Police Investigate Possible Abduction in Disappearance of Savannah Guthrie’s 84-Year-Old Mother
Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today show anchor Savannah Guthrie, has been missing since January 31, prompting an intensive and increasingly urgent investigation by Arizona authorities.
Nancy was last seen in the Catalina Foothills area near Tucson on the evening of January 31. According to reports, she had dinner with her daughter Anne that night, and Anne dropped her off at her home around 9:30 p.m.
Concerns were raised the following morning when Nancy failed to attend church — something family members say was highly uncharacteristic. She was officially reported missing by Sunday at noon.
Authorities Express “Great Concern”
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos addressed the case during a press conference, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.
“We’re pretty much throwing everything at this that we can,” Nanos said. “Guthrie is 84 years old and not in good physical health, and that is a great concern for us.”
Sheriff Nanos confirmed that investigators uncovered troubling evidence at Nancy’s home, prompting the involvement of the department’s homicide unit.
“This is very concerning to us. We don’t typically get the sheriff out at a scene like this,” he added. “But what we’re learning from the house has raised serious red flags.”
Nanos later told Today correspondent Liz Kreutz that the investigation is a race against time. “I hope that window hasn’t closed,” he said during the Feb. 3 broadcast.
Disturbing Evidence Found at Home
According to the Los Angeles Times, blood was discovered on the front porch of Nancy Guthrie’s home, along with signs of forced entry. Investigators have not yet determined the source of the blood or what may have occurred inside the residence.
Authorities also revealed that Nancy’s Apple Watch was found inside the home. Data showed her pacemaker stopped syncing with the device around 2:00 a.m. Sunday — a detail investigators described as deeply unsettling.
Former NYPD Negotiator Weighs In
Wallace Zeins, a former NYPD hostage negotiator who specialized in high-stakes abductions, told CNN that Nancy’s physical condition makes a solo kidnapping unlikely.
“She’s 5 feet 5, about 150 pounds, not in good health, unable to walk or run easily,” Zeins said. “I would think more than one person would have to be involved in something like this.”
Reported Ransom Note Raises Alarms
TMZ reported that it received what appeared to be a ransom note related to Nancy’s disappearance. According to TMZ founder Harvey Levin, the message demanded a “very specific” sum of money and included details about Nancy’s clothing and damage to the home to establish credibility.
TMZ said it immediately turned the note over to law enforcement.
Zeins noted that ransom demands could provide valuable leads, particularly if cryptocurrency is involved or if the note was typed or handwritten — potentially leaving behind digital or DNA evidence.
Experts Warn of False Tips
CNN correspondent Josh Campbell cautioned that high-profile cases often generate a flood of tips, some misleading or malicious.
“In situations like this, investigators receive everything from credible leads to outright hoaxes,” Campbell said.
Former FBI profiler Candice DeLong added that in kidnappings involving elderly victims, the perpetrator is often known to the victim.
“In the vast majority of cases involving victims over 80, the offender has a personal connection,” DeLong said.
Search Intensifies as Family Pleads for Proof of Life
Police helicopters have been spotted conducting grid searches over nearby desert terrain, systematically checking areas around Nancy’s home to determine whether she was moved through surrounding land or taken directly from the property.
Meanwhile, Savannah Guthrie has stepped away from her duties on Today and from hosting the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
In an emotional video plea, Savannah addressed those responsible for her mother’s disappearance.
“We live in a world where voices and images can be manipulated,” she said. “We need to know — without a doubt — that she is alive and that you have her.”
Former President Donald Trump also reached out to Savannah Guthrie, stating he is “deploying all resources to get her mother home safely.”
The investigation remains ongoing.