The disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of prominent United States television journalist and “Today” show anchor Savannah Guthrie, has triggered a massive criminal investigation in Arizona.
Authorities now believe Nancy Guthrie was taken from her home in the Tucson area against her will, though investigators say they are still working to establish who may be responsible and why.
Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI, are involved in what officials have described as an evolving investigation.
While several key details have been confirmed by authorities, many aspects of the case remain unresolved, including the precise circumstances under which Nancy Guthrie disappeared and whether anyone else was involved.
What do we know about the Nancy Guthrie case so far
Timeline of the disappearance and early response
Nancy Guthrie was last seen on Saturday night (January 31) at her residence in the Catalina Foothills, an affluent area located on the northern edge of Tucson.
According to Sheriff Chris Nanos, her children had taken her home after dinner sometime between 9:30 and 9:45 pm.
Family members helped her into the house, after which she went to bed. Officials have said there is no indication that anything appeared unusual at that point in the evening.
The following morning, concern arose when Guthrie failed to attend her regular church service.
A member of her church contacted a family member to alert them that she had not arrived. Relatives went to her home around 11 am on Sunday to check on her wellbeing. When they were unable to locate her, a family member called 911 shortly before noon to report her missing.
Law enforcement officers were dispatched to the residence and quickly determined that the situation warranted more than a routine missing-person response. Nanos later said that deputies encountered what he described as a “very concerning” scene at the house.
Based on information relayed by responding officers and homicide detectives, authorities concluded there was sufficient cause to treat the disappearance as a potential crime.
Homicide detectives were sent to the home the same day, even though there was no confirmation at that point that a homicide had occurred. Nanos explained that something about the scene led investigators to believe “there’s more than just a missing person.”
Within hours of the report, search operations were launched in and around the neighbourhood. Drones and search dogs were deployed, and volunteers assisted law enforcement efforts.
Border Patrol resources were also involved in the early stages of the search.
Evidence at the home and belief of an abduction
As the investigation progressed, officials became increasingly confident that Nancy Guthrie had not left her home on her own. Nanos repeatedly emphasised that her physical condition made it implausible she could have walked away unaided.
“She didn’t walk from there. She didn’t go willingly. We don’t believe that,” Nanos said, adding in a separate interview, “We believe 100 per cent right now she could not have walked away from that home.”
Authorities have said Guthrie has limited mobility and could not have travelled far on foot. Nanos noted that she “couldn’t walk 50 yards,” reinforcing investigators’ belief that she did not leave voluntarily.
Officials also stressed that her disappearance was not connected to any cognitive impairment. “This is not dementia-related, she is as sharp as a tack,” Nanos said.
Investigators discovered evidence at the home suggesting Nancy Guthrie was taken during the night. A person familiar with the investigation said authorities identified signs pointing to a forced entry and a nighttime abduction.
Several of Guthrie’s personal belongings, including her cellphone, wallet and car, were found inside the residence, which investigators said further undermined the possibility that she left on her own.
Law enforcement has not publicly detailed every aspect of what was found inside the home, citing the sensitivity of the investigation and the family’s wish to limit public disclosure.
When reporters asked whether there were signs of forced entry, missing items, or blood inside the house, Sheriff Nanos declined to elaborate.
“I don’t really want to get into narrowing down the time, because narrowing it down means we can miss some tips and leads,” he said.
However, law enforcement sources told the Los Angeles Times that blood was found inside the home. Officials have not confirmed whose blood it was or where it was located, and the sheriff’s department has not commented publicly on that report.
Health concerns and urgency of the search
A concern driving the investigation is Nancy Guthrie’s medical condition. Authorities have repeatedly warned that she requires daily medication and that missing those doses poses a serious risk to her life.
“She’s 84, she needs her meds, her family needs her too,” Nanos told reporters. He has also said that going without her medication “could be fatal.”
Because of these health concerns, officials have described the situation as extremely time-sensitive. “Right now, time is very critical,” the sheriff said earlier in the investigation, urging anyone with information to come forward immediately.
A law enforcement source told Fox News Digital that the 84-year-old’s pacemaker last synced with her Apple devices around 2 am on Sunday.
Despite the urgency, investigators have acknowledged that they do not yet have credible leads pointing to a suspect.
On Tuesday, Nanos said there was nothing at that stage that would identify who may have been responsible. When asked whether more than one person could have been involved, he said, “No clue.”
DNA samples collected from inside the home have been submitted to laboratories for testing. “We’ve gotten some (results) back, but nothing to indicate any suspects,” Nanos said.
Officials confirmed that both the interior and exterior of the residence were processed as part of the investigation and that the house has since been returned to the Guthrie family.
Investigation heats up
Surveillance footage from nearby homes is being reviewed, and investigators are analysing data from cellphone towers in the area. License plate reader systems are also being examined to determine whether any vehicles of interest passed through the neighbourhood around the time of the disappearance.
Authorities are also reviewing digital evidence, including data from Nancy Guthrie’s cellphone, which is in police custody. Investigators have prioritised downloading any available security footage from the residence itself.
Nanos said private technology companies, including Google and Apple, have offered assistance to support the investigation.
