The Pima County Sheriff's Department was forced to respond Tuesday as TMZ reported it had received an unverified "ransom" demand in the abduction of "Today" co-host Savannah Guthrie's 84-year-old mother.
TMZ said it received the demand on Tuesday but had not confirmed whether the ransom note was authentic.
"The note, which was sent to us Tuesday morning, demands a specific substantial amount of Bitcoin ... the amount is in the millions, and the note demands the cryptocurrency be sent to a specific Bitcoin address," TMZ reported.
Authorities acknowledged the reports of a ransom note but did not verify if that was under investigation.
"We are aware of reports circulating about possible ransom note(s) regarding the investigation of Nancy Guthrie. We are taking all tips and leads very seriously. Anything that comes in, goes directly to our detectives who are coordinating with the FBI," the Pima County Sheriff's Department wrote in a statement on X. They urged anyone with information to contact the department.
Authorities reported that they were chasing down leads following the mysterious circumstances surrounding Nancy Guthrie's disappearance. Investigators in Arizona reportedly discovered blood inside her Tucson home.
The finding suggested that the 84-year-old could be a victim of foul play, The Los Angeles Times reported. Authorities believe she could have been forced out of her home sometime in the middle of the night between Saturday and Sunday.
It's unclear whose blood was inside the house, according to The Times. Officials said there were signs that someone had forced entry inside the home.
“At this point, investigators believe she was taken from the home against her will, possibly [in the] middle of the night,” Kevin Adger, department spokesperson, told The Times. “Detectives are looking into a possible kidnapping or abduction.”
Sheriff's department homicide investigators were at the home Monday and said that a "crime scene" had been discovered at her residence in Pima County, Arizona.
Authorities have called the circumstances involving the disappearance suspicious.
"We do in fact have a crime," Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said during a press conference Monday.
She was last seen on Jan. 31, and her family was notified that something was wrong when she did not attend church on Sunday morning. More details about her disappearance were not immediately released.
Nanos said that authorities were relying on the community and technology to find Nancy. She has limited mobility and needs medication, which, if she doesn't have in 24 hours, could be fatal.
"She did not leave on her own, we know that," Nanos said.
Authorities found Guthrie's phone, and investigators were looking at cameras located at the home, asking community members to help provide any information.
Her family was cooperating with authorities to investigate her disappearance. The incident was not related to mental illness.
Anyone with information was asked to contact the Pima County Sheriff's Department at 520-351-4900.
