Savannah Guthrie's Mother Remains Missing After Ransom Demand

Today show anchor's family faces $4-6 million ransom for safe return of Nancy Guthrie

Feb. 9, 2026 at 8:39pm

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The 84-year-old mother of Today show anchor Savannah Guthrie has been missing for over a week after she was reportedly abducted from her home in Tucson, Arizona. The family has received ransom demands of $4 million in bitcoin by Thursday or $6 million by Monday, but there has been no word on whether the ransom has been paid or if Nancy Guthrie has been located.

Why it matters

The disappearance of Savannah Guthrie's mother has garnered national attention, raising concerns about her family's safety and the potential financial impact of the ransom demands on Guthrie's substantial net worth, estimated at $40 million. The case also highlights the risks and challenges faced by high-profile individuals and their families when targeted by criminals.

The details

Nancy Guthrie was last seen by her daughter Annie and son-in-law Tommaso Cioni on the night of January 31. Her home showed signs of a struggle, leading authorities to believe she was abducted sometime between 10 p.m. on Saturday and 6 a.m. on Sunday. The person claiming to have kidnapped Nancy has sent ransom notes to several media outlets, demanding $4 million in bitcoin by Thursday or $6 million by Monday.

  • Nancy Guthrie was last seen by her daughter and son-in-law on the night of January 31.
  • Nancy was reported missing on Sunday, February 1, after she failed to attend her usual church service.
  • The ransom deadline for $4 million in bitcoin was Thursday, and the deadline for $6 million was Monday.

The players

Savannah Guthrie

The anchor of the Today show and Nancy Guthrie's daughter, who has a reported net worth of $40 million.

Nancy Guthrie

The 84-year-old mother of Savannah Guthrie who was reportedly abducted from her home in Tucson, Arizona.

Annie Guthrie

Savannah Guthrie's sister, who is an author, poet, and jeweler living near Nancy in Tucson.

Tommaso Cioni

Annie Guthrie's husband, who is a middle-school teacher in the Tucson area.

Charles Guthrie

Savannah Guthrie's late father, who was a mining engineer and passed away in 1988.

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What they’re saying

“We believe our mom is still out there. She was taken, and we don't know where.”

— Savannah Guthrie (Instagram)

“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 need your help.”

— Savannah Guthrie (Instagram)

What’s next

The Guthrie family is waiting to see if the kidnappers will provide proof of life for Nancy Guthrie, and authorities are continuing their investigation into her disappearance.

The takeaway

This high-profile kidnapping case highlights the vulnerabilities that even wealthy and famous families can face, and the importance of vigilance and cooperation with law enforcement to help locate missing loved ones.