‘We’re at an hour of desperation’: Savannah Guthrie releases new video begging for help
TUCSON, ARIZONA: As the desperate search for Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy Guthrie, stretched into its second week, the 'Today' co-host issued a chilling new plea for help. In a newly released video on Monday afternoon, February 9, Savannah urged anyone with information to come forward, saying it could be the key to bringing her mother home safely.
Authorities believe Nancy was kidnapped from her Arizona home last week, and Savannah has already posted earlier videos aimed directly at the alleged abductors, who reportedly sent a ransom note demanding $6 million in Bitcoin with a February 9 deadline for payment.
Savannah Guthrie pleads for help finding mother
Savannah Guthrie opened her latest video plea by addressing viewers and sharing her thoughts as another agonizing week of uncertainty began. “Hi there, everybody. I wanted to come on and share a few thoughts as we enter into another week of this nightmare.”
She expressed gratitude to those who have been praying for her family, saying, “I just want to say, first of all, thank you so much for all of the prayers and the love that we have felt, my sister and brother and I, and that our mom has felt, because we believe that somehow, in some way, she is feeling these prayers and that God is lifting her even in this moment and in this darkest place.”
Holding on to hope, Savannah emphasized, “We believe our mom is still out there. We need your help. Law enforcement is working tirelessly around the clock trying to bring her home, trying to find her.”
She went on to make an emotional appeal, explaining, “She (Nancy) was taken and we don’t know where, and we need your help. So I’m coming on just to ask you, not just for your prayers, but no matter where you are, even if you’re far from Tucson, if you see anything, if you hear anything, if there’s anything at all that seems strange to you, that you report to law enforcement. We are at an hour of desperation and we need your help.”
Andrew McCabe analyzes Savannah Guthrie’s plea
After the video aired on CNN just hours after Savannah shared it on Instagram, anchor Boris Sanchez invited CNN senior law enforcement analyst and former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe to weigh in on the message.
“Andrew, what do you make of the video just posted by Savannah Guthrie?” Sanchez asked.
McCabe responded, “Yeah, very different video than the one that the family released on Friday, or I’m sorry, maybe that was Saturday.”
He continued, “You can’t remember the last one in any case. You know, the first thing that strikes me, Boris, is this message does not sound like a message that you would expect to hear from a family that is currently negotiating the return of their loved one.”
Discussing the earlier video, McCabe explained, “The previous message really also marked a bit of a change in tone, and it seemed to be the family communicating very clearly to whoever’s been sending these letters to the media that they are prepared to pay, but of course they needed to open up some sort of two-way communication to figure out how to do that and how to actually get their mother back after a payment was made.”
He concluded by saying, “So my guess is that they have not had a response to that and they are not engaged in a productive exchange with them.”
No suspects named in Nancy Guthrie case
Authorities had not identified any suspects in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie as of Monday evening, February 9, even after the alleged kidnappers’ final deadline of 7 pm EST had passed.
In a daily update released shortly before that cutoff, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department stated, “We do not have any additional information to release publicly this afternoon.”
Acknowledging widespread public attention, the department added, “We understand the significant public interest in this case; however, investigators need time and space to do their work.”
Officials emphasized that updates would be provided if new details emerge, saying, “If and when relevant information becomes available, it will be shared.” The sheriff’s department also noted that any matters related to ransom demands would be handled by the FBI.
