An extensive search for Nancy Guthrie, 84, is now in its third week
Savannah Guthrie/Instagram
NEED TO KNOW
- The reward for information regarding the abduction of Nancy Guthrie has increased to $200,000, authorities have confirmed
- While $100,000 of the money is an FBI reward, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that the organization 88-CRIME had received an anonymous donation of $100,000, enabling them to double the reward
- Nancy, the 84-year-old mother of Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, disappeared on the evening of Feb. 1, with police believing she was kidnapped
The reward for information regarding the abduction of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, has been increased to over $200,000, authorities have confirmed.
On Wednesday, Feb. 18, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department (PCSD) confirmed in a news release obtained by PEOPLE that the Arizona county's organization 88-CRIME had "received an anonymous donation today of $100,000, allowing the program to increase the reward for this case to $102,500."
"This is in addition to the $100,000 FBI reward being offered. The FBI is not involved in the administration of any non-FBI rewards," police added.
As previously reported by PEOPLE, it was revealed earlier this month that the PCSD was offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information related to Nancy’s disappearance.
Nancy was last seen on Jan. 31 and authorities believe she was kidnapped in the middle of the night on Feb. 1. An extensive search for her has been ongoing.
Savannah Guthrie/Instagram
The PCSD also confirmed in Wednesday's news release that investigators were "currently analyzing biological evidence found at Nancy Guthrie’s [Tucson, Ariz.] residence. DNA profiles are currently under lab analysis."
"The number of profiles, and other related details remain part of the active investigation. No further information will be released at this time," police said.
The PCSD didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information.
Savannah Guthrie/Instagram
The reward update comes after the FBI released surveillance footage on Feb. 10, showing a masked and "armed" person appearing to tamper with a Nest camera at Nancy's front door on the morning of her kidnapping. Shortly after, authorities described the suspect as "a male, approximately 5’9” – 5’10” tall, with an average build. In the video, he is wearing a black, 25-liter ‘Ozark Trail Hiker Pack’ backpack" that may have been purchased at Walmart.
The PCSD said on Tuesday, Feb. 17 that DNA evidence left behind on gloves found about two miles from Nancy's home did not yield any matches when law enforcement ran the profile through the national DNA database. Authorities believed the gloves were similar to those worn by the assailant.
No persons of interest or suspects had been identified in the case as of Wednesday, Feb. 18.
FBI / AFP via Getty
Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.
Amid the search, Nancy's neighbors showed their support for her family by tying yellow ribbons around trees, cactuses and mailboxes near her home, PEOPLE previously reported.
“Some of us put flowers at the front of Nancy’s house, while others who may not have wanted to go down to Nancy’s house, put ribbons on their mailboxes,” neighbor Laura Gargano said. “The yellow ribbon is a sentiment of hope and support after someone goes missing."
Joe Raedle/Getty
As for Savannah, she has been in Arizona with her family since her mother was reported missing. The journalist has posted multiple videos on Instagram addressing Nancy's alleged kidnappers and pleading for her mother’s safe return. She and her family were cleared as possible suspects this week, according to the sheriff.
Anyone with information about Nancy Guthrie's disappearance is asked to please contact 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at 520-351-4900.
Read the full article here