Questions still remain after Today show host Savannah Guthrie‘s mother, Nancy Guthrie, was reported missing.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed the news on Sunday, February 1, sharing a missing person report via X. Nancy was described as a “vulnerable adult” who was last seen “at her residence” within Arizona’s Catalina Foothills area on the evening of Saturday, January 31. The report noted that it is “unknown what clothing she may be wearing.”
In additional coverage from local news station KOLD, it was revealed that a family member grew concerned about Nancy. (Along with Savannah, Nancy shared daughter Annie and son Camron with late husband Charles, who died at age 49 from a heart attack.)
According to Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, “concerning circumstances found” at Nancy’s home led to homicide detectives getting involved in the search. Savannah’s family confirmed in a statement that they are “working closely with local law enforcement.”
Keep scrolling for everything to know about the search for Nancy Guthrie:
When Did Nancy Guthrie Go Missing?
A family member called 911 to report Nancy was missing after she was last seen on January 31. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department later referred to Nancy as a “vulnerable adult.”
The sheriff later noted in a press conference that Nancy has “no cognitive issues at all.”
“She’s very alert, she’s of good, sound mind,” he said, adding 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 takes daily medication and that missing a dose could be fatal.
When asked during a press conference on February 3 whether authorities were looking for someone who is “still alive,” Nanos replied, “We hope we are.”
Do Authorities Suspect Foul Play?
Nanos acknowledged there were “some concerns” about what was found at Nancy’s home. When asked whether foul play was suspected in Nancy’s disappearance, Nanos clarified that he was “not ruling it out.”
“We’ve pretty much just thrown everything at this that we can,” Nanos added as search and rescue and criminal investigation teams were called in to help. Drones, dogs and a helicopter were also being used to search for Nancy.
In a second press conference, authorities said they could tell Nancy “didn’t leave on her own” and they “don’t see this as a search mission as much” as a crime scene. “She couldn’t walk 50 yards by herself,” they added.
Has Savannah Guthrie Addressed Her Mom’s Disappearance?
Savannah did not appear on the Today show on Monday, February 2, amid the search for her mother. Cohosts Sheinelle Jones and Craig Melvin shared a statement on Savannah’s behalf.
“We want to get right to what is a deeply personal story for us,” Melvin said. “Nancy Guthrie, Savannah’s beloved mother, has been reported missing in Arizona.”
Savannah’s statement noted: “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.”
Savannah later took to Instagram with a message asking fans for their prayers.
“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 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 then added a bible verse, writing, “We need you. ‘He will keep in perfect peace those whose hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.’ a verse of Isaiah for all time for all of us.”
The NBC personality concluded, “Bring her home.”
What Has Savannah Guthrie Said About Her Mom on ‘Today’?
Savannah has often spoken about her mother — who even appeared in a segment on a November 2025 episode — on the NBC morning show.
“She’s lived a life of integrity and loyalty,” Savannah said about Nancy in 2022. “She is a consistent doer of the right thing and the hard thing. She’s a truth teller, whether you really want to hear the truth or not. She’s quick and she’s smart, she’s well-read, she’s curious about everything.”
Is There a Motive for Nancy Guthrie’s Disappearance?
In an exclusive interview with Us Weekly, Nanos said the authorities have not identified a motive, such as ransom, for Nancy’s disappearance.
“No, there’s not, we’ve not heard anything like that,” he said. “I wish somebody would call us and say, ‘Hey,’ because that’s what the family wants. They just want her back. ‘Hey, no questions asked, call us where to come and get her,’ And we’ll do that.”
Was Nancy Guthrie’s Disappearance Targeted?
“I think everybody, rightfully so, understands that her daughter Savannah is a national figure out there at least within the news media, and that’s always a possibility,” Nanos told Us. “But we’re not getting that sense, and we keep working with Savannah and her security team to understand any kind of threat or potential threat that they may have been working and we’re just not there.”
Was Blood Found in Nancy Guthrie’s Home After Her Disappearance?
Law enforcement sources told the Los Angeles Times on Tuesday, February 3, that blood had been found in Nancy’s home after she went missing. However, Nanos later clarified that this was not true.
