US television host Savannah Guthrie has issued another message calling for the safe return of her mother Nancy, who went missing from her home in Tucson, Arizona under suspicious circumstances last weekend.
In a video posted to Instagram on Sunday morning, Australian time, the host of NBC's Today Show appears to directly address her mother's potential kidnappers, telling them she and her siblings have "received your message, and we understand".
"We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her," she says, as she clasps hands with her brother and sister.
"This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay."
The video appears to confirm the Guthrie family has been contacted by those behind the apparent kidnapping, who until this point had not sent any messages to the family directly.
Guthrie on Thursday recorded a similar message in response to media reports of a ransom letter, calling on the kidnappers to provide proof "without a doubt" that her mother was alive.
Tucson TV station KOLD on Friday said it had received an email message that was tied to the Guthrie case, but could not disclose its contents.
The FBI said it was aware of a new message and was reviewing its authenticity.
Authorities believe that Nancy, who is 84 years old with extremely limited mobility, was taken from her home against her will last weekend.
There were signs of forced entry at her house, and DNA tests of blood found on her front porch came back as a match for her, police said.
On Saturday, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said police were yet to identify any suspects or rule anyone out.
He had previously expressed frustration that a camera at Nancy's home was unable to capture images of anyone the day she went missing.
Investigators have found that the home's doorbell camera was disconnected early last Sunday, and that software data recorded movement at the home minutes later.
However, Nancy did not have an active subscription to her doorbell camera service, so no images were able to be recovered.
"It is concerning — it's actually almost disappointing, because you've got your hopes up," the sheriff said.
The case has also sparked interest from US President Donald Trump, who said on Friday he believed the investigation was going "very well".
"We have some clues that I think are very strong," the president said, while en route to his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida.
"We have some things that may be coming out reasonably soon."
ABC/AP
