Guthrie Family Offers $1M Reward in Nancy's Disappearance

Two men detained early in the investigation into the disappearance of Tucson resident Nancy Guthrie have announced plans to sue Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos for $3.25 million, alleging wrongful arrest and reputational harm. The men claim that Nanos posted misleading statements on social media that implicated them as suspects.

Nancy Guthrie, 84, was last seen on February 1 at her home in Tucson, Arizona. Authorities believe she was kidnapped but have found no further trace of her despite blood evidence at the scene. The case has drawn national attention due to her daughter Savannah Guthrie's prominence as a host of NBC’s Today Show.

The FBI’s Phoenix office stated that some ransom notes relating to the February disappearance of Nancy Guthrie were potentially “legitimate,” while others have been discounted as “extortion attempts.” Authorities released two ransom notes sent by the kidnappers. The first note demanded $4 million in cryptocurrency and threatened to kill Guthrie if the ransom was not paid. The second note, sent on February 6, claimed that Guthrie 'perished shortly after she was taken,' possibly due to heart-related causes.

Sheriff Nanos has faced scrutiny for his handling of the case, including accusations from FBI Director Kash Patel of withholding crucial evidence. Nanos denied these claims in a recent podcast appearance, stating that federal agents were involved 'day one.' The Guthrie family has offered a $1 million reward for information leading to Nancy's return.

Savannah Guthrie took to social media on Saturday, marking six months since her mother’s disappearance. She wrote, “We are begging for help. We are desperate. We need someone to come forward. Someone knows something.” She emphasized the importance of recognizing the writing style in the ransom notes and urged anyone with information to come forward.

When investigators released two ransom notes on Friday, one of the messages directly contradicted what Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos had told CBS News in an interview one day earlier. Nanos initially stated, 'I have nothing to indicate she's dead,' but the second note claimed Guthrie died shortly after being taken due to heart-related causes. The FBI believes both notes were sent from the same IP address, which was masked and investigators don't know whose computer it was sent from.

Retired FBI agents Lance Leising and Jason Pack commented on the case, with Leising noting that releasing the notes to drive more tips from the public was a positive step but criticized the delayed release. Pack observed that the second message dropped the ransom demand, which he found unusual for a financially motivated crime.

In response to criticism of his handling of the investigation, Nanos took to social media to address the Guthrie family and concerned citizens, stating, 'We're still here, we're not going away.' He expressed confidence that the case will be solved. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to Nancy's location or the arrest of anyone involved in her disappearance.