An Arizona sheriff who has been at the forefront of the investigation into the disappearance of NBC journalist Savannah Guthrie’s mother was briefly at a loss for words as the search stretched into its sixth agonizing day.
Appearing Friday on NBC’s “Today” show, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos became visibly choked up on-camera when asked if he believes 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie is “still out there.”
“You have to have hope,” Nanos said. “You have to have hope. Come on, this is somebody’s mom. We’re gonna find her.”
Nancy Guthrie was reported missing around noon on Sunday, having last been seen about 9:50 the previous night after being dropped off at her Tucson-area home following dinner and a game night with relatives.
Watch a clip of Chris Nanos’ “Today” appearance below.
Local law enforcement officers have shared few details with regard to what they believe happened in the late-night hours between Nancy Guthrie’s return home and her disappearance. Nanos and other officials, however, have confirmed that blood found on the front porch of the home belonged to Nancy Guthrie, and that they believe she was taken against her will, given her limited mobility.
“From what the family’s told us and everything we’ve learned, she could not walk out of that home, 50 yards,” he said in a separate interview with NBC News earlier this week. “We’re never gonna give up on the search-and-rescue aspect, but we can’t ignore what’s in front of us when it comes to the evidence we see. And so we also are taking a criminal investigative approach to this as well.”
Nanos has also confirmed reports of possible ransom notes that were sent to Nancy Guthrie’s family members, but noted the FBI is still investigating their legitimacy. During a news conference on Thursday, FBI Phoenix special agent Heith Janke acknowledged that an arrest had been made with regard to an “impostor” note.
Savannah Guthrie posted a video to Instagram on Wednesday in which she and her siblings, Annie and Camron, issued an emotional plea to their mother’s kidnapper or kidnappers.
“We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her,” she said in the clip. “We want to hear from you and we are ready to listen. Please reach out to us.”
On Thursday, Camron Guthrie reiterated those sentiments in a second video shared to Savannah Guthrie’s Instagram.
“Whoever is out there holding our mother, we want to hear from you. We haven’t heard anything directly,” he said. “We need you to reach out and we need a way to communicate with you so we can move forward. But first, we have to know that you have our mom. We want to talk to you and we are waiting for contact.”
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