“We are at an hour of despair” – Savannah Guthrie asks for help for her missing mother
US news anchor Savannah Guthrie made a new appeal for help just hours before the announced deadline to secure a ransom for her mother’s safe return passed on Monday.
“We are at an hour of desperation and we need your help,” she says in the video posted to Instagram.
Nancy Guthrie disappeared in the middle of the night from her home in Tucson, Arizona, and was last seen on January 31. Authorities believe she was taken against her will. The FBI is offering a $50,000 (£36,000) reward for information.
Monday’s deadline, set for 5:00 p.m. local time (00:00 GMT), has since passed, and the FBI says it is unaware of “any ongoing communication between the Guthrie family and the alleged kidnappers.”
A previous alleged deadline for the payment of a ransom, supposed to be paid in Bitcoin, was passed on February 5.
Nancy Guthrie was discovered missing while not attending a Sunday church service on February 1 and other members became concerned.
The family released three previous videos in which they expressed their willingness to speak to the would-be kidnapper and asked to provide proof that their mother was alive.
The family had earlier indicated they would be willing to pay for his safe return.
“I just want to share some thoughts as we enter another week of this nightmare,” Guthrie said, appearing alone in the latest video, unlike previous recordings where she appeared with her siblings. “She’s been taken and we don’t know where. And we need your help,” Guthrie said.
She thanks the audience for their prayers, saying her mother feels them too “even in this darkest place.”
She asks everyone, everywhere, “even if you’re far from Tucson,” to report anything that might give clues about her mother.
She asks, “If you see anything, if you hear anything, if there is anything that seems strange to you, report it to law enforcement.”
Investigators say no suspects, persons of interest or vehicles have been identified in this case.
In an update just before Monday’s deadline, the Pima County Sheriff’s Office said it had no new information to release publicly.
The sheriff’s statement added that “the investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie remains active and ongoing” and that “the FBI is handling all aspects related to any ransom demands or communications involving the Guthrie family.”
The FBI also released a statement saying that FBI agents from across the country “continue to deploy to Tucson.”
“We currently operate a 24-hour command post that includes crisis management experts, analytical support and investigative teams. But we still need the public’s help,” the FBI statement added, including the FBI tip line number.
At a news conference last week, FBI Special Agent Heith Janke said his agency was reviewing a ransom note sent to several media outlets.
The note gave a payment deadline set at 5:00 p.m. Thursday, he said, without specifying which time zone, and provided a second deadline for Monday.
On Monday, FBI Director Kash Patel arrived in Tucson, for a trip planned before Guthrie’s disappearance.