Long Island viewers who wake up with Savannah Guthrie on the "Today" show are watching one of their morning regulars go through every parent’s and child’s worst nightmare in real time.
Guthrie released an emotional new video on Instagram Monday, pleading with people across the country — including here on Long Island — to help find her missing mother, 84-year-old Nancy, as a reported ransom deadline drew dangerously close.
“We’re in a moment of absolute desperation,” Guthrie said in the video, explaining that her family continues to believe her mother is alive somewhere but has no idea where she might be. “Our mom was taken. We don’t know where she is.”
The longtime NBC anchor urged anyone, not just those in her mother’s home state of Arizona, to speak up if they notice anything that might be connected to the case. She specifically mentioned that tips from people far from Tucson could still be critical. For Long Islanders who travel often or have relatives in the Southwest, the message was clear: stay alert.
“I’m not just asking for prayers,” Guthrie said. “Wherever you live — even if you’re nowhere near Tucson — if you see something, hear something, anything at all that feels off, please tell law enforcement.” She ended her plea with a simple message: “We need your help.”
Her post went up Monday afternoon, less than three hours before a 7 p.m. Eastern deadline set by the authors of a ransom note demanding $6 million, purportedly in exchange for Nancy’s safe return. Guthrie and her siblings had publicly indicated over the weekend that they were prepared to meet the ransom demands.
But authorities and the family remain unsure whether the note is actually from real kidnappers or simply scammers trying to exploit the family’s anguish. Investigators have not received any proof of life for Nancy, and those behind the note have not produced evidence that she is in their custody.
Nancy was last seen on Jan. 31 at about 9:45 p.m. local time in Tucson. According to police, her son-in-law dropped her off at her home after a family dinner. When she failed to appear at church the next day — something friends said was highly out of character — she was reported missing, prompting police to open a criminal investigation.
In the days that followed, a ransom note was sent to news organizations on two consecutive days. The message set out two cryptocurrency demands in bitcoin: $4 million by Thursday evening or, if that deadline was missed, $6 million by Monday night. The authors warned that missing the final cutoff could put Nancy’s life in danger.
Law enforcement in Arizona has been working nonstop, Guthrie said, describing detectives and officers as “working tirelessly, around the clock” to piece together what happened and determine whether the ransom demands are legitimate.
For viewers and residents on Long Island, where many households tune into "Today" from places like Garden City, Huntington, Smithtown, and Valley Stream, the story hits close to home. Guthrie is a familiar face in living rooms from Nassau to Suffolk, and many fans have taken to social media to send messages of support and prayers for her family.
Police and the Guthrie family are urging anyone with even the smallest piece of information — an unusual conversation, a suspicious social media post, or anything noticed while traveling in Arizona — to contact law enforcement. Federal agencies have not been formally detailed in public statements, but cases involving ransom notes and interstate elements often draw wider attention from investigators.
Guthrie closed her message by thanking the public for the outpouring of support. “My sister, my brother and I have felt your love,” she said, adding that they believe that love, prayers and vigilance are also surrounding their mom wherever she is.
Authorities stress that people should share information directly with police, not attempt to engage anyone claiming to be involved. Long Island residents with potential tips connected to Tucson or the wider Arizona area are encouraged to contact their local police departments, who can coordinate with investigators handling the case out west.
As of Monday night, the circumstances of Nancy’s disappearance — and the authenticity of the ransom note — remained under investigation.