Savannah Guthrie appeals for help after reports say abducted mother is dead

LOS ANGELES: US television news host Savannah Guthrie said on Tuesday that her family was living in agony as reports emerged that her mother, Nancy Guthrie, may have died soon after being abducted in February.

Guthrie, an anchor on NBC’s Today show, used the programme to urge anyone with information about the case to contact investigators. Her appeal followed reports in US media that one of two notes considered apparently credible and sent to the family in the weeks after the kidnapping said the 84-year-old was dead.

Addressing viewers, Guthrie made an emotional plea for information and said the case continued to affect her entire family every day. She said:

"I wanted to just take the opportunity to ask people, to really… to beg people to come forward, somebody knows something,"

She also described the pain the case had caused her relatives. “This is a news story today that is on your radar, but this is the life that my sister lives, that I live, that my brother lives, that our extended families live, that our children live every day, and we are in agony, we cannot be at peace. “This is a moment to tell you that we need your help.”

Notes sent after abduction

The first note demanded millions of dollars in Bitcoin in exchange for Nancy Guthrie’s safe return. The second note said she had died. CNN reported that the message indicated the abductors had not intended to kill her.

Nancy Guthrie was kidnapped on February 1 from her home in Tucson, Arizona, in a case that quickly drew nationwide attention in the United States. Public focus on the investigation intensified after authorities released security camera footage showing a masked man, who appeared to be armed, at the house in the desert outskirts of the city.

The case has also drawn widespread public fascination, with amateur investigators travelling to the area and extensive media attention following developments.

Reward offers and political reaction

Savannah Guthrie had previously announced a reward of $1 million for information leading to the recovery of her mother. The FBI has separately offered $100,000 for information connected to the case.

Repeating her appeal on Tuesday shortly before a tipline number was shown on screen, Guthrie said: "We’re begging for your help."

US President Donald Trump also said on Tuesday that he had been following the case. "I hope they find her, "That family has gone through hell," he said speaking to reporters.