Disturbing revelations have emerged regarding the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of television host Savannah Guthrie. Blood traces were reportedly discovered inside her Tucson, Arizona home following a forced entry by a kidnapper, according to police sources.
The unsettling details, initially reported by the Los Angeles Times, follow the Daily Mail’s disclosure that Nancy, 84, was kidnapped from her $1 million residence sometime between late Saturday and early Sunday. This incident has sparked an intense search effort for the missing woman.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, visibly emotional, addressed the public on Monday night. His voice faltered as he responded to questions about Nancy’s possible whereabouts and whether she might still be alive. “We’re just not going to give up hope,” Nanos assured, emphasizing the dedication of his team in the search. He also highlighted the urgency of the situation, noting that Nancy is frail and lacking essential medication.
During a live interview with AZFamily’s Briana Whitney, Sheriff Nanos was asked about the potential that Nancy could still be alive and possibly held somewhere local or farther afield. The sheriff struggled with his words, reflecting the emotional weight of the ongoing investigation.
Amidst the unfolding drama, Savannah Guthrie, 54, rushed to Arizona upon receiving the tragic news of her mother’s abduction—a moment CNN described as the “worst phone call of her life.” The entire Guthrie family, along with law enforcement, remains hopeful for Nancy’s safe return.
Savannah, 54, flew to Arizona shortly after learning that Nancy had been abducted – a moment CNN reported was ‘the worst phone call of her life.’
Sheriff Nanos said they did not believe Nancy had been targeted because of her rich and famous daughter, but said he could not rule out that line of inquiry.
Meanwhile, Savannah is said to be traveling with a security team. She has dropped out of hosting the Milan Winter Olympics, which begins on Wednesday.
Today – the show she hosts – led with Nancy’s abduction for the second day in a row on Tuesday and shared Guthrie’s request for ‘prayers.’
Savannah Guthrie is seen with her mother Nancy Guthrie. Nancy was reported missing in Tucson, Arizona, at noon on Sunday by her family. She hadn’t been seen since the night of January 31
Authorities investigating the disappearance of Guthrie’s mother Nancy discovered blood inside her $1 million Arizona home (pictured), sources say
Nancy was last seen around 9:45pm Saturday night, at the family’s longtime ranch-style home in the upscale Catalina Hills neighborhood.
She was reported missing the next morning when she didn’t show up at church, and when her family went to her home they found her personal belongings including her wallet, cellphone and car, but no sign of the 84-year-old.
Sources told the LA Times that there were signs of forced entry at the home.
Nanos added that while the exact nature of Nancy’s disappearance remains unknown, investigators believe they are ‘looking at a possible kidnapping or abduction.’
‘She did not leave on her own, we know that,’ he said. ‘She’s very limited in her mobility.’
An NBC source told CNN that Savannah was preparing to go to Europe to cover the Winter Olympics at the time, and had spent much of the last week with her children before she would make the trip.
Savannah, who only recently returned to NBC after throat surgery, is now set to remain off-air indefinitely.
Savannah is pictured embracing her mother in 2020
In an interview Tuesday, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos grew emotional as he said he ‘hopes’ Nancy is still alive
On Tuesday, Nanos announced that a $2,500 reward was being issued for information leading to an arrest in Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance.
He stressed that the hunt for Nancy remains a search-and-rescue operation. DNA tests have been performed but the results could take another few days.
Nanos said that Nancy is of sound mind but that she suffers from mobility issues that mean she cannot walk more than 50 yards.
She was taken without her medication, which she requires to stay alive; depriving her of it could be fatal, Nanos warned.
The sheriff said investigators have not yet ruled out the potential abduction being a ‘targeted’ incident, but said evidence does not yet support that conclusion either.
‘Nothing that we see is leading us that way, but we’ll never dismiss anything. We’ll continue to look at everything, and we’ll just keep moving forward with it,’ he said.
On Monday, Nanos appealed to a potential abductor while speaking with NBC.
‘Just call us. Let her go. Just call us. The family will tell you, there’s no questions asked here,’ he said.
Savannah’s father died of a heart attack while she was in high school, and officials said Nancy lived alone in her Tucson home.
