Donald Trump vowed ‘he would seek death penalty for Nancy Guthrie kidnappers if she was killed’

Donald Trump has given an update regarding Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance after previously vowing to ‘seek the death penalty’ for her kidnappers if she was killed.

NBC presenter Savannah Guthrie’s 84-year-old mother was kidnapped earlier this year, and her whereabouts still remain unknown.

Earlier this week, it was revealed that a series of ransom notes from Nancy’s alleged kidnappers, sent hours after she was reported missing on February 1, were discovered in a new investigation.

The alleged note claimed that she died soon after she was taken from her home.

President Trump previously claimed in February that he would he would direct the Justice Department to seek the death penalty for those responsible.

Now, following this latest update, he has told the media: ‘I hope they find her. I mean, Savannah’s gone through a rough — that family’s gone through hell. I hope they find her.’

The first alleged ransom note demanding payment was forwarded to the Pima County Sheriff after being sent to TMZ and other media outlets.

It reportedly demanded that $4million (approximately £3m) in Bitcoin be paid before a February 5 deadline, after which it would rise to $6m (approximately £4.5m).

Investigators are said to have had reason to find the message credible, with accurate details in the note, according to a report in Air Mail.

These are said to have included a description of Nancy’s clothes and a broken light at her home in Arizona, where she was taken from.

It has been claimed that the alleged kidnappers described Nancy as ‘safe but scared’ in the note sent before the deadline.

However, investigators reportedly chose to send a far smaller sum than asked, $152, in an attempt to track where the money went.

In February, President Trump called Savannah to offer support to the longtime journalist and said he directed ‘ALL Federal Law Enforcement to be at the family’s, and Local Law Enforcement’s, complete disposal, IMMEDIATELY. We are deploying all resources to get her mother home safely’.

He also stated that the consequences for the kidnappers would be ‘very, very severe — the most severe’ if they killed the older Guthrie.

Speaking on Friday, he said that he thinks ‘progress has been made’ in the investigation.

Yesterday, Savannah shared how her family is in ‘agony’ after her colleagues reported on her missing 84-year-old mother.

While discussing the latest twist in the heartbreaking story live on air, Guthrie broke down in tears and begged viewers to help.

‘I love you guys, and I love this place,’ she began, wiping away tears. ‘This is unusual and unprecedented — to say the least — to be sitting here.

‘But I can’t pretend I’m not here. And so since I am, I wanted to just take the opportunity to ask people, really to beg people, to come forward. Somebody knows something.’

Her mother Nancy was taken months ago, with footage released showing a gloved and masked man in a balaclava approaching the house.

At 1.47am on February 1, the doorbell cam that captured his arrival is disconnected, and the rest of that morning is a mystery.

The family have offered a $1million reward for anyone who comes forward with information, which she reminded viewers could be anonymous.

No suspects have been named by the police, but they are said to be focusing on the series of ransom notes sent after Nancy’s disappearance.