Overview
It has been a week since 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie was last seen. She attended a family dinner, returned to her home that night and has not been heard from since. Investigators are continuing to probe the disappearance of the mother of NBC Today co-host Savannah Guthrie.
Who Nancy Guthrie is
Guthrie, 84, lives alone in the Catalina Foothills community north of Tucson, Arizona. She is the mother of three children — Annie, Camron and Savannah — and a grandmother. Her husband, Charles, died in 1988. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, whose office is leading the investigation, has said officials do not believe she wandered off and that they suspect she was taken by force. He and family members have described her as mentally sharp, not suffering from dementia, though she has health issues, relies on a pacemaker and needs medication that could be dangerous if missed.
Timeline
According to the sheriff’s department, Guthrie took an Uber Saturday evening to one of her daughters’ homes for dinner and games. A family member dropped her back at her house around 9:48 p.m. that night. Early the next morning, at 1:47 a.m., her doorbell camera disconnected. About half an hour later the camera registered movement but officials said the footage could not be retrieved. At 2:28 a.m., the pacemaker associated with her phone app disconnected. Guthrie failed to appear at church on Sunday afternoon, prompting parishioners to alert her family and police were contacted.
Evidence gathered
Investigators say a security camera that had been mounted at the front of her home is missing. DNA testing confirmed that blood found splattered on the front porch belonged to Guthrie. Five days into the search, officials said they remained hopeful she could be found alive.
Ransom notes, rewards and suspects
No suspect or person of interest has been publicly identified. The FBI announced a $50,000 reward for information that leads to Guthrie’s recovery and to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.
Authorities have been examining alleged ransom communications. One note sent to multiple media outlets referenced specific details about Guthrie’s house, such as an Apple Watch and a floodlight, and included two deadlines — one that expired Thursday at 5 p.m. and another set for Monday. Officials have not disclosed whether the note contained explicit demands or threats, but the FBI said it is treating the communication seriously. The sheriff’s department later said it was inspecting a new message to verify authenticity. At least one purported ransom demand was judged fraudulent and led to the arrest of a person connected to that message.
Family response
Savannah Guthrie and her siblings have made public appeals to anyone holding their mother, asking for an open line of communication and undeniable proof that Nancy is alive. In a video posted to Savannah’s Instagram, Camron Guthrie urged the person holding their mother to make contact so the family can communicate and resolve the situation. The family has said they are willing to pay a ransom if it would lead to Nancy’s safe return, and they have specifically requested proof of life that cannot be easily manipulated.
Ongoing investigation and next steps
Law enforcement agencies say they are working around the clock to secure Guthrie’s return. Federal resources have been offered to assist the local investigation. Authorities continue to follow leads and verify communications related to the case, and they are urging anyone with information to come forward.
Reporting note
NPR’s Chandelis Duster contributed to this report.