Savannah Guthrie said Tuesday, Feb. 24 that her family still hopes her mother will be found alive, but acknowledged that they realize it might be too late.
The “Today” show host said her family is now offering a $1 million reward for information leading to the return of her mother, Nancy Guthrie, who went missing from her Catalina Foothills home more than three weeks ago.
"We still believe in a miracle. We also know that she may be lost. She may already be gone... But we need to know where she is,” Savannah Guthrie said.
As the investigation enters its fourth week, authorities have not publicly named a suspect, person of interest or suspect vehicle. Surveillance footage has provided a suspect description and prompted thousands of tips.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos announced that the Guthrie family is cleared as possible suspects in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie.
Ashleigh Banfield, a former host for NewsNation and CNN’s Early Start, perpetuated a theory that accused one of Guthrie’s relatives as a suspect in her disappearance early in the investigation, further fueling public speculation.
Nanos said the Guthrie family has been “nothing but cooperative” and that they are the victims in this case.
“To suggest otherwise is not only wrong, it is cruel. The Guthrie family are victims plain and simple… please, I’m begging you the media to honor your profession and report with some sense of compassion and professionalism.”
FBI officials in Phoenix echoed Savannah Guthrie’s plea for information and the new $1 million reward on social media.
Officials asked anyone with firsthand knowledge of Guthrie’s whereabouts or any information about where she may be located to contact the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Due to high call volume, callers may experience delays when submitting information, officials said. The FBI’s $100,000 reward also remains active.
Officials also said that in order to help keep the tip line available for actionable investigative law enforcement leads, to only submit serious and detailed fact-based information.
“The tip line is not for personal messages to the Guthrie family,” the social media post said.
