Today co‑host Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy, disappeared on Saturday. A friend contacted police when she didn’t show up to church on Sunday, and since then, a large search‑and‑rescue operation has been underway. Now, police have issued a new update, saying she may have been taken from her home.
Savannah Guthrie’s mom, Nancy Guthrie, 84, was last seen at her home in the Catalina Foothills, north of Tucson, Arizona, on Saturday. During a press conference on Sunday, Feb. 1, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos explained that search and rescue teams have been looking both on the ground and from the air.
He also confirmed that a homicide team had been brought in to assist with the investigation; however, at that time, nothing indicated criminal activity.
“We’re pretty much just throwing everything at this that we can. Guthrie is 84 years old and not in good physical health, and so naturally that’s a great concern,” Nanos said. “This is very concerning to us. We don’t typically get the sheriff out at a scene like this. But it’s very concerning what we’re learning from the house,” he continued, adding, “And so we’ll just continue. The detectives’ homicide team is out right now looking at the scene as well.”
Savannah was absent from the Today show on Monday. She sent a statement saying, “On behalf of our family, I want to thank everyone for the thoughts, prayers, and messages of support. 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.”
Police say Savannah Guthrie’s mother may have been kidnapped
Police have now shared new, heartbreaking information. Speaking with People Magazine on Monday, Sheriff Nanos said he “believes a crime has been committed.”
“At this point, investigators believe she was taken from the home against her will, possibly in the middle of the night. Taken against her will includes possible kidnapping or abduction,” Nanos said.
“We have an 84‑year‑old woman who went to bed Saturday night, and come Sunday morning, she’s gone. We know — or at least we believe, and I believe we know — she did not walk out of that home on her own.”
The sheriff added that Nancy’s “physical mobility was quite limited for a variety of reasons,” making it highly unlikely she left on her own.
Investigators are reviewing home security footage from the area. They have also collected what is believed to be “biological DNA‑type evidence.” “She is really just as sharp as a tack,” Nanos told People. “And that too is concerning — here you have this lady who’s got all her wits about her, she knows what’s going on. So yeah, somebody came into that home, and I believe took her out of there without her permission. It was against her will.”
Savannah Guthrie says they “believe in prayer” in new statement
On Monday, Savannah Guthrie shared an update 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,” she wrote.
“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.”
The Today co‑host ended with a verse from Isaiah: “‘He will keep in perfect peace those whose hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.’ A verse for all time, for all of us. Bring her home.”
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Guthrie family.
