Cops search Annie Guthrie’s house as search for mom Nancy hits one week mark
Law enforcement officials have searched the home of Annie Guthrie as the search for missing mom Nancy Guthrie extends into its second week.
The 84-year-old mom of TODAY co-anchor Savannah Guthrie has been missing since January 31, when authorities believe she may have been 'kidnapped' from her home in the dead of night.
Following her disappearance, no traces of the pensioner have been found, however, multiple media outlets have received an alleged 'ransom note', demanding payment for her safe return.
Initially, the alleged note demanded payment by a deadline of 5pm on February 5, but FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke confirmed a second deadline had also been given.
Advert
He told members of the press: "If a transfer wasn’t made, the second demand was for next Monday. I’m not going to go beyond that."
On Saturday afternoon (February 7), Savannah sat alongside her siblings Annie and Camron as they released a video message confirming they would pay the alleged ransom if it meant bringing Nancy home safely.
"We received your message and we understand," Savannah told the camera. "We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her. This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay."
Just hours after the video was released, law enforcement officials were seen at the residence of Annie and her husband, Tommaso Cioni, approximately four miles from her mother’s longtime home in Tucson.
It currently remains unclear whether Annie had given permission for them to search her home or if officials had attended with a warrant.
Reportedly, for over two-and-a-half hours, authorities searched the property, with at least one official from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department (PCSD) in attendance as the search ran from 8 pm to 10:30 pm local time.
As per PEOPLE, one official was seen exiting the home while carrying a white suitcase and brown bag. Another was reportedly seen wearing blue gloves.
Tracy Walder, a former CIA and FBI special agent, told the outlet: "The back and forth is of course odd and we don’t see that a lot," before adding that ‘so many things’ could be behind the behavior, including ‘reactions to ransom note details, new suspects emerging, request by the family, etc’.
As well as searching Annie’s home, officers also returned to Nancy’s house on Sunday (February 8) as they renewed their search of her house, which also included probing the septic tank and a manhole located behind the property.
There are currently no suspects or persons of interest in the investigation into Nancy’s disappearance.
In the latest update shared by the PCSD, authorities wrote: "The Nancy Guthrie investigation is ongoing. Follow-up continues at multiple locations. No suspects, persons of interest, or vehicles have been identified. No scheduled press briefings."
"If any significant developments occur in the case, a press conference will be called," the update concluded.
Nancy was last seen on the evening of January 31 at her home in Tucson, when her son-in-law, Cioni, dropped her off at her house after she had dinner with him and Annie.
The family reported her disappearance the following day after she failed to attend church as usual, with particular concern given to her health issues which could be life-threatening without her regular medication.
The FBI has urged anyone with tips or leads to call 1-800-CALL-FBI in addition to the Pima County Sheriff’s Office number, 520-351-4900.
UNILAD has contacted the Pima County Sheriff’s Department for comment.
Phoebe Tonks