Arizona officials confirm blood found at Nancy Guthrie’s home was hers | Arizona

Arizona law enforcement officials confirmed Thursday that they found blood belonging to Nancy Guthrie, the mother of television anchor Savannah Guthrie, on the 84-year-old’s front porch after she was reported missing from her home over the weekend.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said at a news conference that authorities do not yet have a suspect in the apparent kidnapping.

But they believe Nancy Guthrie is “still there” and their protocol in such a situation is to assume she is alive until there is information to the contrary “and we’re going to continue to think that way until we find her,” Nanos said.

The FBI got involved and investigating special agent Heith Janke announced a $50,000 reward for vital information and also said a ransom note under investigation gave an initial deadline of 5 p.m. local time on Thursday for a response.

Nanos confirmed that blood found near the front door of Nancy Guthrie’s home, just north of Tucson, tested positive for her DNA. Additionally, at 2:28 a.m. Sunday, Nancy Guthrie’s pacemaker disconnected from her personal device, Nanos said. Her doorbell camera had also been removed, but software detected a presence, although without footage it was not possible to know at that point whether the movement was that of a person or an animal, Nanos said.

The sheriff added that he was “certainly afraid” of a worst-case scenario where Nancy Guthrie would no longer be alive, saying, “I think we all are…especially without the medication she needs every day.” »

Savannah Guthrie is the longtime anchor of Today on NBC.

It appears Nancy Guthrie went missing Saturday night and her absence was discovered Sunday morning by family. She was reported missing shortly after noon. This prompted an investigation that authorities say includes the alleged ransom demand.

Investigators believe Nancy Guthrie was arrested against her will. Janke said Thursday that it was unclear whether the apparent kidnapping was specifically related to the fact that Savannah Guthrie was a well-known national journalist.

Regarding a ransom, Janke said: “We are in communication with the family. Although we advise and recommend, from a law enforcement perspective, any action taken regarding a ransom is ultimately decided by the family.”

Law enforcement officials expressed sympathy to the family.

“This whole team is suffering because of you,” Nanos said of law enforcement, addressing Nancy’s distraught children – Savannah, her sister and brother.

The siblings made a tearful public appeal via video Wednesday evening, focusing on their mother’s deteriorating health and the danger posed by her lack of medication. The siblings demanded proof that their mother is still alive.

“Everyone’s looking for you, Mom,” Guthrie said. “Everywhere. We will not rest. Your children will not rest until we are together again.”

Nanos said Thursday there was no information in the ransom note they are primarily investigating indicating how the family should communicate with those responsible for the apparent kidnapping.

Meanwhile, a person was arrested for sending a fake ransom note, with the sheriff describing the person as an imposter.

According to authorities, Nancy Guthrie was last seen Saturday evening at her residence in Catalina Foothills, an affluent community about 6 miles northeast of Tucson. The family members dropped her off around 9:30 p.m.

On Sunday morning, members of her church noticed she was not home and contacted her family. A missing person report was filed later that afternoon after relatives called 911. Search efforts began immediately, drawing volunteers and Border Patrol agents, and continued the next day. On Monday, investigators declared the house a crime scene.

In the Instagram video, Savannah Guthrie and her siblings reiterated their concerns about their mother’s health and said she doesn’t have access to her prescriptions.

“She’s 84 years old. Her health, her heart, is fragile. She lives in constant pain. She has no medication. She needs it to survive, and she needs it to not suffer,” Guthrie said.

“We too have heard about a ransom letter in the media. As a family, we are doing everything 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 to you.”

After the family’s statement, Donald Trump posted on social media that he had spoken to Savannah Guthrie on Wednesday. The US president said he was “deploying all resources to bring his mother home safely.” Axios reported that Pam Bondi, the attorney general, also spoke with Savannah Guthrie and that Kash Patel, the FBI director, planned to visit Tucson.

Savannah Guthrie was absent from the Today show this week. NBC said she would also leave her planned role as co-host of Friday’s Winter Olympics opening ceremony to stay with her family.

“Our thoughts are with her and the entire Guthrie family as the search for their mother continues,” the network said in a statement.

In Arizona and across the United States, people gathered to show support for the family.

“We need people with that connection to Savannah, Nancy, the community, to show the love and support that we have for this family,” Anne Moral, a friend of Savannah Guthrie, told ABC News affiliate KGUN9 during a prayer service in Catalina Foothills.