The disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, has become a national mystery since she vanished from her home in Tucson, Arizona, in early February 2026.
The case is currently being investigated as a kidnapping, involving both the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI.
The Night of the Disappearance
Nancy Guthrie was last seen on the evening of January 31, 2026. After a family dinner and game night at her daughter Annie’s home, she was dropped off at her residence in the Catalina Foothills by her son-in-law at approximately 9:50 PM.
A Digital Trail of Events
Investigators have reconstructed the following timeline from home security systems and medical devices:
- 1:47 AM (Feb 1): A masked individual was captured on doorbell camera footage disconnecting the device.
- 2:12 AM: Motion was detected by the security system, but no video was recorded as the camera had been disabled.
- 2:28 AM: Nancy’s pacemaker disconnected from its smartphone app, a critical piece of evidence suggesting she was either moved away from her phone or the device was tampered with.
She was reported missing at noon on Sunday, February 1, after failing to show up for her virtual church service.
Evidence and Investigation
The investigation shifted from a missing person search to a criminal probe within 48 hours. Key evidence discovered at the scene and in the surrounding area includes:
- Blood Evidence: Forensic testing confirmed that blood found on Nancy’s front porch belongs to her.
- The Masked Intruder: The FBI released footage of a suspect described as a male, approximately 5’9″ to 5’10”, wearing a ski mask, neoprene gloves, and a black 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack (a brand sold at Walmart). He appeared to be armed with a handgun in an “oddly placed” holster.
- Recovered Gloves: Investigators found a pair of black gloves roughly two miles from the home. While they match the style worn by the intruder, preliminary DNA tests have not yet provided a definitive suspect match in national databases (CODIS).
- Ransom Demands: Several ransom notes were sent to media outlets (including TMZ) demanding $6 million in Bitcoin. However, law enforcement has warned that many of these are likely hoaxes; one man in Southern California has already been arrested for sending a fraudulent ransom text.
Current Status
As of February 19, 2026, Nancy Guthrie remains missing. The FBI has increased the reward for information leading to her location to $100,000.
Savannah Guthrie and her siblings, Annie and Camron, have been vocal on social media, pleading for their mother’s safe return and expressing their willingness to cooperate with any demands to see her home safely. Authorities have officially cleared all family members and their spouses of any involvement, labeling them as victims of the crime.
“We believe Nancy is still out there. We want her home.” — Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos
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