Authorities investigating the abduction of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of TODAY show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, disclosed on Thursday that they are examining a new message purportedly connected to her kidnapper — a significant development on the sixth day of a search that has gripped the nation.
A Second Message Under Review
The FBI and Pima County authorities confirmed they are investigating what multiple outlets described as a second message from the person or persons claiming to have abducted Nancy Guthrie, according to KOLD News and Reuters. Law enforcement gave no details about the content or form of the message, and it remains unclear whether it was sent directly to the family, to investigators, or through another channel, according to the New York Times.
The disclosure of a second message — the first having been reported in the days immediately following Nancy's February 1 disappearance from her Catalina Foothills home in Tucson, Arizona — suggests ongoing communication from whoever is responsible for her abduction. Investigators have not publicly confirmed whether either message has been authenticated or what, if any, demands were made.
Sheriff: Nancy Is 'Still Out There'
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos maintained an assumption of Nancy Guthrie's survival, telling reporters she is "still out there," according to the Tucson Star. Investigators are operating on the belief that the 84-year-old remains alive, the Sheriff's office said, even as the search enters its sixth day with no confirmed leads on a suspect.
The FBI simultaneously expanded its search operations and released a detailed timeline of events surrounding the disappearance, according to Arizona Public Media. Authorities also announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to Nancy's safe return, according to the Tucson Star.
Family Renews Plea to Kidnapper
As investigators processed the new message, Nancy Guthrie's son — Savannah's brother — made a renewed public appeal to whoever is holding their mother. According to the Associated Press, he urged the kidnapper to make contact and ensure Nancy's safe return, echoing pleas the family has made repeatedly since her disappearance was first reported.
The Guthrie family has consistently appealed directly and publicly to the abductor since Nancy was taken from her home against her will in what Pima County authorities described at the outset as a "possible kidnapping or abduction," according to TODAY.com. Savannah Guthrie, who has continued her duties at NBC while her mother remains missing, has used her public platform to amplify the search.
No Suspects Identified
Despite an intense investigative effort, Sheriff Nanos reiterated that authorities have not identified a suspect in the case, according to the Associated Press. The case has drawn widespread attention and generated a high volume of tip submissions to law enforcement, though officials have not disclosed how many leads have been received as of day six.
Nancy Guthrie was last seen on February 1, 2026, when she was taken from her Tucson-area home. She is 84 years old. The FBI has been involved in the investigation from early in the case given its kidnapping jurisdiction.
What to Watch For Next
The emergence of a second message is the most consequential development yet in this case, and investigators will be working urgently to authenticate it, analyze its contents, and determine whether it provides any actionable intelligence about Nancy's location or the identity of her abductor. Watch for further law enforcement briefings on the message's contents, any movement on the $50,000 reward, and whether the detailed FBI timeline released Thursday yields new public information about the sequence of events on February 1.