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Nancy Guthrie, 84, vanished from her Catalina Foothills home sometime late Saturday night or early Sunday morning
Andrea Cavallier Tuesday 03 February 2026 20:39 GMT- Bookmark
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CloseSheriff admits there are ‘hundreds of leads’ as search for Savannah Guthrie’s missing mom Nancy enters third day
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Law enforcement investigating the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy Guthrie, said Tuesday that they were no further forward in locating her whereabouts as the investigation enters a third day.
“We don’t know where she is,” said Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos at a press conference, acknowledging the growing urgency surrounding the disappearance of the 84-year-old grandmother.
Guthrie vanished from her Catalina Foothills home, near Tucson, Arizona, sometime late Saturday night or early Sunday morning. The sheriff said investigators suspect she was taken against her will and believe it was a kidnapping or abduction. Nanos declined to say whether the disappearance was thought to be random or targeted or to describe the evidence found at her home.
“We’re looking at this from every angle but we need your help,” Nanos said. When asked whether investigators believe they are searching for someone who is still alive, Nanos replied: “We hope we are.”
Investigators say Nancy, who lived alone, has limited mobility but no cognitive issues and would not have left voluntarily. Her cellphone and car were found at her home, which is now considered a crime scene.
open image in gallerySavannah Guthrie with her mother, Nancy. The 84-year-old was last seen at her home in Arizona after being dropped off Saturday night (Instagram/@savannahguthrie)When questioned about a possible ransom demand, the sheriff replied: “We’re following all leads we have. That’s all I can tell you. We’ve got hundreds of leads.”
DNA samples have been gathered and submitted for analysis as part of the investigation, but Nanos declined to provide additional details on the evidence found at the home.
“I’m not saying there’s blood inside that house or outside that house,” he told reporters. “What I’m saying is our team will process the scene. Like you would think of any crime scene, we go in and we process it. We look for things like that, blood, DNA, any kind of physical evidence, fingerprints, anything, and all of that is gathered and submitted to a lab.”
”We’ve gotten some back, but nothing to indicate any suspects,” Nanos added.
The sheriff also confirmed Tuesday that he is “aware of reports circulating about possible ransom note(s) regarding the investigation into Nancy Guthrie.”
“We are taking all tips and leads very seriously. Anything that comes in goes directly to our detectives ,who are coordinating with the FBI,” Nanos said in a statement.
Investigators are also reviewing surveillance footage from nearby homes and analyzing cellphone tower data. But the landscape of the neighborhood - with homes on large lots and a lack of sidewalks - has made it difficult to obtain useful camera footage. Nancy’s brick home has a gravel driveway and a yard covered in prickly pear and saguaro cactus.
Laura Gargano, a Catalina Foothills Association board member who lives just around the corner from Nancy Guthrie, also acknowledged the landscape of the neighborhood, explaining that unless residents are walking their dogs, there aren’t many people out scaling what she described as “hilly” roads with no sidewalks.
Gargano told The Independent that she began canvassing on Sunday night, after learning of Nancy’s disappearance.
“I’ve been out walking, talking to other neighbors, asking them to check their surveillance cameras,” Gargano said.
“She’s well known in this community,” Gargano added. “We’re all hoping for some good news.”
She was joined by countless other neighbors, along with searchers using drones and dogs, well into the evening and most of Monday. But later that day, law enforcement pulled searchers back.
“We don’t see this as a search mission so much as it is a crime scene,” the sheriff said.
open image in galleryNancy vanished from her Catalina Foothills home sometime late Saturday night or early Sunday morning (Pima County Sheriff's Department)
open image in galleryInvestigators say Nancy, who lived alone, has limited mobility but no cognitive issues and would not have left voluntarily. Her cellphone and car were found at her home, which is now considered a crime scene (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
open image in galleryNeighbors of Nancy Guthrie have been out searching for the elderly woman since late Sunday night (AP)Jon Edwards, assistant special agent in charge at the FBI’s Tucson office, said agents are working closely with local authorities.
“We’re downloading and analyzing cell phones, obtaining cell tower information, conducting interviews and providing any and all investigative support that the sheriff’s department needs,” Edwards said.
“Every lead and tip is important. We are aggressively pursuing and looking into every single one again,” he added. “Please help us bring Nancy Guthrie home.”
Sheriff Nanos stressed that time is critical because Nancy depends on medication.
“If she’s alive right now, her meds are vital. I can’t stress that enough. It’s been better than 24 hours, and the family tells us if she doesn’t have those meds, it can become fatal,” he said.
open image in galleryNancy Guthrie's home in the Catalina Foothills neighborhood sits back off the road, shielded by brush and trees (Google Maps)
open image in galleryAn aerial shot of Nancy Guthrie's home in the Catalina Foothills neighborhood (Google Maps)Nanos said that Nancy went missing some time between 9: 30 p.m. Saturday night, when she returned home from an outing with family, and Sunday morning, when she did not attend a regular church service. The sheriff said he did not want to shorten that timeline for fear of missing something critical.
Savannah Guthrie, a longtime co-host on NBC’s morning show, Today, has asked for prayers for her mother’s safe return. The host grew up in Tucson and graduated from the University of Arizona.
“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,” Guthrie wrote on Instagram to her 1.2 million followers.
“Raise your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment. Bring her home.”
Guthrie was absent from the “Today” show on Monday and Tuesday. Co-host Jenna Bush Hager appealed to viewers for help on her behalf.