Concern is growing in Arizona after Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, was reported missing under what authorities now describe as deeply troubling circumstances.
Nancy Guthrie was last seen Saturday night, January 31, at her home in the Catalina Foothills area north of Tucson. By Sunday morning, she was gone. Since then, search-and-rescue teams have canvassed the surrounding desert terrain without success.
On Monday, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos confirmed that investigators no longer believe this is a simple missing-person case.
“At this point, we believe a crime has been committed,” Sheriff Nanos said, explaining that authorities suspect Nancy was taken from her home against her will during the night. He emphasized that investigators do not believe she left voluntarily, noting her age, mobility limitations, and mental sharpness.
“We have an 84-year-old woman who went to bed and didn’t wake up in her home,” Nanos said. “We do not believe she walked out on her own.”
Evidence Raises Alarming Questions
Authorities are reviewing security footage from nearby homes and have collected what they describe as biological evidence from inside the house. Multiple outlets, citing law enforcement sources, report that blood was found inside the residence, along with possible signs of forced entry. Officials have not confirmed whose blood it may be.
Sheriff Nanos described Nancy as “sharp as a tack,” adding that her awareness and independence make the situation even more concerning.