Rhianna Benson
Television presenter Savannah Guthrie and her siblings have issued a desperate plea following the possible abduction of their 84-year-old mother.
Nancy Guthrie was reported missing by her children on Sunday afternoon (1 February), last being seen at around 9.30pm at her family home on the outskirts of Tucson, Arizona, the evening prior.
A member of the local church in the area contacted the Guthrie family to ask why Nancy hadn't attended mass on Sunday morning.
Police said that they suspect Nancy had been kidnapped from her home due to potential signs at the scene.
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Since then, reports have emerged alleging that a ransom note had been submitted by the alleged kidnappers to several news outlets.
As cited by The Independent, the supposed perpetrators have demanded millions of dollars in Bitcoin in exchange for the woman's release. Police have confirmed that they are 'aware' of a supposed note; meanwhile, authorities are working with the FBI to confirm its legitimacy.
Discussing Nancy's disappearance with reporters, Chris Nanos, Pima County's sheriff, refused to rule out foul play.
Taking to Instagram yesterday (4 Feb), 54-year-old on-screen star Savannah shared a video alongside sister Annie and brother Cameron, calling for the pensioner's safe return.
"She’s 84 years old. Her health, her heart, is fragile," the clip began, with the Australian-American broadcaster emphasising that their mother is currently without her vital medication.
"She lives in constant pain. She is without any medicine. She needs it to survive, and she needs it not to suffer."
Addressing speculation surrounding the ransom note, Savannah continued: "We, too, have heard the reports about a ransom letter in the media. As a family, we are doing everything that we can.
"We are ready to talk."
She went on to say: "However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated. We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her.
"We want to hear from you and we are ready to listen."
Savannah's sister Annie also spoke out in the same clip, describing Nancy as their family's 'beacon'.
"The light is missing from our lives," she began. "Nancy is our mother, we are her children, she is our beacon. We are always going to be merely human, just normal human people who need our mom."
Annie added: "Mama, mama, if you’re listening, we need you to come home. We miss you."
Following the filing of an official missing persons report, search-and-rescue teams were deployed.
They've since been working tirelessly with volunteers, border patrol groups, and the police's homicide team to track down Nancy.
"We do in fact have a crime scene," Nanos told the press on Monday (2 Feb), adding that they're almost certain the retiree didn't leave her property alone.
The sheriff also claimed his team has received 'hundreds of leads' related to Nancy's disappearance, adding that they are 'taking all tips and leads very seriously'.
Donald Trump has also vowed that his administration is 'deploying all resources to get the Guthrie children's mother home safely'.