Nearly five months after her mother vanished without a trace, Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie faced her national audience in tears this week - pleading for prayers, tips, and answers after a devastating new development emerged in the case.
A second note sent to media outlets following the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, 84, indicated that she had died.
While the note did not include an apology for allegedly taking her or any request for payment, it did express regret over her passing, according to three people familiar with the matter who spoke to NBC News.
NewsNation correspondent Brian Entin, citing a source close to the investigation, reported that the note said Nancy died and was "buried with nature now," and that her death was described as unintentional.
Investigators had known about the note's contents for months but held off on releasing them publicly - believing the information could cause the public to lose interest in the case and reduce the flow of tips.
Now, officials believe the note's wider release may actually reignite public engagement. "One human tip from someone who actually knows could advance the case a lot faster than what they're doing right now," CNN analyst John Miller said.
On June 23, Savannah delivered an emotional plea from the TODAY set. "I don't have any comment on this story, and I'm not involved in our coverage, but I can't pretend I'm not here," she said. "I want to just take the opportunity to ask people - to really beg people - to come forward. Somebody knows something."
"This is the life that my sister lives, that I live, that my brother lives, that our extended families live, that our children live, every day," Savannah continued. "And we are in agony. We cannot be at peace."
"No matter how much I try to come out here every day and smile and find that joy - and I will, I promise I will - this is a moment to tell you that we need your help," she added. "Please do the right thing for us, for our family, for our children. We love our mom, and we'll never stop looking for her, ever."
Nancy Guthrie was a woman of deep, unwavering faith - known by family and friends for never once missing her Sunday morning church livestream.
It was that very absence on February 1 that first told her family something was terribly wrong.
Through every week of this ordeal, Savannah has asked for prayers, and the faith community continues to answer. JubileeCast joins those prayers - for Nancy to be found, and for peace that only God can give to a family walking through the unimaginable.
If you have any information, please contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit a tip at tips.fbi.gov. A combined reward of over $1.2 million remains active.
Related article: Nancy Guthrie Ransom Note Claimed She Was Already Dead: FBI Says It Was Likely From Her Abductor
