Police Release Disturbing New Details as Search Continues for Savannah Guthrie’s Missing Mother

Today co-host Savannah Guthrie is facing a heartbreaking ordeal after her mother, Nancy, vanished over the weekend. Authorities say a friend contacted police when Nancy failed to attend church on Sunday, prompting an extensive search that is now being treated as a possible criminal case. Police have since released a troubling update, indicating she may have been taken from her home against her will.

Nancy Guthrie, 84, was last seen at her residence in the Catalina Foothills area north of Tucson on Saturday. During a press conference held Sunday, Feb. 1, Chris Nanos, the Pima County Sheriff, confirmed that search-and-rescue teams have been conducting extensive operations both on the ground and from the air.

At that time, Nanos also revealed that a homicide unit had been brought in to assist with the investigation, though he stressed that there was no immediate evidence of criminal activity early on.

“We’re essentially using every resource we have,” Nanos said. “Nancy Guthrie is 84 years old and not in strong physical health, which makes this especially alarming. It’s very concerning. We don’t usually have the sheriff personally involved at a scene like this, but what we’re discovering inside the home raises serious concern.” He added that detectives from the homicide team were actively examining the residence.

Savannah Guthrie was notably absent from Today on Monday. In a statement shared with the show, she expressed gratitude and urged the public to remain vigilant.

“On behalf of our family, I want to thank everyone for the thoughts, prayers, and messages of support,” she said. “Right now, our focus is on the safe return of our beloved mom. We’re grateful to law enforcement for their tireless work and ask anyone with information to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at 520-351-4900.”

Police now say kidnapping is a possibility

Later Monday, authorities shared new and deeply unsettling information. Speaking with People magazine, Sheriff Nanos said he now believes a crime may have occurred.

“At this point, investigators believe she was removed from her home against her will, possibly during the night,” he said. “Being taken against her will includes the possibility of kidnapping or abduction.”

He continued, “We have an 84-year-old woman who went to bed Saturday night and by Sunday morning was gone. We are confident she did not leave that home on her own.”

Nanos explained that Nancy’s physical mobility was significantly limited for multiple reasons, making it highly unlikely that she wandered away independently.

Investigators are currently reviewing home surveillance footage from the surrounding area and have collected what officials described as “biological DNA-type evidence” as part of the case.

“She’s incredibly sharp mentally,” Nanos told People. “That makes this even more disturbing. She knew what was going on, she was alert, and because of that, we believe someone entered her home and removed her without her consent. It was against her will.”

Savannah Guthrie shares message of faith and hope

On Monday, Savannah Guthrie also addressed the situation directly on her Instagram account, sharing a message rooted in faith.

“We believe in prayer. We believe in voices lifted together, in love, in hope, in goodness, in humanity. Above all, we believe in Him,” she wrote.

She continued, “Thank you for joining your prayers with ours for our beloved mom, our precious Nancy—a woman of deep faith and conviction, a good and faithful servant. Please keep praying with us and believing with us that she is being lifted by those prayers right now. We need you.”

Guthrie closed her message with a passage from Isaiah: “He will keep in perfect peace those whose hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord… Bring her home.”

Thoughts and prayers remain with the Guthrie family as the investigation continues.