Feb 24 - The family of Nancy Guthrie has announced a reward of up to $1 million for information that leads to the recovery of the 84-year-old woman, according to a video posted Tuesday on Instagram by her daughter, Savannah Guthrie, a co-anchor on NBC's "Today" show. In the clip, which is one of several relatives have released since Nancy Guthrie went missing, Savannah Guthrie addressed, for the first time publicly through family channels, the possibility that her mother may no longer be alive.
There has been no confirmed sign of Nancy Guthrie since the early morning of February 1. That morning, a doorbell camera at the front door of Guthrie's home in Tucson recorded a man wearing a ski mask, a backpack, gloves and a holstered firearm apparently tampering with the device. Shortly after that recorded incident, Guthrie's pacemaker lost contact with her phone line, according to the timeline released by relatives.
The case has drawn intense public attention around the world. Two purported ransom notes were later delivered to news media outlets, but investigators and Guthrie's family say there has been no known direct contact between any suspects and either the family or law enforcement. In the Instagram video, a tearful Savannah Guthrie said the family was offering "a family reward of up to $1 million for any information that leads us to her recovery."
In the video, Savannah Guthrie said the family was "blowing on the embers of hope" that Nancy Guthrie might still be alive, while acknowledging that "she may already be gone." "If this is to be, then we will accept it, but we need to know where she is," Savannah Guthrie added. "Someone out there knows something that can bring her home."
An FBI reward of $100,000 that was announced earlier in February for information leading to Nancy Guthrie's location remains active, the agency has said.
Investigators had held out hope for significant leads, but those hopes were undercut on February 17 when officials said DNA found on a glove located near Guthrie's Arizona home did not match any profiles in a national database. The family has continued to share updates and appeals through social media and other public statements.
Also disclosed in the Tuesday video was the family’s donation of $500,000 to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The family said the contribution was intended to assist other families coping with the anguish of missing relatives and to support the national clearinghouse that reports child abuse content to law enforcement.
The investigation remains active and the family has urged anyone with information to come forward, stressing that even small details could be crucial to locating Nancy Guthrie.
Key points
- The Guthrie family is offering up to $1 million for information leading to Nancy Guthrie's recovery; an additional $100,000 FBI reward remains active - impacting public safety and law enforcement resources.
- Doorbell camera footage on February 1 captured a masked individual tampering with the camera; Guthrie's pacemaker soon afterward lost contact with her phone line - facts central to the ongoing investigation and relevant to home security and elder-care considerations.
- The family donated $500,000 to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to aid other families and support the national clearinghouse - a contribution tied to nonprofit and public safety sectors.
Risks and uncertainties
- It remains unknown whether Nancy Guthrie is alive, an uncertainty the family acknowledged publicly. This lack of clarity affects continuing investigative priorities and public information efforts.
- Forensic leads have been limited: DNA from a glove found near Guthrie's home did not match any known profiles in a national database, reducing the immediate utility of that evidence.
- There has been no confirmed direct contact between suspects and the family or authorities, despite purported ransom notes delivered to media outlets, leaving investigative gaps and complicating case resolution.
The family and authorities continue to solicit information from the public, emphasizing that even seemingly minor tips could prove important. The investigation remains open as officials and family members pursue any leads that could locate Nancy Guthrie or clarify the circumstances of her disappearance.