Savannah Guthrie pleads for the public’s help in ‘an hour of desperation’

A drone view of Nancy Guthrie’s house in Tucson, Arizona, on Sunday.
Evan Garcia/Reuters

The crime scene at Nancy Guthrie’s house is “contaminated,” because of how many people have visited the site, former New York police detective Michael Alcazar said Monday.

“News outlets have been at the crime scene, which has now contaminated the crime scene, which just makes it a little bit harder to process, because now you have more DNA and more fingerprints, more footprints in the crime scene,” Alcazar told CNN’s Erin Burnett.

1 hr 21 min ago

Initial ransom note had a “direct, stark statement” on consequences of no payment, TMZ founder says

From CNN’s Taylor Romine

The initial ransom note sent to TMZ and two Tucson stations about the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie has “a direct, stark statement about consequences” if the potential kidnapper or kidnappers don’t get the money, TMZ founder and executive producer Harvey Levin told CNN’s Erin Burnett.

“That’s all I will say,” Levin said. “But it is chilling when you read that sentence. It is short and to the point.”

He also revealed a direct quote from the ransom note, which he says includes the line “it’s in everyone’s interest to have this completed as soon as possible.” The writer or writers of the note also bragged that they wouldn’t be able to figure out any potential sender, police wouldn’t be able to help and no further information would be shared, he added.

The letter also said Guthrie would be returned to the Tucson area within 12 hours of the ransom being paid, according to Levin.

1 hr 31 min ago

FBI calls on public to help investigators find Nancy Guthrie

From CNN’s Amanda Musa

The FBI is asking the public to share any information that may help investigators find 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie.

“Someone has that one piece of information that can help us bring Nancy home,” the FBI Phoenix field office said in a statement Monday night.

“The FBI is not aware of any continued communication between the Guthrie family and suspected kidnappers, nor have we identified a suspect or person of interest in this case at this time,” the statement continued.

Meanwhile, federal officials say personnel from FBI field offices nationwide will continue to travel to Tucson, Arizona, to assist in the search for Guthrie.

1 hr 41 min ago

Nancy Guthrie case is “unusual” because it’s playing out in front of the media, ex-hostage negotiator says

From CNN’s Cindy Von Quednow

Members of the media outside of the home of Nancy Guthrie on Monday.
Rebecca Noble/Reuters

The Nancy Guthrie case is “unusual” because the negotiations are being played out in the “full glare of the media,” former hostage negotiator Scott Walker said Monday.

Usually the alleged kidnappers would have gotten in contact with the authorities or family by now and “some kind of meaningful negotiation would be taking place,” Walker told CNN’s Jake Tapper.

Those negotiations would also be happening “quite covertly,” he said.

“However, in this case, there is something slightly unusual about it, and I think in these circumstances, actually getting the media and the public support to try and help find Nancy is actually the right step to take it, and obviously it’s (a) really, really traumatic period for the whole Guthrie family,” Walker said.

“The most dangerous time in a negotiation is just when you think you’re winning, and really it’s only when, in this case, Nancy is back safely with her family will people be able to (breathe) a sigh of relief.”

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1 hr 56 min ago

No press briefings scheduled as investigation “remains active and ongoing,” sheriff’s department says

From CNN’s Taylor Romine and Devon Sayers

A person walks a dog as members of the Pima County sheriffs office remains outside of Nancy Guthrie’s home, on Monday in Tucson, Arizona.
Ty ONeil/AP

There are no press briefings scheduled or new information to share in the investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, but the case “remains active and ongoing,” the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said in a news release.

Today marks 9 days since Guthrie went missing.

“We understand the significant public interest in this case; however, investigators need time and space to do their work. If and when relevant information becomes available, it will be shared,” the release said, adding in a post on X officials have “not identified any suspects, persons of interest, or vehicles connected” to the case.

The sheriff’s department acknowledged law enforcement was present at the Guthrie homes over the weekend, and said this would continue tonight and tomorrow as officials expanded “the search and follow-up on new leads.”

“This is all part of the investigative process, as the search for Nancy expands and new leads come in,” the release said. “To preserve the integrity of this criminal investigation, details of that process are not being released at this time.”