“No, I’m not sure where that came from,” he said during a press conference. “Maybe I said something, and trust me, I’ve said a lot, talked to a lot of people. And some of those comments — on my fault, not the media — may have been distorted or taken out of context.”
Nanos continued, “We’re not confirming whether there was blood in the home or any of that. What we’re saying is we do have evidence that we submitted to DNA labs, actually, through other sources that we use, and they have confirmed that the DNA that we found was in fact, belonged to Nancy, Savannah’s mom, which we were hopeful that it would give us a different profile than just hers, but that’s where we’re at with the DNA. We have other items that we submit for DNA research and see what that comes up, but that was the first submittal we’ve got back, and we’ll continue to wait for lab results, see if we find something else.”
Authorities Believe Nancy Guthrie Is in ‘Danger’
“We don’t want anybody to lose hope,” Nanos told Us. “But in the same sense, just as there’s hope, there’s also things that point to us that say, ‘This lady’s in danger.’”
Nanos continued, “It does have to do with what was described to us about the scene. I’ve been doing this for 50 years. When something doesn’t sit well, it doesn’t sit well. Something unusual at that house occurred that made us go, ‘Wow … something’s wrong here. Something doesn’t fit.’”
Is There a Reward for Information Related to Nancy Guthrie’s Disappearance?
“Reward up to $2,500 for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons involved in the disappearance,” a statement from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department read on Facebook. “The Pima County Sheriff’s Department is seeking the public’s assistance with any information related to the disappearance of Mrs. Nancy Guthrie. She was last seen at her home near Skyline and Campbell around 9:30 p.m. Saturday, January 31, 2026.”
The statement concluded, “Any video and photograph information is strongly requested for evaluation and analysis of evidentiary value.”
Savannah Guthrie Withdraws From Winter Olympics Coverage Amid Mom’s Disappearance
Savannah is no longer set to host the 2026 Winter Olympics ceremony amid mom Nancy’s disappearance.
“Savannah will not be joining us at the Olympics as she focuses on being with her family during this difficult time. Our hearts are with her and the entire Guthrie family as the search continues for their mother,” a spokesperson for NBC Sports told Us Weekly in a statement on February 3. “We will share additional information about our Opening Ceremony coverage plans soon.”
FBI Reviews Ransom Note in Nancy Guthrie’s Disappearance Case
Nanos told CBS News on February 3 that investigators have analyzed an alleged ransom note sent to a local news station in Arizona.
“It’s like any piece of evidence,” Nanos continued. “You give it to us, you give us a lead, we’re going to look at every aspect of that lead.”
The FBI shared the note with Savannah, according to the sheriff.
NBC News correspondent Liz Kreutz reported on February 4 that the sheriff’s department is aware of “unsubstantiated” ransom notes.
Police Deny Having a Suspect in Nancy Guthrie’s Disappearance
An unverified report from former NewsNation host Ashleigh Banfield stated that Savannah’s brother-in-law and Annie’s husband, Tommaso Cioni, had been identified as a possible person of interest in the case. However, a statement from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department denied having any suspects.
“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 statement read. “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.”
The statement concluded, “No suspect or person of interest has been identified at this time.”
Sheriff Believes Nancy Guthrie Is ‘Alive’ Amid Disappearance
Authorities remain hopeful that Nancy will be found alive.
“We have nothing else to go on but the belief that she is here,” Nanos told NBC’s Liz Kreutz in an interview aired on Today on February 4. “She’s present. She’s alive, and we want to save her.”
Nanos added, “The leads we’ve got coming in are critical to us. They’re valuable, and we’re sharing those with the FBI and others.”
What Has the Guthrie Family Said About the Alleged Ransom Note?
Savannah Guthrie and her siblings, Annie and Camron, broke their silence on the reports of an alleged random note.
“We too have heard the reports about a ransom letter in the media,” Savannah said in the clip. “As a family, we are doing everything that we can. We are ready to talk. However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated. We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you and we are ready to listen. Please, reach out to us.”
Read the full article here
