The ‘Today’ show host’s mother, Nancy Guthrie, 84, was taken against her will from her home on Jan. 31, police said
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scene outside Nancy Guthrie’s home.Credit : Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty; Danielle Bacher
The FBI is acknowledging a new message tied to the disappearance of Today show host Savannah Guthrie’s 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, who authorities believe was kidnapped from her Tuscon, Ariz., home last weekend.
“The FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department are aware of a new message regarding Nancy Guthrie,” the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement to PEOPLE on Friday, Feb. 6.
“Investigators are actively inspecting the information provided in the message for its authenticity,” the statement continued. “While this is one new piece of information, the FBI and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department are still asking anyone with tips to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI. The FBI continues to offer a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the recovery of Nancy Guthrie and/or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance.”
Tucson-based KOLD News/News 13 shared that it received the message earlier in the day. “13 News received a new message this morning, February 6, regarding the Nancy Guthrie disappearance,” News 13 stated.
“We are not releasing details out of respect to the family,” the outlet added.
KOLD News/News 13 said it forwarded the message to law enforcement along with the IP address from the initial note. The IP address is not the same IP address as the initial note, but “it appears the sender used the same type of secure server to hide their IP address,” the outlet said.
“The new note contains information the senders seem to think will prove to investigators they’re the same people who sent the first note,” News 13 stated.
On Friday afternoon, a large number of FBI personnel including Evidence Recovery Team and Forensics Team members, along with more than two dozen sheriffs showed up at Nancy’s house, where they searched the back of the property, PEOPLE can confirm.
“We are back at the house again as part of customary investigation follow up,” an FBI spokesperson tells PEOPLE. “We were planning on getting back to the house today even before that message came in.”
Speaking about the large FBI presence at the property, he said, “When the FBI is involved, we bring lots of resources.”
The Pima County Sheriff’s Office said in a post on X that investigators were conducting a follow-up at the Guthrie home and in the surrounding area, and that the roadway in front of the home is currently restricted.
“Nobody on foot can pass the cones,” a sergeant at the scene tells PEOPLE. “We need everyone out right now. This is for further investigation.”
Nancy was reported missing on Sunday, Feb. 1, by her family when she failed to show up at church.
Law enforcement launched a massive investigation into Nancy’s disappearance, saying they believe the grandmother was taken against her will, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said at a press conference on Tuesday, Feb. 3.
On Wednesday, Feb. 4, the Today show host, 54, her sister Annie, and her brother Camron made an emotional plea to the potential kidnapper in a video posted to Instagram, asking for the safe return of their mother.
“We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her,” Savannah said in the video.
Nancy was last seen on Jan. 31 when her son-in-law, Tommaso Cioni, dropped her off at her house sometime around 9:48 p.m. after she had dinner with him and Annie at their nearby home, Nanos told The New York Times.
A trail of what appears to be blood was seen on the front steps of Nancy’s home that authorities confirmed is hers.
On Wed., Feb. 4, Nanos said authorities believe Nancy is still alive.
Savannah has been in Arizona with her family as they wait for answers about Nancy.
In a statement on X, FBI Phoenix said, “While this is one new piece of information, the FBI and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department are still asking anyone with tips to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
“The FBI continues to offer a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the recovery of Nancy Guthrie and/or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance.”
