Authorities investigating the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie’s mother have made a disturbing discovery at the 84-year-old’s Arizona home.
Nancy Guthrie vanished from her Tucson residence over the weekend, and as the desperate search enters its fourth day, investigators are racing against time to locate the elderly woman who requires daily medication to survive.
What they found at the scene has transformed this missing persons case into something far more sinister.
Who is Savannah Guthrie?
Savannah Guthrie is a prominent television journalist and the co-anchor of NBC’s flagship morning show, Today.
The 54-year-old has been a staple of American morning television for years, known for her warm on-air presence and journalistic integrity.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Guthrie has always been open about the profound influence her mother has had on her life, frequently featuring Nancy as a guest on the Today show and sharing heartfelt tributes to her on social media.
Who is Nancy Guthrie?
Nancy Guthrie, 84, is the beloved mother of Savannah Guthrie and a resilient figure who raised her three children – Savannah, Annie, and Camron – as a single mother after her husband died when Savannah was just 16 years old.
Living alone in her Tucson, Arizona home, Nancy was known in her community as an active member of her local church and an avid mahjong player.
Despite facing various physical ailments that affect her mobility, she maintained an independent lifestyle in her $1 million home in the Catalina Foothills area north of Tucson.
A nighttime abduction
The investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance began when she failed to attend church on Sunday morning, February 1, 2026, per MailOnline.
Nancy had last been seen on Saturday night at approximately 9:30 PM when her son-in-law, Tommaso Cioni, dropped her off at home after she had spent the evening playing mahjong with her daughter Annie at their residence.
When a concerned church member couldn’t locate Nancy on Sunday, they contacted the family, who immediately went to check on her. What they found was deeply disturbing: Nancy’s phone, wallet, and car were all still at the home, but she was nowhere to be found.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos didn’t mince words during a press conference on Tuesday: “We do believe that Nancy was taken from her home against her will, and that’s where we’re at.” When pressed by reporters about whether they believed they were searching for someone still alive, Nanos responded solemnly, “We hope we are.”
Time running out
Authorities have stressed the urgent nature of the case due to Nancy’s medical needs.
She requires vital medication daily, and according to her family, going 24 hours without these medications could prove fatal. “The clock is literally ticking,” Sheriff Nanos warned, as the search stretched beyond 30 hours without any sign of Nancy.
Savannah Guthrie has remained in Arizona since her mother’s disappearance and has not appeared on the Today show.
In an emotional Instagram post on Monday, she called for prayers, asking her followers to “raise your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment.” She added simply, “We need you.”
NBC Sports confirmed that Savannah would not be covering the Olympic Games later this week as originally planned, choosing instead to remain with her family during this crisis, Yahoo reports.
Her brother, Camron Guthrie, 61, a veteran who lives in Vermont, has also traveled to Arizona to join the search efforts. He was spotted looking grim-faced as he drove his sister Annie away from her residence on Wednesday morning.
Brother-in-law suspect rumors
As the investigation gained national attention, speculation swirled on social media, with some suggesting that family members. including Tommaso Cioni, Annie’s husband who was the last person known to have seen Nancy alive—might be persons of interest.
Sheriff Nanos moved swiftly to squash such speculation, MSN reports.
On Wednesday morning, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department posted a statement on X (formerly Twitter) making it clear: “At this point, investigators have not identified a suspect or person of interest in this case. Detectives continue to speak with anyone who may have had contact with Mrs. Guthrie.”
The sheriff went further, admonishing those spreading unverified information: “Detectives are working closely with the Guthrie family. While we appreciate the public’s concern, the sharing of unverified accusations or false information is irresponsible and does not assist the investigation.”
Theories and possible leads
Investigators are exploring multiple theories about what might have happened to Nancy Guthrie.
The sheriff’s department told TMZ they are examining a possible connection to a trespassing incident from early January, when an elderly neighbor spotted a suspicious person at his home less than 10 minutes from Nancy’s residence.
The lurker fled after triggering motion sensor floodlights, and no one was able to identify them.
Additionally, according to MailOnline, police are probing whether obsessed fans of Savannah Guthrie who had bombarded the NBC host with gifts and mail might be connected to the case. A senior source claims investigators have asked NBC whether there were any troubling fan interactions relevant to the investigation.
On Tuesday evening, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department acknowledged they were ‘aware of reports’ regarding ‘possible ransom note(s)’ related to Nancy’s disappearance, though they provided no additional details. The FBI is now involved, reviewing cellphone data and cell tower information to help locate Nancy.
Sheriff Nanos, who has been in law enforcement for 50 years, told CNN about his gut feeling: “Something about that scene made me believe that there’s more than just a missing person. Today we still hope she’s alive… but you can’t ignore what you’re seeing at the scene.”
The gruesome discovery
Perhaps the most chilling development came when NewsNation reporters discovered blood outside the front door of Nancy Guthrie’s home on Tuesday.
Sources later confirmed to the LA Times that investigators had found signs of forced entry along with the blood evidence, though authorities have declined to confirm whose blood was discovered at the scene.
Adding to the disturbing picture, investigators found that a Ring doorbell camera that had been mounted near the entrance of Guthrie’s home had been removed.
According to Sheriff Nanos, investigators are working to determine whether the perpetrator removed the device to eliminate evidence.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that DNA samples had been collected at the scene and submitted to laboratories for analysis.
“We’re like you, we’re waiting for those returns to come back,” Nanos told reporters, emphasizing that the evidence could prove crucial to understanding what happened to Nancy.
As the search enters its fourth day, a $2,500 reward has been offered for information leading to an arrest. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at 520-351-4900 or the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
