Nancy and Savannah Guthrie
Facebook/Savannah Guthrie

The search for Savannah Guthrie's mum, Nancy Guthrie, has reached a critical point after the family received a ransom demand. The authorities, however, didn't take it seriously and considered it a 'probable hoax'. Nancy is still missing and has been away from her family for nearly two weeks already.

The ransom deadline was reportedly 5 pm on Monday, 9 February, and it passed without news of any contact from the alleged kidnappers or proof of life. New updates reveal chilling footage before she went missing, whilst experts believe it's time to refocus efforts on more credible leads.

'This Wasn't Real'

Former SWAT team captain Josh Schirard weighed in on reports about the ransom demand the Guthries received from alleged kidnappers. The family was asked to pay £4.7 million ($6 million) worth of Bitcoin, and Savannah pledged to pay.

Schirard spoke with Radar Online and shared his thoughts about the incident. According to him, it was a 'probable hoax' because the demand could be from someone seeking to exploit desperate family members. 'This just tells us that, okay, this wasn't real,' he explained.

Veteran FBI special agent Lance Leising shared the same sentiment. According to him, 'in legitimate ransom cases' kidnappers immediately make their demands, so communication between them and family members typically happens just hours after the abduction. Also, 'proof of life is produced early and often', which didn't happen in Nancy's case. 'Here, the opposite happened. This case has not followed the history of a typical kidnapping at all,' Leising added.

Schirard believed it's time to 'refocus efforts' and consider pursuing several leads. The expert added that the majority of abductions involve individuals 'the abducted person knows', like family members or friends.

Forensic Searches and the Masked Man with Flowers

Local law enforcement recently conducted an intensive search of a septic tank located on the Guthrie family property. Despite initial forensic concerns, investigators reveal the thorough examination yielded no human remains or relevant biological evidence. The focus has now turned to a briefcase recovered near the property line, which is being processed for DNA.

Adding to the complexity is CCTV footage showing a masked suspect at the residence shortly before Nancy went missing. The man was seen holding a large bouquet of flowers, which he deliberately used to obstruct the security camera lens. The reaction suggests the man is someone Nancy knows or is familiar with her property. Police are currently attempting to trace the origin of the floral arrangement to see if it was purchased locally.

The Disappearance of Nancy Guthrie

Nancy Guthrie was reported missing on 1 February after failing to attend a church service where she was expected. She was last seen the previous day. Her mysterious disappearance disturbed many because her personal belongings and vehicle were left at home.

Her daughter, Savannah Guthrie, has temporarily stepped away from her role on the television programme Today to manage the ongoing search efforts. In a brief but emotional statement, the journalist emphasised that her mother is the backbone of the family and pleaded with the public to provide any information that might lead to finding her 84-year-old mother. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos had previously said that being away for too long can be 'fatal' for Nancy because she has medication to maintain.

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