More than two weeks have passed since Nancy Guthrie -- the elderly mother of Today co-host Savannah Guthrie -- was abducted from her Tucson, Arizona home, and investigators are still seeking information that could lead to her safe return. The case, which has captured the nation's imagination, has elicited comment from Pres. Donald Trump, who just promised major consequences if Guthrie isn't returned safely.
Trump was interviewed briefly by the New York Post on Monday, during which he said that those responsible for Guthrie's abduction must return her unharmed, lest they face the "most severe" allowable federal penalties. When asked whether that meant that the Department of Justice could request the death penalty if Guthrie is killed, the president responded in the affirmative.
Answered Trump: "The most, yeah — that’s true."
As noted by The Post, only two executions have been carried out in the state of Arizona after 2022; a nearly two-year pause on executions initiated by the state government was lifted in November 2024 (via the Death Penalty Information Center).
Trump first called Savannah Guthrie on Feb. 4 to offer federal assistance in the case, per The Post, after which the FBI managed to recover video and images of a masked man at Nancy Guthrie's front door on the night of the kidnapping.
After examining the footage, the FBI provided identifying information about the masked suspect, describing them as a male, approximately 5-foot-9 to 5-foot-10, with an average build (via an official Facebook statement). It was further noted that the suspect was wearing a "black, 25-liter 'Ozark Trail Hiker Pack' backpack."
Meanwhile, DNA taken from a glove that was found two miles from Guthrie's home by investigators appears to match the profile of the suspect depicted in the footage, as reported by NewsNation.
Savannah Guthrie, who was joined by her brother and sister in pleading for their mother's release in a series of videos posted to social media, released another video via Instagram on February 15, expressing hope that Nancy is still alive and attempting to impress upon her abductors that there's still an opportunity to make things right.
Said the Today co-host:
It's been two weeks since our mom was taken, and I just wanted to come on and say that we still have hope. ... I just wanted to say, to whoever has her or knows where she is, that it's never too late to do the right thing.
Authorities have joined the Guthrie family in expressing concern about Nancy Guthrie's health, as she uses a pacemaker and lives with the assistance of vital, daily medication. The FBI is currently offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to Guthrie's location and/or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance. According to Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, no motive has been identified in her kidnapping.