...
By Emma Marsden
Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
The investigation into the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie’s mother is facing renewed criticism as Savannah Guthrie returned to TODAY on Monday after more than two months away.
A man offering a $100,000 reward for information has urged tipsters to bypass local law enforcement and report directly to Crime Stoppers, according to Fox News.
Newsweek contacted the man, Michael Hupy, via online form, Pima County Sheriff's department, who are dealing with the case, via email and online form and TODAY show via email for comment on Monday.
Read More on News
The Context
The call to avoid the sheriff’s office highlights growing frustration with the handling of the case, as scrutiny intensifies during a moment of high public attention following Savannah Guthrie’s return to television.
It also follows earlier reporting by Newsweek, which detailed how a sheriff defended the investigation amid claims of mistakes.
What to Know
...
Savannah Guthrie told co-host Craig Melvin "it's good to be home" as she made her first appearance hosting TODAY since her mother Nancy’s abduction. Her return came the day after she posted a message on Easter Sunday, as reported by Newsweek, where she described this Easter as "bittersweet"—saying there are moments when "life itself seems far harder than death." This followed on from an interview late last month with co host Hoda Kotb where she said the lack of information about her mother's disappearance had left her in a state of despair, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Nancy Guthrie, 84, has been missing since February after disappearing from her home in Tucson, Arizona. Authorities believe she was abducted but have not identified a suspect or determined her whereabouts.
According to Fox News, the man behind the $100,000 reward, Wisconsin attorney Michael Hupa, who is also president of Crime Stoppers Milwaukee, is encouraging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers instead of the local sheriff’s department, arguing that anonymity could encourage more people to come forward and increase the likelihood of new information emerging.
"I believe that people will come forward if they’re anonymous and if they get a reward," Hupa stated, as reported by Fox News.
Hupa also questioned the initial management of the case, claiming the sheriff cleared the crime scene prematurely and committed other errors. As previously reported by Fox News, presenter and former prosecutor Nancy Grace has also criticized handling of the case.
Investigators have said doorbell camera footage captured a suspected individual near the property, but no arrests have been made. Alleged ransom notes have also been sent to several news outlets.
As previously reported by Newsweek, every deputy in the Pima County Sheriff's Office union voted in favor of a no-confidence motion against Sheriff Nanos and new reporting raises serious questions about how investigators have handled the search for Nancy. A source with knowledge of the case told NewsNation there is currently no direct suspect and "no name on the table," alleging that early responders treated Nancy's disappearance as a search-and-rescue matter rather than a potential criminal case—a framing that, according to the source, "stayed with the investigation."
Savannah Guthrie's return to Today on Monday marks her first appearance since stepping away in early February as the investigation began. She has said her return is part of an effort to move forward while the search for her mother continues.
What People Are Saying
Prior to returning to the show, Savannah Guthrie said, as reported by NBC News: "We need someone to tell the truth. I have no anger in my heart. I have hope in my heart. I have love. But this family needs peace. We need an answer, and someone has it in their power to help."
As previously reported by Newsweek, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos rejected claims that his department mishandled the investigation and defending his deputies: "Discrediting an investigation like this doesn't help anything–it's very harmful," he told local broadcaster News 4 Tucson. "No we don't believe there were any mistakes made."
Michael Hupy, as reported by Fox News: "I don’t think they secured the scene long enough to process it. They went in, looked, opened it up, then they had to come back later."
Nancy Grace, as reported by Fox News: "By destroying the crime scene and by releasing the crime scene too early, they destroyed a lot of evidence,"
What Happens Next
Law enforcement officials have continued to urge the public to share any relevant details, maintaining that the investigation remains active. Authorities are expected to continue pursuing leads as pressure grows to make progress in the case.
Savannah Guthrie is set to continue to publicly appeal for information, as the investigation into her mother’s disappearance shows no clear breakthrough.
In Pima County, Arizona, the local Crime Stoppers affiliate is known as 88-CRIME, and the number is 520-882-7463.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines