Savannah Guthrie had hidden message for mom Nancy's kidnapper? Ex-FBI agent decodes new video

A former FBI agent said he believes ‘Today’ show host Savannah Guthrie had a hidden codeword for her mother Nancy Guthrie’s kidnapper in her new video.

Updated on: Feb 08, 2026 11:36 AM IST

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A former FBI agent has said that he believes ‘Today’ show host Savannah Guthrie had a hidden codeword for her mother Nancy Guthrie’s kidnapper in her recent video. Savannah released a new video message on Instagram Saturday evening, February 6, saying they have agreed to pay ransom for Nancy’s release. She was joined by her siblings Camron and Annie in the video.

Savannah Guthrie had hidden message for mom Nancy's kidnapper? Ex-FBI agent decodes new video (savannahguthrie/Instagram)

In the video, captioned “Bring her home,” Savannah said, “We received your message and we understand. We beg you now to return our mother to us, so that we can celebrate with her. This is the only way that we can have peace. This is very valuable to us and we will pay.”

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A post shared by Savannah Guthrie (@savannahguthrie)

Ex-FBI agent reveals Savannah Guthrie’s hidden codeword

Jason Pack, a former FBI special agent and crisis negotiator, has opened up about Savannah’s use of “celebrate,” explaining what he believes the one-word phrase means in the context of negotiations and ransoms.

"The word 'celebrate' stood out to me immediately. Savannah didn't say 'surrender her' or 'give her back.' She said return her so we can 'celebrate'. That's the language of resolution, not confrontation. In any negotiation, you want to offer the other party a way to see this ending positively and peacefully for them too," Pack told the Daily Mail.

Pack also said that in his experience in crisis negotiations, "the most dangerous moments come when communication breaks down. The Guthries are doing everything they can to make sure that doesn't happen."

Law enforcement activity is not limited to Nancy’s home at this time. A representative for Circle K told TMZ that cops visited a store along Oracle Road in Tucson after they received a tip involving a vehicle of interest. They were granted access to surveillance footage.

However, authorities have said that no suspects have been identified. The Pima County Sheriff’s Office stated on Saturday, February 7, that they have “not identified any suspects, persons of interest, or vehicles connected to this case.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sumanti Sen
Sumanti Sen covers everything that’s happening in the US, from politics to entertainment, but her expertise lies in covering crime news. She has comprehensively chronicled the Idaho student murders, the Laken Riley and Iryna Zarutska cases, and the killing of Charlie Kirk, among other incidents. Over the years, she has interviewed several victims/families of victims of crimes seeking justice. She digs up stories that might otherwise remain unheard, and does her bit to ensure that victims and survivors’ voices are heard. Sumanti’s many years of experience also include interviews with Hamas attack survivors and mental health experts, among others. Her coverage of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and interviews with survivors of the tragedy, coupled with her other works including the Titan submersible coverage, earned her the Digi Journo of the Quarter award during her first year at Hindustan Times. Sumanti actively tracks missing person cases in the United States, and peruses Reddit and other social media platforms to bring to light cases that frequently elude public attention. She has extensively covered the disappearances of Nancy Guthrie, Thomas Medlin, Beau Mann, and Sudiksha Konanki, among others. When not at work, you will either find her with her novels, or with her beloved rescue pooches.Read More

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