Arizona authorities say the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of “Today” show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, is being investigated as a possible abduction, after concerning evidence was found at her home near Tucson.
Investigators do not believe Nancy Guthrie left her home willingly and believe that she was abducted in her sleep early Sunday morning, according to the Pima County Sheriff’s Office. Guthrie was last seen in the Catalina Foothills area on Saturday night, according to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. Her family reported her missing on Sunday around noon local time, authorities said.
Investigators do not believe Nancy Guthrie left her home willingly and that she was abducted in her sleep early Sunday morning, the Pima County Sheriff’s Office told ABC News.
Nancy Guthrie was last seen Saturday night at her residence in the Catalina Foothills area, where she lives alone. Family members reported her missing around midday Sunday after learning she had not attended church. Deputies processed the home later that day and determined it should be treated as a crime scene.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said investigators believe she did not leave voluntarily. “She did not leave on her own. We know that,” Nanos said during a Monday briefing. He added, “We do in fact have a crime scene. We do in fact have a crime.” Officials declined to share specific details about what raised alarms at the home, but said the circumstances were suspicious enough to involve the department’s homicide team. The FBI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection are also assisting.
Authorities said Nancy Guthrie has limited mobility and relies on daily medication that, if missed for more than 24 hours, “it could be fatal,” according to Nanos. Investigators emphasized that her disappearance is not related to cognitive decline. “This is not dementia related. She’s as sharp as a tack. The family wants everyone to know that this isn’t someone who just wandered off,” Nanos said.
Search and rescue crews, supported by drones, aircraft, search dogs, and volunteers, scoured the area late into Sunday night but found no sign of her. By Monday, officials scaled back those efforts, shifting their focus fully to the investigation. “Right now, we don’t see this as a search mission as much as we do a crime scene,” Nanos said. Deputies are reviewing security footage from the home and nearby residences and have recovered Nancy Guthrie’s cellphone. Neighbors were urged to check home surveillance systems for anything unusual.
Authorities said there is no indication the public is in danger and that they are not aware of any threats toward Savannah Guthrie. The sheriff’s office confirmed it has been in contact with her security team, and Nanos said Savannah Guthrie is currently in Arizona.
On Monday’s broadcast of the “Today” show, co-anchor Craig Melvin shared a statement from the family. “On behalf of our family, I want to thank everyone for the thoughts, prayers and messages of support,” Savannah Guthrie said. “Right now, our focus remains on the safe return of our dear mom. We thank law enforcement for their hard work on this case and encourage anyone with information to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at 520-351-4900.” Sheriff Nanos echoed that appeal to the public, saying, “I need this community to step up and start giving us some calls.”
Savannah Guthrie later posted on Instagram: “we believe in prayer. we believe in voices raised in unison, in love, in hope. we believe in goodness. we believe in humanity. above all, we believe in Him. thank you for lifting your prayers with ours for our beloved mom, our dearest Nancy, a woman of deep conviction, a good and faithful servant. raise your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment. we need you. “He will keep in perfect peace those whose hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.” a verse of Isaiah for all time for all of us. Bring her home.”
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