Nancy Guthrie Missing: What to Know About the Ongoing Search Efforts
Questions continue to arise following the report that Today show host Savannah Guthrie‘s mother, Nancy Guthrie, is missing.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed this news on Sunday, February 1, via a missing person report shared on X. Nancy has been described as a “vulnerable adult” and was last seen “at her residence” in Arizona’s Catalina Foothills on the evening of Saturday, January 31. The report mentioned that it is “unknown what clothing she may be wearing.”
Local news station KOLD provided additional coverage, revealing that a family member became concerned about Nancy. She shares daughter Annie and son Camron with her late husband Charles, who passed away at age 49 due to a heart attack.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos stated that “concerning circumstances found” at Nancy’s residence led homicide detectives to join the search effort. Savannah’s family released a statement confirming they are “working closely with local law enforcement.”
Continue reading for all updates regarding the search for Nancy Guthrie:
When Did Nancy Guthrie Go Missing?
A family member called 911 to report Nancy’s disappearance after she was last seen on January 31. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department described Nancy as a “vulnerable adult.”
The sheriff later commented in a press conference that Nancy has “no cognitive issues at all.”
“She’s very alert, she’s of sound mind,” he noted, explaining that Nancy is “not in good” physical health. “I hope we find her safe and sound, but we can’t ignore what’s in front of us.”
It was later revealed that Nancy requires daily medication, and missing a dose could have serious consequences.
When questioned during a press conference on February 3 whether authorities were searching for someone who is “still alive,” Nanos replied, “We hope we are.”
Do Authorities Suspect Foul Play?
Nanos admitted there were “some concerns” about findings at Nancy’s home. When asked if foul play was suspected in her disappearance, he clarified that he was “not ruling it out.”
“We’ve thrown everything at this that we can,” Nanos added, as search and rescue teams alongside criminal investigators were called in to assist. Drones, dogs, and helicopters were also utilized in the search for Nancy.
In a second press conference, authorities indicated they could tell Nancy “didn’t leave on her own” and that they “don’t see this as much as a search mission” but rather as a crime scene. “She couldn’t walk 50 yards by herself,” they asserted.
Has Savannah Guthrie Addressed Her Mom’s Disappearance?
On Monday, February 2, Savannah was absent from the Today show during her mother’s search. Cohosts Sheinelle Jones and Craig Melvin read a statement on her behalf.
“We want to address what is a deeply personal story for us,” Melvin remarked. “Nancy Guthrie, Savannah’s beloved mother, has been reported missing in Arizona.”
Savannah’s statement expressed gratitude: “On behalf of our family, I want to thank everyone for the thoughts, prayers, and messages of support. Right now, our focus is on the safe return of our dear mom. We appreciate law enforcement’s diligence and urge anyone with information to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.”
Later, Savannah took to Instagram to solicit prayers from her followers.
“We believe in prayer. We believe in voices raised in unison, in love, in hope. We believe in goodness, and we believe in humanity. Above all, we believe in Him,” she wrote alongside a “Please Pray” graphic. “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.”
Savannah included a Bible verse, stating, “We need you. ‘He will keep in perfect peace those whose hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.’ a verse from Isaiah for all time for all of us.”
She concluded, “Bring her home.”
What Has Savannah Guthrie Said About Her Mom on ‘Today’?
Savannah has frequently spoken of her mother on the NBC morning show, even featuring her in a segment from November 2025.
“She’s lived a life of integrity and loyalty,” Savannah praised Nancy in 2022. “She consistently does the right thing and the hard thing. She tells the truth, regardless of whether you want to hear it. She’s quick, smart, well-read, and curious about everything.”
Is There a Motive for Nancy Guthrie’s Disappearance?
In an exclusive conversation with Us Weekly, Nanos stated that no motive, including ransom, has been hypothesized for Nancy’s disappearance.
“No, there’s nothing,” he affirmed. “We wish someone would reach out with, ‘Hey,’ because that’s what the family wants. They just want her back. ‘Hey, no questions asked, tell us where to come and get her,’ and we’ll handle it.”
Was Nancy Guthrie’s Disappearance Targeted?
“I think everyone, as expected, understands that her daughter Savannah is a national figure in the media, and that’s always a consideration,” Nanos told Us. “However, we’re not sensing that, and we maintain a collaborative effort with Savannah and her security team to identify any potential threats, but we’re not there yet.”
Was Blood Found in Nancy Guthrie’s Home After Her Disappearance?
On Tuesday, February 3, law enforcement sources informed the Los Angeles Times that blood was discovered in Nancy’s residence after she vanished. However, Nanos later clarified that this information was incorrect.
“No, I’m unsure where that originated,” he stated during a press conference. “Perhaps I misspoke; I have communicated a lot, and some statements — on my part, not the media — may have been misunderstood or misrepresented.”
Nanos continued, “We aren’t confirming any blood found at the home. We do have collected evidence submitted to DNA labs, which confirmed that the DNA belonged to Nancy, Savannah’s mother, which we hoped would yield further information than just hers, but that’s where we currently stand regarding DNA. We have additional items submitted for DNA analysis, and we’re awaiting further lab results.”
