Savannah Guthrie’s family makes new plea for mom’s safe return after first apparent ransom demand deadline passes: Live updates

Earlier Thursday, the Pima County Sheriff’s Office revealed an updated timeline of the events leading up to Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance.

• Saturday, 5:32 p.m.: Nancy travels to a local family member’s home for dinner.
• Saturday, 9:48 p.m.: Family members drop Nancy off at her home, and her garage door opens.
• Saturday, 9:50 p.m.: Nancy’s garage door closes.
• Sunday, 1:47 a.m.: Nancy’s doorbell camera disconnects.
• Sunday, 2:12 a.m.: Software detects a person on the camera (authorities have said there is no video available).
• Sunday, 2:28 a.m.: Nancy’s pacemaker app shows it disconnected from her phone.
• Sunday, 11:56 a.m.: The family checks on Nancy after hearing she did not attend church.
• Sunday, 12:03 p.m.: 911 call made to Pima County Sheriff’s Department.
• Sunday, 12:15 p.m.: Patrol car arrives at Nancy’s home.

Nancy Guthrie is “okay but scared,” according to the alleged ransom note sent to media outlets.

“They began the letter by saying that that Nancy is is okay, but scared,” TMZ founder Harvey Levin, who has seen the letter, told CNN.

“So they say she is okay, and also that she’s aware of the letter and the demands.”

The Guthrie family has urged the person behind their mother’s disappearance to “reach out” and provide proof that she is still alive.

Levin added that he believed the suspected kidnapper was based “in the Tuscon area,” based on discussions with his colleagues.

“This doesn’t feel like this is somebody out of state or out of the country who hatched this plan. It feels more localized,” he said.

Police are still working to verify the authenticity of the alleged ransom letter, which was also sent to a local news outlet in Tuscon, in Arizona, as well as TMZ.

Speaking to CNN, TMZ founder Harvey Levin said that the ransom letter had two deadlines – but that one had sounded “more consequential.”

“There was this deadline at five o’clock today, and… I’m trying to pick my words carefully here, there is a change. There is a change in what the kidnapper may want,” he said.

“The Monday deadline is far more consequential.”

Levin added: “It felt like somebody means business. I mean, when you read it, it’s very detailed. This person thought through, I believe, again, if it’s legit, this person thought through the markers of showing that it’s real.”

Police are investigating the ransom letter, sent to news outlets earlier this week, and are yet to verify its authenticity.

The founder of TMZ, one of two media outlets that received copies of an alleged ransom letter for Nancy Guthrie, says that her family currently has no way to contact a suspected kidnapper.

Harvey Levin spoke to CNN shortly after the release of a second video by the Guthrie family in which they urged the person holding their mother to “reach out.”

“They are pleading for this person to come forward. If it indeed is the person behind this letter, the letter says you will have no way of contacting me. This is the only contact,” Levin said.

“So that’s why they’re pleading for proof of life. That’s why they are begging because they have no idea how to get in touch with this person.

“They went to great lengths in sending this email to us, in making sure that it stays anonymous.”

Police are investigating the ransom letter, sent to news outlets earlier this week, and are yet to verify its authenticity.

Here is the full DOJ statement on the recent arrest of a man over an “imposter” ransom demand.

On Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, the FBI arrested Derrick Callella in Hawthorne, Calif. Callella has been charged via a criminal complaint filed in federal court for transmitting a demand for ransom in interstate commerce, and without disclosing his identity, utilizing a telecommunications device with the intent to abuse, threaten, or harass a person.

“The Department of Justice will protect victims and families at all costs, and grief profiteers will be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “This case came together in under 24 hours because of the coordinated work of the FBI, local law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.”

“To those imposters who are trying to take advantage and profit from this situation – we will investigate and ensure you are held accountable for your actions,” said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke.

Per policy, the FBI does not release booking photos.

A criminal complaint is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Donald Trump is keeping tabs on the ongoing search for Nancy Guthrie, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has said.

The president watched Thursday’s press conference updates and has personally spoken with her daughter, NBC anchor Savannah Guthrie.

“The president, as you all know, spoke directly with Savannah yesterday and told her that the federal government is here to help. Any requests that are made by state and local officials in the search of Mrs. Guthrie will absolutely be accommodated,” Leavitt said.

“I spoke with the FBI directly about that today as well, and our hearts and our prayers are with Savannah and her entire family as they search for her dear mother.”

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has asked that well-wishers stop using its non-emergency phone line to send messages to the Guthrie family following the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie.

“The Pima County Sheriff’s Department understands that many people want to share their thoughts and prayers with the family of Nancy Guthrie, and we appreciate the community’s support,” the department wrote on X.

“We respectfully ask that these messages be shared on social media and not through the PCSD non-emergency phone line. Calls expressing condolences have overwhelmed our communications staff, and it’s critical that the line remain available for law enforcement purposes.

“Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we continue to serve the community.”

Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today co-host Savannah Guthrie, has been missing for five days, and while authorities have no proof she’s alive, they are holding out hope that she’s “still out there.”

Here’s what we know so far about the case: