On Jan. 31, 2026, 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie was reported missing from her home in Tuscon, Arizona. She is the mother of “Today” show co-host Savannah Guthrie.
Apparently, Guthrie was taken from her home in the Catalina Foothills without her phone or critical medications.
The night before she was reported missing, she took an Uber to her oldest daughter, Annie’s home around 5:52 p.m. for their weekly dinner and game night. At the end of the evening, her son-in-law Tommaso Cioni took her home. Guthrie’s garage door opened around 9:48 p.m. and closed at 9:50 p.m.
At 1:47 a.m. her doorbell camera was disabled and 25 minutes later movement was detected by surveillance camera software. At 2:28 a.m. Guthrie’s pacemaker disconnected from her phone. At 11:56 a.m. the family realized she was missing when they checked on her at home, and a report was made at 12:03 p.m.
On Sundays, Guthrie spends time with friends at a home nearby watching streamed church services. When she did not arrive, the family was notified.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department arrived at the home at 12:15 p.m. During their initial investigation, they find blood on the front porch which was later confirmed to be Guthrie’s.
Twists in the Guthrie Investigation
The reported investigation has included ransom notes demanding millions of dollars, emotional videos from Guthrie’s children pleading for her return, and a video of an armed and masked male tampering with the doorbell camera at her home. Additionally, investigators have two DNA samples that are not in CODIS and do not match the family or each other.
Several media outlets reported receiving ransom letters on Feb. 3, demanding six million in bitcoin with two different deadlines. One note gave a deadline of Feb. 5 at 5 p.m., the other, Feb. 9.
The FBI joined the investigation on Feb. 5 and announced a reward of $50,000 for “information leading to the recovery of Nancy Guthrie and or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance.”
CNN affiliate KOLD reported receiving a second ransom note on Feb. 5 that included sensitive information but no deadline. The email and IP address were forwarded to the Pima County Sheriff’s Office.
Later the same day, investigators were seen on her property with gloves and evidence markers. Additionally, they towed away her vehicle.
Around 11 a.m. on Feb. 8, investigators examined the septic tank near the property. Video shows officers moving a long stick around in the tank and at times, jabbing the stick and using a flashlight to see inside.
On Feb. 11, TMZ reported receiving a “bizarre letter” from someone close to the kidnapper. TMZ founder Harvey Levin told Fox News the email demanded “a single bitcoin in exchange for information about the kidnapper.”
Other Investigation Elements
A glove that matches the description of the ones worn by the male tampering with the doorbell camera was found two miles from the home. The DNA on the glove did not match the DNA discovered in the home or any Guthrie family members. The DNA found outside of her home is still being processed.
Not finding a match in CODIS only means the DNA does not belong to an individual who has been arrested. On Wednesday, former FBI special agent John Iannarelli told “Fox & Friends” there are still options in examining the DNA evidence.
Retired FBI special agent Jason Pack spoke with Fox News Digital about investigative genetic genealogy: a technique that “combines DNA analysis from crime scenes with searching publicly available commercial genealogy databases and old-fashioned genealogy research.”
Pack further explains: “Once the DNA profile is built form the glove, a genealogist builds a family tree working outward from partial matches in consumer databases like GEDmatch or FamilyTree DNA. You are essentially reconstructing someone’s family history from distant cousins and working your way inward until you can identify a common ancestor and the narrow down to a specific individual. The timeline depends on a few variables.”
The FBI has spoken with several gun shop owners in the Tuscon area as the suspect in the doorbell video has a gun and holster that “had some pretty unique characteristics,” according to Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos.
On Feb. 12, neighbors were asked to submit video footage of “anything that may be out of the ordinary or important for law enforcement to review.” The FBI also released the description of the male in the doorbell video and raised the reward for information to $100,000.
The suspect was described as male, approximately 5’9″ with average build and carrying a 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack.
Social Media Pleas for Guthrie’s Return
The first emotional video from her children was posted on Instagram Feb. 4. “We need to know without a doubt that she’s alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you and we are ready to listen. Please reach out to us.” This post was a day after the receipt of the first ransom note.
The next day, Guthrie’s son, Camron posted another plea on social media at the time of the first deadline given in the ransom note.
“Whoever is out there holding our mother, we want to hear from you. We haven’t heard anything directly. We need you to reach out and we need a way to communicate with you so we can move forward.”
On Feb. 7, her children reached out through social media again. “We will pay. We received your message, and we understand. We bed you now to return out mother to us so that we can celebrate with her. This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay.”
Hours before the 5 p.m. deadline on Feb. 9, Savannah posted another video to social media appealing to the public and asking for assistance.
“We are at an hour of desperation, and we need your help.” She asked people to report anything “strange” to law enforcement.
On Feb. 10, after images and video of the suspected kidnapper are released, Savannah shared them on her social media accounts with the caption: “Someone out there recognizes this person. We believe she is still out there. Bring her home.”
If anyone has any information that will assist authorities with this investigation, please call the FBI Tip Line 1-800-225-5324, the Pima County Sheriff’s Office 520-351-4900, the Anonymous Tip Line 520-882-7463 or use the website tips.fbi.gov.
Written by Jeanette Vietti
Sources:
Fox News: Nancy Guthrie disappearance: Sheriff pleads with suspect to ‘just let her go,’ insists case not cold
KSL News: Here are the key developments in the weekslong search for Nancy Guthrie
USA Today: Savannah Guthrie mom search increases reward amount
Featured Image Courtesy of James Gaither’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
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