Savannah Guthrie’s family is offering a $US1 million reward for information leading to the safe return of her mother, Nancy Guthrie, who was kidnapped near Tucson, Arizona, on January 31st. The 84-year-old was last seen by family members and reported missing the following day. Savannah Guthrie has shared emotional pleas for public assistance, expressing the agonizing wait and continued hope for her mother’s recovery, even acknowledging the possibility of her mother’s death but emphasizing the family’s desire for her to be brought home regardless. The family’s reward significantly increases the $US100,000 previously offered by the FBI, who are investigating the case and have obtained a DNA sample from a glove found near the home that matches one worn by a masked suspect seen in doorbell footage.
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A masked individual seen on doorbell camera footage near Nancy Guthrie’s home on the believed day of her kidnapping was also present at her doorstep on a separate occasion, according to a source. While the Pima County Sheriff’s Department stated that the images lack date and time stamps and any suggestion of different days is speculative, the FBI released the footage in their ongoing multi-week search. Investigators continue to analyze evidence, canvass for surveillance video, and pursue thousands of tips, though no leading motive has been identified.
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More than a week after Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, the FBI has confirmed no ongoing communication between her family and suspected kidnappers and has identified no suspects or persons of interest. Despite a purported ransom deadline passing, the family remains hopeful, with Savannah Guthrie releasing a video plea for public assistance, emphasizing that her mother was taken against her will from her home. Law enforcement is investigating thousands of tips, including alleged ransom letters, and has growing concerns for Nancy Guthrie’s health due to her medical needs. Authorities are actively searching and seeking information, offering a $50,000 reward for any leads.
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Juan Pablo Guanipa, a key ally of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, was reportedly kidnapped by heavily armed men shortly after his release from over eight months of detention. Guanipa was among numerous prominent opposition figures freed on Sunday, with the Public Prosecutor’s Office stating his house arrest was revoked due to non-compliance with obligations. The Venezuelan government had accused Guanipa of leading a plot to sabotage legislative elections. His re-detention follows a period of increasing pressure on Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez to release political prisoners.
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The investigation into the apparent kidnapping of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie, continued Sunday in Arizona. Savannah Guthrie publicly offered to pay a ransom for her mother’s safe return, referencing a message received by a local television station. Authorities are actively following up on leads at multiple locations, though no suspects or persons of interest have been identified. Concerns for Nancy Guthrie’s health are mounting due to her need for daily medication and pre-existing heart conditions.
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A 15-year-old girl was reported missing on Christmas Day after failing to return from a walk with her dog in Porter, Texas. Using parental controls on his phone, the girl’s father tracked her to a secluded area where he found her and her dog inside a pickup truck with a 23-year-old man. The father helped his daughter escape and contacted authorities, who arrested Giovanni Rosales Espinoza on charges of aggravated kidnapping and indecency with a child, alleging he threatened the girl with a knife. Espinoza remains in jail without bond.
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Totowa, New Jersey Police Chief Carmen Veneziano, 47, has been indicted in Boston on kidnapping and domestic assault and battery charges. The Suffolk District Attorney’s Office alleges Veneziano confined and assaulted a woman in a Back Bay hotel room on September 14th. Veneziano was arrested in New Jersey and waived extradition, with an arraignment in Suffolk Superior Court scheduled for Monday where further details will be revealed.
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On December 20, Russian forces reportedly detained and deported approximately 50 Ukrainian civilians from the village of Hrabovske in the Sumy region to Russia. The Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights confirmed the illegal detention and forced deportation, citing violations of international humanitarian law. Ukrainian officials have appealed to Russia’s human rights commissioner and the International Committee of the Red Cross, demanding information and the civilians’ immediate return. The abduction is believed to be a localized provocation aimed at political or information pressure, with officials urging the international community to condemn the actions.
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Following a mass abduction at a school in northwestern Nigeria, all 24 schoolgirls have been rescued, according to President Bola Tinubu. The girls were taken from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Kebbi state on November 17th. While details of the rescue remain undisclosed, authorities have stated that the girls are currently in their custody. The recent incident adds to a string of abductions in Nigeria, including an attack on a Catholic school where over 300 students and staff were kidnapped.
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In Nigeria’s latest incident of mass abduction, gunmen attacked St. Mary’s School, a Catholic boarding school, seizing 215 students and 12 teachers, according to the Christian Association of Nigeria. The attack occurred despite prior intelligence warnings of potential threats, with authorities noting the school had reopened without government clearance. The Niger State Police Command has deployed military and security forces, and the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora reported a security staffer was injured. This follows a pattern of abductions, with schools, travelers, and remote villages frequently targeted by gangs, prompting the closure of numerous federal unity colleges and President Bola Tinubu to cancel his trip to the G20 summit.
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John Q. Hosedrinker