President Donald Trump said Monday that he would direct the Department of Justice to pursue the death penalty against those responsible for kidnapping Nancy Guthrie if the 84-year-old mother of \u201cToday\u201d show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie is found dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a brief phone interview with the New York Post<\/em>, Trump made clear that the consequences would be \u201cvery, very severe \u2014 the most severe\u201d if the abductors harm her. When asked directly whether the Justice Department would seek capital punishment in the case, the president responded, \u201cThe most, yeah \u2014 that\u2019s true.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guthrie was last seen on the night of Jan. 31 at her home outside Tucson, Arizona. She was reported missing the following day, and investigators believe she was taken against her will in what authorities are treating as a kidnapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The FBI is offering a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to her location and\/or the arrest and conviction of those involved. Surveillance images captured by Guthrie\u2019s doorbell camera show a suspect described as a man standing between 5-foot-9 and 5-foot-10 with an average build. In footage released last week, the individual is seen wearing dark gloves, sweatpants, and a jacket, and carrying a black 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The case has drawn national attention, not only because of the victim\u2019s age but also because of her daughter\u2019s public profile. Savannah Guthrie has been a longtime journalist and co-anchor of NBC\u2019s \u201cToday\u201d show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n President Trump personally reached out to Savannah Guthrie on Feb. 4 to offer support and underscore the federal government\u2019s commitment to resolving the case. He later stated that he directed \u201cALL Federal Law Enforcement to be at the family\u2019s, and Local Law Enforcement\u2019s, complete disposal, IMMEDIATELY. We are deploying all resources to get her mother home safely.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n On Friday, Trump said he believes \u201cprogress has been made\u201d in the investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Savannah Guthrie released a video Sunday urging anyone with information to come forward, saying, \u201cit is never too late to do the right thing, and we are here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the investigation continues, federal and local authorities remain engaged in what the president has described as a full-scale effort to bring Nancy Guthrie home safely and hold those responsible accountable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n