Federal and local investigators are continuing to piece together the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie, who was reported missing Sunday. Authorities say they are operating on the assumption that she is alive while pursuing multiple lines of inquiry.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos confirmed blood found on the porch of Guthrie’s Tucson, Arizona, home belongs to the 84-year-old. He also said Guthrie’s pacemaker disconnected from its app in the early morning hours of Sunday. No suspects or persons of interest have been publicly identified.
“We still believe Nancy is still out there. We want her home,” Nanos said. He added investigators have not yet determined whether anyone forced entry into the house, contradicting earlier reports that claimed forced entry had occurred.
The FBI has offered up to $50,000 for information leading to Nancy Guthrie’s recovery or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved. At a Thursday news conference, Heith Janke, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Phoenix office, said agents are reviewing a ransom note sent to media outlets and are “taking it seriously.” The Guthrie family has issued a public plea asking whoever has Nancy to make contact so they can confirm her welfare; Savannah’s brother Camron asked for a way to communicate.
Sheriff Nanos outlined a timeline investigators are using: Guthrie took an Uber to a family member’s home for dinner Saturday, was dropped off around 5:30 p.m., and returned to her home just before 10 p.m., when her garage door closed. Around 1:50 a.m. Sunday a doorbell camera disconnected. The department said a security camera was later found missing from the front of the house; roughly half an hour after the disconnection the camera’s software detected a person but the data was not stored. About 2:30 a.m., Guthrie’s phone disconnected from her pacemaker app. Her family checked on her around noon Sunday, discovered she was missing and called 911.
When asked whether anyone who was with Guthrie the night before had been ruled out, Nanos said the investigation is ongoing and no one has been ruled out.
In an emotional video posted online, Savannah Guthrie and her siblings Annie and Charles Cameron acknowledged reports of ransom letters. Savannah read a statement saying the family is willing to talk but must be certain without a doubt that Nancy is alive and in captors’ custody. She described her mother as 84, in fragile health, living with constant pain and reliant on medication to survive and avoid severe suffering.
Authorities say at least three ransom notes were sent, though it is unclear how many are considered credible. Janke said details in one note — including references to an Apple Watch and a floodlight — made it appear credible; that note included two deadlines, one on Thursday at 5 p.m. and another on Monday. The family will decide whether to provide any ransom. One person has been arrested in connection with an imposter ransom note; Janke warned that those trying to profit from the situation will be investigated and held accountable.
Former NYPD detective and hostage negotiator Wally Zeins told NPR that public statements like the family’s video can help generate attention and leads in missing-person cases. The case has drawn widespread interest because of the circumstances, the limited public release of evidence and the family’s public profile.
President Trump said he spoke with Savannah Guthrie and directed federal law enforcement to be at the family’s “complete disposal, IMMEDIATELY,” and that federal resources are being deployed to help bring her mother home safely.
With the family’s consent, community members gathered for a vigil at Saint Philip’s in the Hills Episcopal Church in Tucson, where attendees prayed and lit candles.
Investigators returned to Guthrie’s home after earlier saying they had finished processing it as a crime scene; officers were seen carrying items out of the house. Officials said revisiting a scene is common to check areas that may have been missed or to follow up on new tips. Authorities are reviewing electronic evidence, including doorbell and security footage from the Guthrie residence and nearby homes, while labs analyze fingerprints, DNA and camera images. Nanos said DNA testing to date shows “nothing to indicate any suspects.”
Nancy Guthrie is the mother of three children: Annie, Charles Cameron and Savannah, the youngest. Her husband, Charles, died in 1988. Savannah Guthrie will not travel to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina as she focuses on being with her family during the search.