Urgent Search Continues for Nancy Guthrie: What We Know About the Suspected Abduction

The quiet Catalina Foothills neighborhood outside Tucson, Arizona, has become the center of an intensive criminal investigation as authorities race against time to find Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC “TODAY” show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie. Now entering its fourth day, the search has captured national attention as troubling details emerge about what investigators believe was a targeted abduction.

Nancy Guthrie was last seen at approximately 9:45 p.m. on Saturday, January 31, 2026, when family members dropped her off at her home near East Skyline Drive and North Campbell Avenue. When she failed to appear at church the following morning—an unusual absence for the woman described as deeply faithful—family members grew concerned and searched her residence for nearly an hour before contacting authorities around noon on Sunday.

What they discovered has transformed this from a missing person case into a criminal investigation that has mobilized multiple law enforcement agencies and gripped a nation watching anxiously for answers.

A Crime Scene, Not a Disappearance

From the outset, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos made clear this was no ordinary missing person case. During a press conference on Tuesday, February 3, Sheriff Nanos revealed that “concerning circumstances” at Nancy Guthrie’s home led investigators to believe she was taken against her will, possibly during the overnight hours between Saturday night and Sunday morning.

“We don’t know where she is,” Nanos told reporters, his words underscoring the urgency of a search now being treated as a potential kidnapping or abduction. Homicide detectives have taken over the investigation, a sobering indication of how seriously authorities are treating the case.

According to law enforcement sources who spoke to CBS News, a small amount of blood was discovered inside Guthrie’s home, though Sheriff Nanos declined to confirm specific details about evidence collected from the scene during the Tuesday press conference. “I’m not saying there’s blood inside that house or outside that house,” Nanos stated, explaining that evidence was still being processed and none of it currently pointed toward a specific suspect.

DNA samples collected from the residence have been sent to a Phoenix laboratory for rapid testing. The Associated Press reported that signs of forced entry were found at the scene, though investigators have revealed few additional details about the physical evidence or the condition of the home when family members arrived.

The Clock Is Ticking

What began as a troubling disappearance has become a race against time. Nancy Guthrie requires daily medication—a detail that has added critical urgency to the search efforts. Sheriff Nanos emphasized this point during his Tuesday briefing, noting that Guthrie’s health depends on medication she no longer has access to.

When asked directly whether authorities believed Nancy Guthrie was still alive more than 48 hours after her disappearance, Sheriff Nanos offered a somber response: “We hope we are.”

The 84-year-old woman lives alone in the affluent Catalina Foothills area. While she has limited mobility, which makes it unlikely she wandered away on her own, Sheriff Nanos has been emphatic that she has no cognitive issues. “She is sharp as a tack,” he told reporters, dismissing any possibility that dementia or confusion played a role in her disappearance. “This is not a dementia-related case.”

All of Nancy Guthrie’s personal belongings remained at the home—her wallet, cellphone, and vehicle were all accounted for when family members arrived Sunday morning. The fact that she left without any of these items strongly supports investigators’ theory that she was taken against her will.

A Multi-Agency Investigation

The scope and seriousness of the investigation have drawn resources from multiple law enforcement agencies. The FBI has joined the case, with Assistant Special Agent in Charge John Edwards confirming that federal officers are providing “analytical and technical support” and conducting interviews.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is also assisting in the search, which has expanded beyond the immediate area around Guthrie’s home. Investigators are reviewing footage from security cameras at her residence and have urged neighbors throughout the Catalina Foothills area to review their own Ring cameras and security systems, particularly for the critical window between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. on Sunday morning.

“Keep looking. You never know what you’ll see,” Sheriff Nanos told CBS News. “Maybe it’s just a pair of headlights. But if you see something that just doesn’t seem right in that neighborhood, please let us know.”

Interestingly, investigators revealed during Tuesday’s press conference that they are looking into a missing camera from the front of Guthrie’s home—a detail that could prove significant as the investigation continues. However, Nanos noted that no tire tracks or footprints were found around the property, adding another layer of mystery to how the suspected abduction was carried out.

