A person with insight into the investigation revealed that authorities are considering Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance as an abduction case.
WASHINGTON — It’s been four days since Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of “TODAY” show host Savannah Guthrie, vanished from her Arizona residence under puzzling conditions. Law enforcement continues to seek assistance from the public in locating her.
Nancy Guthrie was last spotted at her Arizona home on Saturday night by some of her children, stated Chris Nanos, the Pima County Sheriff.
The sheriff’s office received a call around noon on Sunday, after family members noticed she was absent from church and untraceable at her residence.
Throughout the day and into the night, search-and-rescue teams, K-9 units, and sheriff’s deputies scoured the area but were unable to locate her.
As the probe advanced, Sheriff Nanos mentioned that certain elements of the situation suggested the possibility of foul play.
Investigators still do not have a suspect or person of interest, the sheriff’s department said in a statement Wednesday morning.
“Detectives are working closely with the Guthrie family,” the sheriff’s department said. “While we appreciate the public’s concern, the sharing of unverified accusations or false information is irresponsible and does not assist the investigation.”
An overnight kidnapping
Nancy Guthrie was described by investigators as “sharp as a tack” but with mobility issues that would prevent her from leaving the house on her own. Authorities also said during press conferences on Monday and Tuesday that there were certain things at the house that made them suspect some sort of foul play.
“We saw some things at the home that were concerning to us,” he said at a Monday news conference. “We do in fact have a crime. We are asking for the community’s help.”
A person familiar with the investigation, who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity, said investigators found specific evidence in the home showing there was a nighttime kidnapping. Several of Guthrie’s personal items, including her cellphone, wallet and car, were still there after she disappeared.
Investigators are reviewing surveillance video from nearby homes and analyzing data from cellphone towers. Police are also reviewing information from license plate cameras in the area, according to the person, who was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the case and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity.
The motive remains a mystery. Investigators do not believe at this point that the abduction was part of a robbery, home invasion or kidnapping-for-ransom plot, the person said. TMZ reported Tuesday that it received a purported ransom note demanding payment in cryptocurrency for Guthrie’s release. Separately, a journalist with Tucson television station KOLD said in an X post that the station received what appears to be a ransom note. Both outlets said they turned over the notes to investigators.
The sheriff’s department said it’s taking the possible ransom notes and other tips seriously but declined to comment further.
President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday afternoon, said he planned to call Savannah Guthrie “later on” and called the situation “terrible.”
FBI joins the case
The Pima County sheriff and the Tucson FBI chief held a news conference Tuesday and urged the public to offer tips, but they revealed few new details about the investigation. Nanos declined to say whether the disappearance was thought to be random or targeted or to describe the evidence found at Guthrie’s home.
The sheriff has said she needs daily medication and could die without it. Asked whether officials were looking for her alive, he said, “We hope we are.”
FBI officials said they were providing assistance to the Pima County Sheriff’s Office during the investigation. Specifically, John Edwards, the assistant Special Agent for FBI’s Tucson office, said the federal agency was looking into cell phone data and tracking cell tower pings to determine who may have been around the area when Nancy Guthrie went missing.
Savannah Guthrie won’t cover the 2026 Olympics
“Today” host Savannah Guthrie will not be covering the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics after the disappearance of her 84-year-old mother, NBC confirmed Tuesday.
NBC Sports confirmed that Guthrie will not fulfill her hosting duties as she “focuses on being with her family during this difficult time.”
The Winter Olympics will kick off later this week, and Guthrie was scheduled to cover the Games. In preparation for the Olympics, she underwent surgery to remove a polyp from her vocal cords and was forced to take a multi-week hiatus from the TODAY show to recover.
