A ransom note sent to TMZ claims that Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of TODAY Show anchor Savannah Guthrie, is “safe but scared” and aware of the demands made for her return, the outlet’s founder Harvey Levin told FOX News‘ Sean Hannity Thursday (February 6) night.
“I will say the letter begins by saying she is safe but scared, and they go on to say she knows exactly what the demand is,” Levin said of the note, which demanded millions in bitcoin in order for “consequential” repercussions to be avoided.
“They are, through us, telling the family exactly what they are demanding, and they are saying that Nancy is aware of it,” he added. “They are also saying… that this will be their only communication and they are done communicating and negotiating —here’s the deal and that’s it.”
“As the clock ticks, that’s one of the reasons the FBI and other authorities have gotten desperate here,” Levin added.
A California man was identified as the man charged after sending separate phony ransom texts to Guthrie’s family regarding her missing 84-year-old mother Nancy, according to a criminal complaint filed Thursday (February 5), FOX News‘ Michael Ruiz reports. Derrick Callela messaged Nancy’s daughter, Annie, and her husband, Tommaso Cioni with false information about the missing woman’s whereabouts.
“Did you get the bitcoin were [sic] waiting on our end for the transaction,” Callela allegedly wrote to the couple.
Data obtained by authorities approximately three minutes later showed Callela also made a nine-second-long call to an unidentified member of the Guthrie family.
The arrest was made prior to authorities confirming that Nancy was still believed to be missing and hours after Savannah and her siblings made a plea for their mother to be returned safely.
“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. Please, reach out to us,“ Savannah said, along with Annie and their brother Cameron.
The Guthries’ plea came hours after Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told the New York Times that Cioni was the last person to see Nancy, having made sure she got inside her home safely after having dinner with the couple on Saturday (January 31).
Nancy was reported to have vanished at some point between the dropoff at 9:45 p.m. local time and Sunday (February 1) morning as friends became concerned that she was absent from church.
Nanos said that Guthrie’s family has cooperated with investigators in the four days since Nancy’s disappearance, which authorities are considering a crime though no suspects have been named. Savannah Guthrie previously issued a new statement asking fans to “please pray” amid her mother’s disappearance.
Blood was reportedly found alongside signs of forced entry at Nancy Guthrie’s Catalina Hills home, law enforcement sources told the Los Angeles Times, though it hasn’t been confirmed who the blood belonged to.
“At this point, investigators believe she was taken from the home against her will, possibly [in the] middle of the night,” Pima County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson Kevin Adger said. “Detectives are looking into a possible kidnapping or abduction.”
DNA evidence found at Guthrie’s home is also reportedly being inspected, KVOA reports. The 84-year-old reportedly left her car and cellphone at the scene and data from the device could provide more details on when she was taken, ABC News reports.
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