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Mary Ann Blevins, a close friend and fellow book club member, said the group had last seen Nancy just weeks before she vanished. “We were together last month,” Mary Ann recalled.
The group, made up of eight members, met monthly and stayed closely connected outside those meetings. Mary Ann said nothing seemed out of the ordinary when they last spent time together.
How Friends Remembered Her
Mary Ann, who is 86, emphasized, “We’ve known each other for many, many years. I met her a long, long time ago when we first started up the book club.”
She described Nancy as upbeat and engaged when they last met. Mary Ann said Nancy was “in really good spirits,” a detail that stands out now given what followed.
Asked to sum up her friend, Mary Ann did not hesitate. “She’s just a beautiful person.”
According to Mary Ann, Nancy also spent time with her mahjong group and stayed closely involved with her grandchildren. That routine included helping care for Savannah Guthrie’s nephew.
Savannah Guthrie and mom Nancy, laugh with Jenna Bush Hager on an episode of “Today” show on April 17, 2019. | Source: Getty Images
Savannah Guthrie and mom Nancy, laugh with Jenna Bush Hager on an episode of “Today” show on April 17, 2019. | Source: Getty Images
No Fear, No Warnings
One of the most unsettling details from Mary Ann’s account is what Nancy did not say. In their many conversations, fear never came up.
When asked if Nancy had ever expressed concern about being alone or about the possibility of being kidnapped, Mary Ann was direct. “No, never.”
Security concerns were also absent from their discussions. “No, not at all,” Mary Ann said when asked if Nancy had ever mentioned worries about her safety.
Blevins added that Nancy was widely loved in her community. “Anybody that knows her and met her loves her,” she said. “I don’t think she has any enemies, and that’s why this whole thing is very scary.”
Savannah and Nancy Guthrie on NBC’s “Today” show on June 15, 2023 | Source: Getty Images
Savannah and Nancy Guthrie on NBC’s “Today” show on June 15, 2023 | Source: Getty Images
Investigators Focus on the Ransom Note
As friends remember a life that appeared calm and predictable, investigators are dealing with a far more alarming set of clues. Attention has turned to an alleged ransom note demanding cryptocurrency.
Former NYPD hostage negotiator Wallace Zeins told CNN that the circumstances suggest more than one person may be involved. He pointed to the ransom demand itself as potentially revealing.
