Ransom Account for Missing TV Host's Mother Remains Empty as Deadline Looms

The 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie has been missing since January 31, with her family pleading for her safe return.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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An alleged ransom account set up for Savannah Guthrie's missing mother Nancy's return is reportedly still empty as the second deadline looms. The captors are demanding millions in bitcoin, but the account balance stands at $0 with no transactions recorded. Over the weekend, Savannah and her siblings offered to pay the ransom in an emotional plea to the alleged captors to return their mother.

Why it matters

The disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of prominent TV host Savannah Guthrie, has garnered national attention and raised concerns about the safety of elderly individuals. The lack of progress in the ransom negotiations adds to the family's distress and the uncertainty surrounding the case.

The details

According to reports, a bitcoin account was set up to accept funds in exchange for Nancy Guthrie's return, but the balance remains at $0 with no transactions recorded. The alleged captors had demanded a $6 million bitcoin transfer by the deadline of Monday, February 9 at 5 p.m. MT. Over the weekend, Savannah Guthrie and her siblings Annie and Camron made an emotional plea to the captors, offering to pay the ransom in order to secure their mother's safe return.

  • Nancy Guthrie was last seen on January 31 by her son-in-law Tommaso Cioni, who dropped the 84-year-old off after dinner.
  • The first ransom deadline was on Monday, February 9 at 5 p.m. MT.
  • The second ransom deadline is looming as the account remains empty.

The players

Nancy Guthrie

The 84-year-old mother of TV host Savannah Guthrie, who has been reported missing since January 31.

Savannah Guthrie

The co-anchor of the 'Today' show and daughter of the missing Nancy Guthrie.

Camron Guthrie

The son of the missing Nancy Guthrie and brother of Savannah Guthrie.

Annie Guthrie

The daughter of the missing Nancy Guthrie and sister of Savannah Guthrie.

Tommaso Cioni

The son-in-law of the missing Nancy Guthrie, who was the last person to see her on January 31.

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What they’re saying

“We received your message and we understand. We beg you now to return our mother to us, so that we can celebrate with her. This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay.”

— Savannah Guthrie, TV host (NBC)

“I'm speaking for the Guthrie family. Whoever is out there holding our mother, we want to hear from you. We haven't heard anything directly. We need you to reach out, and we need a way to communicate with you so we can move forward.”

— Camron Guthrie, Son of Nancy Guthrie (Social media)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow the alleged captors more time to negotiate the ransom payment.

The takeaway

This case highlights the anguish and uncertainty faced by families of missing persons, especially high-profile individuals, as they navigate the complex and often unpredictable process of ransom negotiations. It underscores the need for improved safety measures and support systems for elderly individuals to prevent such tragic incidents.