MS NOW host Mika Brzezinski fought back tears as co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Willie Geist talked about the disappearance of their “dear friend” Savannah Guthrie’s 84-year-old mother.
Nancy Guthrie, the mother of the “Today” show star, was reported missing on Sunday. The local sheriff said that authorities are worried about “a possible kidnapping or abduction” because blood was found in her Catalina Foothills home, according to the Los Angeles Times.
“Of course, the one that hits you and Willie and me the most, obviously, has to do with Savannah and her mom,” Scarborough, co-host of “Morning Joe” and Brzezinski’s husband, said Tuesday.
“She’s a dear friend of all of ours, and I know Willie has worked with her even more but you know she’s been friends of ours, well, since this show began. She was on the show regularly, and it’s just crushing news and we pray and have been praying without ceasing for her safe return.”
Brzezinski grabbed a tissue and wiped her eyes while Scarborough talked. You could hear her sniffling in the background.
MS NOW was recently renamed after the lefty cable channel, which used to be called MSNBC, split off from NBCUniversal. Guthrie is one of the main anchors of “Today” and the chief legal correspondent, covering major elections.
“There’s no words for what’s happening here, but there are many prayers,” Brzezinski added.
“This is beyond unthinkable. Shocking doesn’t do it justice,” Geist said. “Nancy Guthrie, I’ve had the privilege of getting to know over the last 15 years. Just a kind, sweet, whip-smart, faithful woman, and none of us can believe this.”
Federal agents searched a septic tank at Nancy Guthrie’s Tucson home on Sunday, just hours before a reported $6 million ransom deadline set for Monday night. People saw deputies using a long pole to poke around in the tank and shining flashlights inside.
The authors of the ransom note in the Nancy Guthrie case may have inadvertently revealed that they were operating outside the United States because of one small detail in their message: they specified that the multi-million-dollar demands be paid in US dollars, according to law enforcement experts.
“Why would you use that if you’re a domestic person? That points to somebody who might be potentially outside the country, which also lends the potential for this being a scam,” former FBI agent Michael Harrigan told the New York Post.
“If you’re domestic, why would you ever put ‘USD?’ You put six million,” he added.
Guthrie’s alleged kidnappers demanded a ransom to be paid in Bitcoin, but specified that the payment should be in USD. They set two deadlines: the first at 5 p.m. MT on Thursday, with the amount increasing if the payment was not made by this deadline and was instead submitted by a Monday deadline.
Since the note was first sent to news outlets last week, the sender has not contacted law enforcement or the Guthrie family. Investigators are still trying to determine whether the notes are genuine.
There are still no suspects or person of interest — and no suspect vehicles have been identified, The Post noted further.
“Detectives and agents continue to conduct follow-up at multiple locations. Details of that follow-up are not being released at this time,” the Pima County, Ariz., Sheriff’s Department noted on Sunday.
It’s now been eight days since Nancy disappeared. A new payment deadline, per a ransom note, is approaching later on Monday.
On Saturday, “Today” anchor Savannah Guthrie, flanked by siblings Camron and Annie, released a video begging for their mother’s safe return and telling Nancy’s abductors, “We beg you now to return our mother to us, so that we can celebrate with her.” Guthrie said the family was willing to pay for the octogenarian’s return.
“We received your message and we understand,” the “Today” anchor said. “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,” she added.