Despite previously denying the presence of blood at the scene, Nanos confirmed in a press conference on February 5 that blood found on the porch of Nancy’s home “matched” after testing.
Nanos stated that they did not find evidence of forced entry at Nancy’s residence.
Authorities Believe Nancy Guthrie Is in ‘Danger’
“We want the public to maintain hope,” Nanos remarked to Us. “However, just as hope exists, there are also factors indicating that this woman is in danger.”
Nanos elaborated, “This conclusion relates to the details we received about the scene. I’ve been involved in this work for 50 years. When something feels wrong, it simply feels wrong. Something unusual occurred at that house that led us to conclude, ‘Wow… something is amiss.’”
Is There a Reward for Information Related to Nancy Guthrie’s Disappearance?
A statement from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department declared: “A reward of up to $2,500 is available for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons involved in the disappearance.” The department seeks assistance regarding any information related to Mrs. Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance. She was last seen at her home near Skyline and Campbell around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 31, 2026.
The statement concluded, “Any video or photographic evidence is strongly encouraged for evaluation and analysis.”
Special agent Heith Janke later announced during a February 5 press conference that a $50,000 reward is now being offered.
Savannah Guthrie Withdraws From Winter Olympics Coverage Amid Mom’s Disappearance
In light of her mother Nancy’s disappearance, Savannah will not be hosting the 2026 Winter Olympics ceremony.
“Savannah will not be joining us at the Olympics as she prioritizes family during this tough time. Our thoughts are with her and the entire Guthrie family as the search for their mother continues,” a spokesperson for NBC Sports declared to Us Weekly on February 3. “Further information regarding our Opening Ceremony coverage plans will be shared soon.”
FBI Reviews Ransom Note in Nancy Guthrie’s Disappearance Case
Nanos informed CBS News on February 3 that investigators are analyzing an alleged ransom note sent to a local Arizona news station.
“Like any evidence, we will consider it; if you give us a lead, we will investigate every angle of it,” Nanos noted.
The FBI has shared the note with Savannah, according to the sheriff.
NBC News correspondent Liz Kreutz divulged on February 4 that the sheriff’s department is aware of “unverified” ransom notes.
Janke confirmed that the FBI is investigating the ransom letter sent to news stations, noting “any course of action regarding ransom will ultimately be determined by the family.” He also reported that the FBI apprehended an “imposter” attempting to profit off the case with a separate fraudulent ransom note.
Janke stated that the alleged ransom note included an initial deadline of 5 p.m. on February 5, with a secondary date of February 9 should that first deadline be missed.
Police Deny Having a Suspect in Nancy Guthrie’s Disappearance
An unverified report from former NewsNation host Ashleigh Banfield suggested that Savannah’s brother-in-law and Annie’s husband, Tommaso Cioni, was identified as a possible person of interest in the case. In contrast, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department issued a statement denying any suspects.
“Currently, investigators have not identified a suspect or person of interest in this case. Detectives continue to engage with anyone who may have interacted with Mrs. Guthrie,” the statement clarified. “Detectives are working closely with the Guthrie family. While we appreciate the public’s concern, sharing unverified accusations or false information is irresponsible and hinders the investigation.”
The statement concluded, “No suspect or person of interest has been identified as of now.”
Sheriff Believes Nancy Guthrie Is ‘Alive’ Amid Disappearance
Authorities maintain optimism that Nancy will be found alive.
“We have nothing but the belief that she is here,” Nanos shared with NBC’s Liz Kreutz in an interview aired on Today on February 4. “She’s present. She’s alive, and we wish to rescue her.”
Nanos added, “The tips we’ve received are crucial to our efforts. They are valuable, and we are collaborating with the FBI and others.”
What Has the Guthrie Family Said About the Alleged Ransom Note?
Savannah Guthrie along with her siblings, Annie and Camron, addressed the situation regarding the reported ransom note.
“We too have noted the media reports about a ransom letter,” Savannah stated in the clip. “As a family, we are doing everything we can. We are prepared to engage. However, we exist in a world where voices and images can be easily manipulated. We require certainty that she is alive and in your possession. We want to hear from you and are poised to listen. Please, reach out to us.”
Sheriff Provides New Details About Timeline of Nancy Guthrie’s Disappearance
According to Nanos, Nancy took an Uber to a family dinner on January 31, arriving around 5:32 p.m. She was subsequently dropped off by family at home at 9:48 p.m., with the garage door closing at 9:50 p.m.
At 1:57 a.m. on February 1, Nancy’s doorbell camera disconnected. Later, at 2:12 a.m., software detected motion but no footage is available, which Nanos suggested may have been an animal.
Around 2:28 a.m., Nancy’s pacemaker app indicated that the device had been disconnected from her phone.
Her family contacted 911 around 12:03 p.m. on February 1. Shortly thereafter, police arrived and initiated a search-and-rescue protocol.
