President Donald Trump said Wednesday night that he has directed all federal law enforcement agencies to assist the family of Savannah Guthrie as the search continues for her missing mother, 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie.
“I spoke with Savannah Guthrie, and let her know that I am directing ALL Federal Law Enforcement to be at the family’s, and Local Law Enforcement’s, complete disposal, IMMEDIATELY,” Trump wrote on social media. “We are deploying all resources to get her mother home safely.”
A White House official confirmed that Trump spoke directly with Guthrie following an interview NBC conducted with the president earlier Wednesday, CBS News reported.
Nancy Guthrie was reported missing over the weekend after she failed to appear at church, prompting family members to contact authorities.
In an emotional video posted Wednesday night, Savannah Guthrie pleaded publicly for her mother’s safe return and addressed anyone who may be holding her.
“We want to hear from you, and we are ready to listen,” Guthrie said. “Please, reach out to us.”
Authorities believe Nancy Guthrie was taken from her home in Tucson, Arizona, but said they have not identified any suspects or persons of interest.
Investigators have also not determined how many people may have been involved. Savannah Guthrie said her family is aware of reports involving a ransom note.
Multiple media organizations have reported receiving purported ransom communications, which were turned over to investigators.
“We live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated,” Guthrie said. “We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her.”
Law enforcement activity intensified Wednesday evening as Pima County sheriff’s deputies and the Federal Bureau of Investigation returned to Nancy Guthrie’s home, placed crime scene tape around the property, and conducted additional searches.
Former FBI agent Katherine Schweit, who previously worked on an elderly kidnapping case in Wisconsin, said the response reflects the urgency of the situation.
“Everybody is working as frantically as they can,” Schweit said Thursday on CBS Mornings. “There are hundreds of people working on this.”
The Department of Homeland Security said U.S. Border Patrol’s specialized search and rescue unit BORSTAR has provided assistance to Pima County authorities.
In Tucson, several hundred community members gathered at a church Wednesday night for a vigil, offering prayers and lighting candles for Nancy Guthrie’s safe return.
Nancy Guthrie’s pacemaker lost connection with Apple devices still located inside her home at around 2 a.m. Sunday. The devices included an Apple Watch that was still on a charger, according to the report.
Authorities have not confirmed whether the pacemaker data marks the exact moment something happened to Nancy Guthrie, but investigators acknowledged the information is being reviewed as part of a broader timeline, Newsweek reported.
When asked on Tuesday about narrowing down the time frame of Nancy’s disappearance, Chris Nanos said investigators are being cautious.
“I really don’t want to get into narrowing down the time because narrowing it down means we could miss some tips and leads,” Nanos told reporters.
He said officials are “working to see if that time could be tightened up.”
Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Savannah Guthrie, was last seen at her home in Arizona on Saturday.
Nanos said family members dropped Nancy off at her house Saturday night. The following day, someone from Nancy’s church contacted the family to report that she had not attended services.
Nanos said the family spent time searching for Nancy before contacting law enforcement later Sunday.
As deputies responded, investigators observed what Nanos described as concerning signs inside the home.
“We believe now, after we processed that crime scene, that we do in fact have a crime scene, that we do in fact have a crime, and we’re asking the community’s help,” Nanos said at a news conference.
