“We are taking all tips and leads very seriously,” FBI agent Heith Janke said at Thursday’s press conference.

Authorities reveal more details about Savannah Guthrie’s missing mom, offer $50K reward: ‘We want Nancy back’

"We are taking all tips and leads very seriously," FBI agent Heith Janke said at Thursday's press conference.

By Mekishana Pierre

Mekishana Pierre

Mekishana Pierre is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2025. Her work has previously appeared on *Entertainment Tonight* and Popsugar.

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February 5, 2026 2:35 p.m. ET

Savannah Guthrie and mother, Nancy Guthrie. Credit:

Savannah Guthrie/Instagram

It's been five days since Nancy Guthrie was last seen by her family, but authorities say they still believe the 84-year-old mother of *Today* co-anchor Savannah Guthrie is "out there."

Speaking to reporters at a press conference on Thursday, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos remained hopeful that the search for Nancy will end with her being found as the Arizona-based department works in tandem with the FBI to aggressively pursue all leads.

Savannah Guthrie/Instagram

Heith Janke, special agent in charge of the FBI's office in Phoenix, joined Nanos to provide insight into the organization's work in the search and to directly address recent reports of an alleged ransom note being sent to news stations demanding payment for Nancy's release.

"The FBI is now working this case jointly with the Pima County Sheriff's Department, and we're going to start today by announcing a $50,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of Nancy Guthrie and or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance," Janke told reporters.

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While acknowledging the existence of the ransom, Janke stressed that while authorities are "taking all tips and leads very seriously," they are also aware of "impostors trying to take advantage" of the situation.

Janke also revealed that the notes sent to news station featured a demand for payment by 5 p.m. Thursday, "and if a transfer wasn't made than a second demand was for Monday."

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Two outlets have reportedly received ransom notes that Edwards confirmed were the same: TMZ and KOLD News in Tucson.

On Tuesday, Mary Coleman, a news anchor with KOLD, posted on social media to report that her newsroom got the ransom note. During an appearance on CNN's Erin Burnett Outfront, Coleman shared that the alleged ransom note that was sent to the news station via email, and that authorities are "still looking into the legitimacy" of the ransom note.

Annie Guthrie, Savannah Guthrie, and Camron Guthrie address ransom note rumors in plea for missing mom.

Savannah Guthrie/Instagram

"There are a few things that we can share as far as what the contents were. A lot of it is information that only someone who is holding her for ransom would know — some very sensitive information and things that people who were there when she was taken captive would know," Coleman said. "So those are things that are concerning. We immediately sent that information over to the sheriff's department."

Coleman shared that a detective got back to them and asked for more information to search for an IP address for the email. The anchor also shared that the ransom letter included a "dollar amount" and a "deadline," as well as "other specifics that only Guthrie's abductor might know, so that definitely raised some red flags."

Janke echoed Coleman's sentiment that the ransom note contained specific details connected to Nancy's disappearance that lent to its authenticity, which was different from the "impostor ransom demand" that led to an arrest.

Savannah Guthrie and her mother, Nancy Guthrie, on the 'Today' set in 2023.

Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty

However, Sheriff Chris Nanos reiterated that no suspects have been identified in the case. He also announced that authorities would no longer hold scheduled press conferences "unless we have something to announce."

*Anyone with information is asked to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at 520-351-4900. People are encouraged to call 88-CRIME or 520-882-7463. All calls remain anonymous. They can also use the mobile app P3TIPS or visit 88crime.org.*

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