Savannah Guthrie’s household makes new plea for mother’s protected return after first obvious ransom demand deadline passes: Live updates

The uncertainty surrounding Nancy Guthrie’s kidnapping has captivated the American public, much like other famous abductions throughout U.S. history.

Here’s a look at some of those cases, via The Associated Press:

Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today co-host Savannah Guthrie, has been missing for nearly a week, and while authorities have no proof she’s alive, they are holding out hope that she’s “still out there.”

Here’s a recap of everything we know so far about her disappearance:

Man accused of sending fake ransom note to Guthrie family following the disappearance of their mother will appear in federal court in Los Angeles Friday.

Derrick Callella has been charged with one count of intent to transmit a demand for ransom and one count of using a telecommunications device to anonymously abuse, threaten or harass a person.

He was arrested Thursday.

“The Department of Justice will protect victims and families at all costs, and grief profiteers will be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine following Callella’s arrest.

“This case came together in under 24 hours because of the coordinated work of the FBI, local law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.”

Savannah Guthrie will miss her scheduled coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics, amid the ongoing search for her mother.

Guthrie had been slated to cover the event in Italy for NBC, the opening ceremony for which takes place Friday.

Olympic Production president, Molly Solomon, said in a February 4 statement seen by NBC San Diego that Mary Carillo would be taking Guthrie’s place.

“We are fortunate to have a deep bench of talented commentators who will step and fill these roles. Mary is one of the most experienced Olympic commentators ever and a master storyteller,” the statement read.

“She and Terry will lead the American audience through one of the world’s greatest global moments.”

Earlier Thursday, the Pima County Sheriff’s Office revealed an updated timeline of the events leading up to Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance.

Here’s what we know:

• Saturday, 5:32 p.m.: Nancy travels to a local family member’s home for dinner.
• Saturday, 9:48 p.m.: Family members drop Nancy off at her home, and her garage door opens.
• Saturday, 9:50 p.m.: Nancy’s garage door closes.
• Sunday, 1:47 a.m.: Nancy’s doorbell camera disconnects.
• Sunday, 2:12 a.m.: Software detects a person on the camera (authorities have said there is no video available).
• Sunday, 2:28 a.m.: Nancy’s pacemaker app shows it disconnected from her phone.
• Sunday, 11:56 a.m.: The family checks on Nancy after hearing she did not attend church.
• Sunday, 12:03 p.m.: 911 call made to Pima County Sheriff’s Department.
• Sunday, 12:15 p.m.: Patrol car arrives at Nancy’s home.

Nancy Guthrie is “okay but scared,” according to the alleged ransom note sent to media outlets.

“They began the letter by saying that that Nancy is is okay, but scared,” TMZ founder Harvey Levin, who has seen the letter, told CNN.

“So they say she is okay, and also that she’s aware of the letter and the demands.”

The Guthrie family has urged the person behind their mother’s disappearance to “reach out” and provide proof that she is still alive.

Levin added that he believed the suspected kidnapper was based “in the Tuscon area,” based on discussions with his colleagues.

“This doesn’t feel like this is somebody out of state or out of the country who hatched this plan. It feels more localized,” he said.

Police are still working to verify the authenticity of the alleged ransom letter, which was also sent to a local news outlet in Tuscon, in Arizona, as well as TMZ.

Speaking to CNN, TMZ founder Harvey Levin said that the ransom letter had two deadlines – but that one had sounded “more consequential.”

“There was this deadline at five o’clock today, and… I’m trying to pick my words carefully here, there is a change. There is a change in what the kidnapper may want,” he said.

“The Monday deadline is far more consequential.”

Levin added: “It felt like somebody means business. I mean, when you read it, it’s very detailed. This person thought through, I believe, again, if it’s legit, this person thought through the markers of showing that it’s real.”

Police are investigating the ransom letter, sent to news outlets earlier this week, and are yet to verify its authenticity.

The founder of TMZ, one of two media outlets that received copies of an alleged ransom letter for Nancy Guthrie, says that her family currently has no way to contact a suspected kidnapper.

Harvey Levin spoke to CNN shortly after the release of a second video by the Guthrie family in which they urged the person holding their mother to “reach out.”

“They are pleading for this person to come forward. If it indeed is the person behind this letter, the letter says you will have no way of contacting me. This is the only contact,” Levin said.

“So that’s why they’re pleading for proof of life. That’s why they are begging because they have no idea how to get in touch with this person.

“They went to great lengths in sending this email to us, in making sure that it stays anonymous.”

Police are investigating the ransom letter, sent to news outlets earlier this week, and are yet to verify its authenticity.