Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said investigators are “aware of a new report” involving 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, the missing mother of “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie.
“Investigators are actively inspecting the information in the message for authenticity,” Sheriff Chris Nanos said in a statement posted Friday afternoon, adding that tips and further information from the public are still encouraged.
Nancy was last seen by family Saturday evening at her detached ranch-style home in the Catalina Foothills, outside Tucson, Arizona. The elderly grandmother’s blood was found on her porch, the sheriff confirmed Thursday.
Police have described the disappearance as a possible kidnapping.
A ransom demand – with an initial deadline of 5pm on Thursday and a second on Monday – is being investigated by the FBI. Investigators have not yet identified any potential suspects as the search continues into a sixth day.
Savannah Guthrie and her siblings have already posted two videos online calling for their mother’s return. The second was posted on Thursday, with Camron Guthrie urging the suspected kidnapper to “reach out.”
The second message appeared to be a “response” to Guthries’ posts, according to Mary Coleman, host of local Tucson channel KOLD 13 News, who saw authorities investigating the alleged message for validity.
The “new message” sent to the media about the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie’s mother was “just as coherent” as the first, but did not appear to be yet another ransom note.
Coleman told CNN that the message was as “coherent” as the first message and “well put together.” She said it seemed like the sender was trying to prove he was the person who sent the previous message.
“I will say that the FBI and PCSD classified the first one as a ransom note and I will say that I don’t think they will classify this second one as a ransom note,” Coleman said, adding that the second note contained no further deadlines.
Coleman was asked whether the new note was “a response” to videos distributed by the Guthrie family and whether it contained evidence that Nancy Guthrie was still alive.
“I can’t reveal if that is the case, but I would say it seems like it’s a response to some of those videos that have been made,” she said.
Earlier Friday, the sheriff said he remains hopeful investigators will find Nancy.
“You have to have hope. This is someone’s mother. We’re going to find her,” he told NBC News.
Attorney General Pam Bondi also shared her sadness over Nancy’s disappearance and explained that the government is doing what it can to help find her.
The FBI offers one reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the recovery of Nancy Guthrie and/or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance.
Donald Trump was also asked about the law enforcement response during a news conference on Air Force One Friday.
“I think we are doing very well,” the president told reporters. “We have some leads. I think they’re very strong, and I think we can get some answers pretty quickly… from DOJ or FBI or whoever that could be definitive, a lot has happened in the last few hours.”
He added: “Many things have happened in the last few hours regarding that terrible situation.”
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