Officials have also indicated they are “working through” data related to the pacemaker, though no details or timelines linked to that device have been publicly disclosed.
The sheriff’s department has established a dedicated tip line to collect videos, images, and other information from the public. Authorities have also announced a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to an arrest in connection with the case.
Possible ransom notes
TMZ reported that it received what appeared to be a ransom note demanding payment in cryptocurrency in exchange for Guthrie’s release.
Separately, a journalist at a Tucson television station said the newsroom had also received what seemed to be a ransom note. Both outlets said they turned the materials over to investigators.
Nanos has confirmed that authorities are aware of the reports and are treating the matter seriously. In an interview with CBS News, he said investigators were “absolutely not” dismissing the note.
When asked what parts of the note were being taken as credible, Nanos responded, “The entire note.”
“So you’re not dismissing this note at this point?” CBS News asked to which Nanos replied, “Absolutely not.”
The sheriff said investigators reviewed the note and decided to share it with Savannah Guthrie.
Despite the ransom note reports, investigators have said they do not currently believe the disappearance was part of a kidnapping-for-ransom scheme. Nanos said authorities also do not think it was a robbery or a home invasion gone wrong, though he stressed that no possibilities have been fully ruled out.
FBI involvement and public appeals
The FBI’s Tucson office has joined the investigation, working alongside local authorities. At a news conference on Tuesday, senior FBI officials urged the public to assist.
“Every lead and tip is important. We are aggressively pursuing and looking into every single one again,” said Jon Edwards, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI’s Tucson office. “Please help us bring Nancy Guthrie home.”
While federal resources are involved, a federal law enforcement source told CNN that the US Marshal Service has not yet been asked to assist in the search. The source noted that because the investigation remains fluid, federal officials could still approach the agency if needed.
Nanos said there is no indication that Savannah Guthrie herself was the target of any threat. He added that Guthrie’s security team has been in contact with his department and that law enforcement is not aware of any prior threats against the television anchor.
How Savannah Guthrie has responded
Savannah Guthrie travelled to Tucson shortly after learning of her mother’s disappearance and has remained in the area with her two siblings to support the investigation. She has made several public statements thanking supporters and urging anyone with information to contact authorities.
“On behalf of our family, I want to thank everyone for the thoughts, prayers and messages of support. Right now, our focus remains on the safe return of our dear mom,” she said in a statement read on the “Today” show.
In a later Instagram post, she wrote, “Thank you for lifting your prayers with ours for our beloved mom, our dearest Nancy.”
She added, “Raise your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment. We need you,” before concluding with “Bring her home.”
Guthrie did not appear at the anchor desk on “Today” following the disappearance. NBC Sports later confirmed she would not be part of the network’s coverage of
the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
“Savannah will not be joining us at the Olympics as she focuses on being with her family during this difficult time,” the network said in a statement. “Our hearts are with her and the entire Guthrie family as the search continues for their mother.”
Savannah Guthrie has long spoken publicly about her close relationship with her mother. Her parents moved to Tucson in the 1970s when she was a young child.
The family faced tragedy when her father died of a heart attack at 49, leaving Nancy Guthrie to raise three children on her own.
Reflecting on that period during a 2017 episode of “Today,” Savannah said, “When my dad died, our family just hung onto each other for dear life because it was such a shock. We were just trying to figure out how to become a family of four when we’d always been a family of five.”
Nancy Guthrie later appeared as a guest on “Today” on multiple occasions. During a celebration of her mother’s 80th birthday in 2022, Savannah described her as someone who had faced hardship with resilience.
“She has met unthinkable challenges in her life with grit, without self-pity, with determination and always, always with unshakeable faith,” she said.
She added, “She loves us, her family, fiercely, and her selflessness and sacrifice for us, her steadfastness and her unmovable confidence, is the reason any of us grew up to do anything.”
Guthrie’s colleagues on the “Today” show have made emotional pleas on air for information that could help locate her mother. On Tuesday’s broadcast, Carson Daly said, “I saw that post from Savannah last night. I hit my knees and prayed. I don’t think I’ve ever prayed for anything harder in my life.”
What next for the Nancy Guthrie case
The White House issued a message on social media offering prayers for the Guthrie family and calling for anyone with relevant information to contact law enforcement.
The search for Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy Guthrie, is ongoing, and authorities are requesting assistance from the public. Anyone with information is urged to contact 911.
Our prayers are with the Guthrie family as we hope for Nancy’s safe return home. pic.twitter.com/AuA4zQcPiW
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 3, 2026
US President Donald Trump addressed the situation while speaking to reporters in the Oval Office. He described the circumstances as “terrible” and said he intended to call Savannah Guthrie.
“I always got along very good with Savannah,” Trump said, adding that he was open to committing additional federal resources to assist with the search if needed.
As of now, authorities have not identified a suspect or determined a clear motive.
Investigators continue to review physical, digital and forensic evidence while urging the public to come forward with any information, no matter how small it may seem.
Despite the unanswered questions, Nanos has expressed cautious optimism. “I really believe that we’ll find her,” he said.
With inputs from agencies
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