Nancy Guthrie, who was taking daily medication, vanished after relatives dropped her off at her home on the evening of Saturday 31 January.

Police were contacted when she failed to show up the following morning at a friend's house to watch a virtual Sunday church service.

Four days after the first note, the second arrived: "Guthrie Family, we did not fully grasp the seriousness of her physical condition. We never intended to hurt her, that was not our intention.

"She perished shortly after she was taken. We believe it was heart related. She is buried in nature now.

"Nothing you could have done could have changed the outcome. We want your family to know this and hope you all can find peace. We are truly sorry."

After the second note, Savannah Guthrie - one of the most famous TV presenters in the US - took to Instagram on 7 February to respond.

"We received your message and we understand," Guthrie said at the time. "We beg you now to return our mother to us... This is very valuable to us, and we will pay."

Earlier this week, Guthrie again released a video calling for the kidnappers to "do the right thing" and reveal the location of her mother.

She took to social media again on Saturday, writing alongside a photo of her mother that she and her family are "desperate" and "begging for help".

Guthrie said they are determined to "find out what happened to her, so that we can give her the dignity of a proper goodbye — a celebration of her remarkable life that she so deserves".

She asked that anyone who knows or suspects something to come forward, saying tips can be made anonymously and the reward for information leading to her recovery remains available.

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