Nancy Guthrie was supposed to go to a friend’s house to watch a streamed New York church service on the day she was reported missing, a source close to the family has claimed.
The source’s claim to Fox News. changes the narrative that Nancy, 84, was reported missing after failing to physically appear at a Tucson church on Feb. 1.
Instead, the insider said Nancy was part of a group of worshippers who would gather at a friend’s home to tune into services broadcast by a New York church attended by “Today” show host daughter Savannah.
Nancy Guthrie, seen with her TV star daughter Savannah, was supposed to go to a friend’s home to tune into a Sunday church service, reports say.Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images
The group’s tradition dates back to the Covid pandemic.
The pal contacted Annie Guthrie – Nancy’s other daughter – when the Guthrie matriarch failed to show up.
There has been no trace of Nancy, 84, since she was reported missing from her million-dollar Catalina Foothills home, and the search is now entering its 10th day.
On Monday night, a second purported ransom demand of $6 million in Bitcoin by 5 p.m. local time (7 p.m. ET) expired without payment.
The second deadline expired after Thursday’s ransom demand of $4 million was not met.
TMZ founder Harvey Levin claimed the note sent to his network and two Arizona news networks contained what he described as a stark message about consequences.
“That’s all I will say,” he told CNN late Monday.
“But it is chilling when you read that sentence. It is short and to the point.”
Tributes have been put outside Nancy’s million-dollar Arizona home.REUTERS
He claimed the note also contained the line: “It’s in everyone’s interest to have this completed as soon as possible.”
The note claimed cops wouldn’t be able to help, and stated Nancy would be returned within 12 hours of a payment being made, according to Levin.
The FBI said it wasn’t aware of any communication between the Guthrie family and Nancy’s alleged kidnappers.
Savannah issued a desperate plea on social media last night, saying that she believes her mom – who has mobility issues and ailing health – was still out there.
“We believe our mom is still out there. She was taken, and we don’t know where,” she said.
“I’m coming on just to ask you not just for your prayers, but no matter where you are — even if you’re far from Tucson — if you see anything, if you hear anything, if there’s anything at all that seems strange to you, that you report to law enforcement. We need your help.”
Candles on the alter at St Philip’s In The Hills Episcopal Church in Tucson.BACKGRID
Jonny Grusing, a former FBI agent, told Fox News Digital Savannah’s heartfelt plea could be a sign the chances of finding Nancy alive are becoming slimmer.
“The numbers don’t look good at this point for [Nancy] doing okay, so I think that’s another plea to the public, where we have an individual who might still be around with us, and just not in a good state right now, and we need your information right away,” he said.
Pima County, Arizona, cops fear that Nancy was kidnapped after she vanished hours after returning from a Jan. 31 family dinner — but Chris Swecker, an ex FBI Assistant Director, cast doubt on this theory.
“If this was a kidnapping, it would be a very simple matter to authenticate and provide proof of life,” he told Fox News’ “The Big Weekend Show” which aired Sunday.
Cops have since confirmed they are expanding the search and following up new leads. No suspects or persons of interest have yet been identified.
