “We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her. This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay.”
In the first video, the family released a plea, pleading with the possible kidnappers, Savannah Guthrie stressed that they “need to know without a doubt that she’s alive and that you have her.” The day after, Guthrie’s son, Camron, posted another plea video stating, “Whoever is out there holding our mother, we want to hear from you.”
“We haven’t heard anything directly. We need you to reach out, and we need a way to communicate with you so we can move forward,” he said. “But first, we have to know that you have our mom. We want to talk to you, and we are waiting for contact.”
Insight From Former FBI Agent
Former FBI Deputy Director and CNN Senior Law Enforcement Analyst Andrew McCabe said the FBI agency, without a doubt, helped Guthrie’s children write and release their latest statement. “There is no question in my mind that every word of that statement was carefully honed with the assistance of the FBI experts who are advising the family,” McCabe told CNN.
McCabe explained the experts advising the family are likely experience hostage negotiators who “have dealt with many, many kidnapping and ransom situations.” Frankly, in a sensitive situation such as this, where the life of someone you love is at risk, it is not unreasonable to assume they are seeking guidance from an experienced professional. When responding to the ransom notes, the FBI “will provide their best advice and consultation,” McCabe said.
The Bureau will also acknowledge and make the family aware “that the ultimate decision of what to do — whether or not to pay the ransom — that is exclusively the family’s prerogative and they’ll support them any way they can,” he continued.
