Authorities have released shocking new information in the case of the abduction of Savannah Guthrie’s mom, Nancy.
The disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC Today show anchor Savannah Guthrie, has gripped the nation as investigators race against time to locate the missing woman.
What began as a welfare check on Sunday morning has evolved into a complex criminal investigation involving local, state, and federal authorities, with shocking new details emerging about the circumstances of her alleged abduction.
The disappearance
Nancy Guthrie was last seen Saturday evening, January 31, when family members dropped her off at her $1 million home in the Catalina Foothills area near Tucson, Arizona, around 9:30 p.m. after dinner.
When the elderly woman failed to appear at church the following morning, an unusual absence that immediately raised red flags, a concerned church member contacted her relatives.
Family members arrived at Nancy’s residence around 11 a.m. Sunday to check on her, and what they discovered prompted an immediate 911 call at noon.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos quickly determined this was no ordinary missing person case.
“We saw some things at the home that were concerning to us,” Sheriff Nanos said at a Monday press conference. “We believe now after we processed that crime scene that we do in fact have a crime.”
A crime scene emerges
The scene at Nancy Guthrie’s home painted a disturbing picture.
Investigators found blood spatters on the terracotta-tiled walkway outside her front door, though authorities have declined to specify whose blood was found or its exact location.
Perhaps even more ominous, the Ring doorbell camera that had been installed at the property was missing.
Inside the home, detectives discovered Nancy’s personal belongings – her purse, keys, identification, cell phone, and Apple Watch – all left behind.
For an 84-year-old woman with limited mobility who requires critical daily medication, the absence of these items strongly suggested she had not left voluntarily.
“Her stuff was left behind at the house: keys, ID, purse, phone. Everything,” a source close to Savannah Guthrie told MailOnline.
“It’s not a situation where she voluntarily went away, because she didn’t take any of the things you would normally take if you voluntarily went out.”
Sheriff Nanos confirmed investigators believe Nancy ‘was taken from her home against her will,’ adding that she has severe mobility limitations and ‘couldn’t walk 50 yards.’
Health concerns mount
The urgency of finding Nancy Guthrie intensified with the revelation of her serious health conditions.
A 911 dispatch audio obtained by Fox News Digital revealed critical details: “Nancy has high blood pressure, pacemaker, and cardiac issues.”
Without her daily medication, investigators warn, the consequences could be fatal.
“Time is very critical” in locating her, Sheriff Nanos emphasized, noting that missing her medication for 24 hours “could be fatal.”
Adding another layer to the investigation, law enforcement sources revealed that Nancy’s pacemaker stopped syncing with her Apple Watch around 2 a.m. Sunday morning, potentially providing investigators with a crucial timeline for when the alleged abduction may have occurred.
Ransom note investigation
On Tuesday, the case took a dramatic turn when TMZ reported receiving what appeared to be a ransom note demanding millions of dollars in Bitcoin for Nancy’s safe return.
The note was sent to the news outlet’s newsroom Tuesday morning and included a specific Bitcoin wallet address that TMZ verified as legitimate.
A Tucson television station also reported receiving a similar ransom note, which was forwarded to authorities.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed it was ‘aware’ of reports involving possible ransom notes but declined to provide specific details.
However, in an interview, Sheriff Nanos indicated investigators were taking the communication seriously.
“When the note comes to us, it’s like any piece of evidence. You give it to us. You give us a lead. We’re going to look at every aspect of that lead and work it as a lead,” Nanos explained. When asked directly if authorities were dismissing the note, he replied: “Absolutely not.”
Shocking New Information
In a development that could significantly alter the direction of the investigation, former NYPD hostage negotiator Wallace Zeins told CNN late Tuesday that the circumstances of Nancy’s alleged abduction strongly suggest more than one person was involved in the crime.
“I believe the possibility of more than one person. She’s 150 pounds, 5 foot 5, waking up in the middle of the night, not in the best of health, can’t walk or run, so I would think there’s more than one person involved in this particular crime,” Zeins explained during his analysis.
The expert also noted that the Bitcoin ransom demand itself offers potential clues about the perpetrators.
“What does that tell you, it tells you that it’s some type of group that knows what bitcoin is all about, and social media, and they know the system,” he said.
Zeins further explained that if the ransom note was handwritten, it would require forensic analysis. If it was typed or sent electronically, the FBI’s sophisticated electronic surveillance capabilities could help trace its origins and potentially identify the senders.
The investigation continues
As the search enters its fourth day, approximately 100 sheriff’s detectives are working the case alongside FBI agents from across Arizona.
The investigation has involved processing DNA samples from the crime scene, reviewing security footage from the neighborhood, and analyzing cell tower data.
Despite the intensive effort, Sheriff Nanos candidly admitted Tuesday that investigators have yet to identify any suspects. When asked if more than one person could have been involved, the sheriff answered bluntly, per the New York Post: “No clue.”
Meanwhile, Savannah Guthrie remains in Tucson with her two siblings, having canceled her planned trip to Italy for NBC’s coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics. In an emotional Instagram post Monday evening, she appealed for prayers: “Raise your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment. We need you. Bring her home.”
President Trump has pledged federal assistance and promised to call the TV anchor personally, while investigators continue to follow hundreds of leads in their desperate search to bring Nancy Guthrie home safely.
