The reward has doubled as authorities intensify their search for Savannah Guthrie’s 84-year-old mom, Nancy Guthrie, 18 days after she was first reported missing.
Us Weekly has learned that 88-CRIME received an anonymous $100,000 donation “allowing the program to increase the reward for this case to $102,500,” according to an update from Pima County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday, February 18, which noted that dollar amount is in addition to the $100,000 being offered from the FBI.
This brings the total amount to $202,500 to any information leading to Nancy’s location or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation will not be handling the administration of any non-FBI rewards related to the case involving the Today show host’s mother, per the latest update.
This development comes after Milwaukee attorney Michael Hupy, president of Milwaukee Crime Stoppers, posted via Facebook on Monday, February 16, that he would be offering a $100,000 reward through Crime Stoppers for the arrest of the perpetrator. (It has not been confirmed that the anonymous donation to 88-CRIME was sent by Hupy, 79.)
“PCSD has received various requests for confirmation of various topics including working with Mexican authorities, utilizing polygraph tests, specific video surveillance requests, financial analysis, etc. PCSD is not confirming or releasing any details regarding those topics at this time,” the Pima County Sheriff’s Office told Us about their current efforts.
Meanwhile, investigators are currently analyzing biological evidence found at Nancy’s residence in Tucson, Arizona.
Nancy was last seen at her home after she was dropped off by family at 9:48 p.m. on January 31. Authorities believe she was “taken” while “asleep” sometime during the early morning hours of February 1.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos believes the Ozark Trail backpack worn by the unidentified suspect in newly released Nest doorbell camera footage was purchased at a Walmart.
“So we’re working with our Walmart managers all across the state to try to find out how many sales there were of that backpack in the last 20, 30 days, the last 60 days,” Nanos told NBC News. “And can we do something with that? Can we break it? Maybe we’ll find a credit card or a bank card. Maybe we’ll find a video of the guy walking in.”
The FBI described the suspect as a man that is 5-foot-9-inches to 5-foot-10-inches tall and of average build.
Nanos said they’re exploring all possible clues and leads, stating that it appears the suspect filmed on Nancy’s porch appeared to be wearing a ring underneath the pair of black gloves. As of Wednesday, there have been no DNA matches for the single black glove found one and a half miles away from Nancy’s residence. DNA profiles are currently under lab analysis.
As the search for Nancy continues, Savannah, 54, issued a new video via Instagram on Sunday, February 15, pleading for the safe return of her mother, stating, “It is never too late to do the right thing.”
“We still have hope, and we still believe,” she added. “And I wanted to say to whoever has her or knows where she is that it’s never too late, and you’re not lost or alone. And it is never too late to do the right thing, and we are here, and we believe … in the essential goodness of every human being.”
