Savannah Guthrie has a message for those who are suspected of abducting her mother, Nancy Guthrie: “We’re ready to talk.”
The Today show co-host took to her Instagram on Wednesday evening, alongside her brother, Camron Guthrie, and sister, Annie Guthrie, to address the suspected kidnappers directly. Authorities have said Nancy was likely taken against her will in a “possible kidnapping or abduction,” and that her home was being treated as a crime scene.
“Our mom is our heart and our home. She’s 84 years old. Her health, her heart, is fragile. She lives in constant pain. She is without any medicine. She needs it to survive, and she needs it not to suffer,” Savannah said in an emotional video. “We, too, have heard the reports about a ransom letter in the media. 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. We want to hear from you and we are ready to listen. Please. Reach out to us.”
A ransom letter hasn’t been directly confirmed by authorities, but the Pima County Sheriff’s Department acknowledged the reporting of a ransom note, obtained by TMZ and at least two local news outlets in Arizona on Tuesday, saying that investigators are “following all leads.”
Earlier in the Instagram video, Savannah and her siblings also expressed their appreciation to the public for their ongoing support amid Nancy’s disappearance.
“On behalf of our family, we want to thank all of you for the prayers for our beloved mom, Nancy,” she said through tears. “We feel them, and we continue to believe that she feels them too.”
“She’s funny, spunky and clever. She has grandchildren that adore her and crowd around her and cover. She loves fun and adventure. She is a devoted friend. She is full of kindness and knowledge. Talk to her and you’ll see. The light is missing from our lives,” Savannah added.
On Tuesday, the NBC News anchor previously asked for prayers for the safe return of her mother.
Nancy, who takes essential medications and has mobility issues, was last seen by Annie’s husband, Tommaso Cioni, when he dropped her off at her home in Tucson, Arizona, on Saturday night. The following day, she was reported missing by members of her family after she didn’t show up for church.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department is investigating her disappearance, calling it a “possible kidnapping or abduction.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Sheriff Chris Nanos shot down reports that Cioni had been identified as a possible suspect, scolding members of the media who reported him as a person of interest without confirming it with investigators. He said in a statement shared on the sheriff’s department’s Facebook page, “At this point, investigators have not identified a suspect or person of interest in this case.”
Nanos also said in an interview with NBC News’ Liz Kreutz on Wednesday that he remains hopeful that Nancy is still alive. “We have nothing else to go on but the belief that she is here,” he shared “She’s present. She’s alive, and we want to save her.”
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