Nancy Guthrie, mother of Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie, has been missing since January 31. The 84-year-old woman is believed to have been kidnapped for ransom from her Arizona home more than a week ago. After nine days of constant searching, investigators were unable to identify any suspects or persons of interest, and there has been no sign of life since her disappearance.
American journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, along with her siblings Annie and Cameron, spoke in a video message about their willingness to pay for the release of their elderly mother, Nancy Guthrie. (via REUTERS)Also Read: Savannah Guthrie vs Annie Guthrie Net Worth: Who’s Richer? Comparison of their assets and properties
ransom noteAt least two ransom notes have come under investigation by police and the FBI. In a second note, the alleged kidnappers demanded $6 million, setting a deadline of 5 p.m. Monday, which has since passed.
Some social media posts claimed that Savannah’s brother-in-law Tommaso Cioni and sister Annie received the ransom notes.
the truthBoth notes were initially distributed to news outlets.
“Multiple ransom notes have been sent to the media, including one to us,” said reporter JJ McKinney of KGUN9, one of the Arizona outlets to receive an alleged ransom note.
“In the letter, the would-be kidnappers demanded that Guthrie pay them $6 million before this Monday,” McKinney added.
Annie Guthrie and Tommaso Cioni, however, received fake ransom text messages from fraudster Derrick Calella after Nancy went missing.
Calella was arrested Thursday in Hawthorne, California. He was charged with “transmitting a ransom demand in interstate commerce without revealing his identity and using a telecommunications device for the purpose of abusing, threatening, or harassing a person.”
“The Department of Justice will protect victims and families at all costs and hold grievous profiteers accountable,” US Attorney Timothy Courchain said in a press release. “This case came together within 24 hours due to the coordinated work of the FBI, local law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.”
