TMZ founder Harvey Levin and producer Charles Latibeaudiere provided an update Thursday on developments related to an alleged ransom letter in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today show anchor Savannah Guthrie, near Tucson, Ariz.
The panel, speaking on TMZ Live, said the outlet had received an unverified ransom note that included a 5 p.m. Thursday deadline, which has now passed without contact, and referenced a second deadline set for Monday. Levin said the note was among information shared during the morning’s press conference by federal and local law enforcement.
“Listen, something just happened, and it’s something that we had not discussed publicly from the letter, but they just revealed it,” Levin said following Thursday’s press conference by the FBI and the Pima Co. Sheriff’s Office in Arizona.
Continuing, Levin was careful with his wording. “Remember, we said, a deadline is looming. Well, they announced the first deadline. Remember, we said there were two. The first deadline is today at 5 p.m. because they were asked why did Savannah come out and do this when she did.”
Levin referred to the video message released by Savannah and her siblings, Annie and Camron Guthrie, in which they pleaded for their mother’s safe return.
“Right, this was roughly 24-hours before the initial deadline,” Latibeaudiere said.
“We assumed that when we were working this morning,” Levin added. “But 5 p.m. was the deadline. There is a second deadline. We’re not going to say now why there’s a second deadline, but something is supposed to change if they don’t pay the money by the first deadline, but the second deadline is much more important.”
At that point, a staffer interrupted the two with new information, which caused a messaging pivot.
“So, the FBI just revealed some things about the letter we received that we have not talked about yet,” Levin continued. “That second deadline is Monday — they’ve just announced that as well. We’re not going to say what gets triggered on each deadline, but the first one, the demands change, and the second one is much more serious.”
Levin and Latibeaudiere noted that TMZ has not disclosed specifics about what “triggers” might occur at each deadline but described the second deadline as “much more important” than the first. The outlet also previously reported that the Guthrie family released a video Wednesday urging anyone holding Nancy Guthrie to provide proof that she is alive.
Authorities have not confirmed the authenticity of the ransom notes and have stressed the investigation remains active. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Pima County Sheriff’s Office have encouraged the public to submit tips that could aid the case. The FBI on Thursday also announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to Nancy’s whereabouts.
Federal agents accompanied by K-9 units were dispatched to Nancy’s residence on Wednesday night, where they allegedly conducted a search of a nearby wooded area and the garage of the missing woman.
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Agents collaborated with officers from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, who reinstated caution tape at the residence of the 84-year-old to restrict access to the property, as reported by NewsNation’s Brian Entin in a post on X.
“It’s been quiet here for the last couple of days, but now clearly they are about to do something at the house,” Entin said as he filmed agents setting up their scene, the New York Post reported.
The police subsequently initiated a systematic search of the thicket adjacent to the residence in Tucson, as reported by Entin, and also examined the garage.
Law enforcement remained at the residence for under two hours before removing the police tape and departing.
Nancy, the mother of “Today” show co-host Savannah Guthrie, has not been seen since her family left her at the Tucson residence on Saturday night.