Hundreds of Leads, Few Answers

As of Tuesday afternoon, investigators had received hundreds of tips from the public, though Sheriff Nanos acknowledged they have yet to identify a suspect or determine whether the crime was random or targeted. He declined to answer questions about whether a ransom demand had been made, saying only, “We’re following all leads.”

The sheriff also would not confirm whether any valuables were taken from the home or whether there were signs of a struggle beyond the evidence already collected. Investigators have completed their scene work at the residence and have turned it back over to the family.

When pressed about what clothing Nancy Guthrie might have been wearing when she disappeared, investigators admitted they were unsure—another indication that the abduction may have occurred while she was sleeping, before she had prepared for the day ahead.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has created a dedicated tipline for the case, and 88-Crime, a nonprofit organization that works closely with law enforcement agencies in southern Arizona, has offered a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons involved in Guthrie’s disappearance.

A Daughter’s Plea

While investigators work around the clock, Savannah Guthrie has remained in Arizona, absent from her usual duties co-anchoring NBC’s “TODAY” show. On Monday night, she took to Instagram to share an emotional message with the millions following her mother’s case.

“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,” Savannah wrote alongside an image reading “Please pray.”

“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,” she continued. “Raise your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment. We need you.”

In a separate statement, Savannah thanked the community for their support while emphasizing the family’s singular focus: “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.”

The White House also weighed in on Tuesday, posting on X (formerly Twitter): “Our prayers are with the Guthrie family as we hope for Nancy’s safe return home.”

A Community Mobilized

The disappearance has shaken the normally quiet Catalina Foothills community and captured the attention of people across the country who have watched Savannah Guthrie on their television screens for years. The “TODAY” show anchor has shared glimpses of her close relationship with her mother over the years, including bringing Nancy on the show and speaking publicly about the important role she has played in her life.

Nancy Guthrie is described as a woman of deep faith and strong character—traits that have resonated with those following the case and joining in the search efforts, whether through reviewing their own security footage, sharing information on social media, or simply keeping the family in their thoughts.

Sheriff Nanos announced that the next press conference on the case will be held on February 5, indicating that investigators expect to have more information to share as lab results come back and the investigation progresses.

What You Can Do

Authorities are urging anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward. Nancy Guthrie is described as 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighing approximately 150 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. The clothing she was wearing at the time of her disappearance remains unknown.

Residents in the Catalina Foothills area, particularly those living near East Skyline Drive and North Campbell Avenue, are asked to review security camera footage from the early morning hours of Sunday, February 1, especially between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m.

“I need this community to step up and start giving us some calls,” Sheriff Nanos said during Tuesday’s press conference, emphasizing that even seemingly minor details could prove crucial to the investigation.

A Race Against Time

As the hours turn into days, the urgency of finding Nancy Guthrie alive grows more acute. Her need for daily medication, combined with the troubling evidence found at her home, has created a situation where every moment counts.

The investigation remains active and ongoing, with homicide detectives, FBI agents, and other law enforcement personnel working around the clock to piece together what happened during those dark hours between Saturday night and Sunday morning. While investigators have been careful not to reveal details that might compromise their work, the resources being devoted to the case—and the involvement of multiple agencies—speak to its seriousness.

For Savannah Guthrie and her family, the wait for answers continues. For the investigators working the case, the pressure to bring Nancy Guthrie home safely weighs heavily. And for a community and nation watching, the hope remains that this story will have the ending everyone is praying for.

Call to Action: Help Bring Nancy Home

If you have any information about Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, please contact:

• Pima County Sheriff’s Department: (520) 351-4900
• 88-CRIME anonymous tip line: Call 88-CRIME to remain anonymous and potentially qualify for the $2,500 reward

You can also submit tips online through the Pima County Sheriff’s Department tipline.

Even if you think the information you have is minor, it could be the piece investigators need to bring Nancy Guthrie home safely. Review your security camera footage if you live in the Catalina Foothills area. Share this story with your networks. Keep the Guthrie family in your thoughts.

Time is of the essence. Your tip could save a life.

Share this article to spread awareness and help bring Nancy Guthrie home.