Authorities are concerned that the 84-year-old mother of NBC’s Today show host Savannah Guthrie may have been forcibly taken or abducted, as stated by the sheriff on Monday. It is crucial to locate her promptly as she requires medication to prevent potential life-threatening consequences. Nancy Guthrie was last seen at her residence in the Tucson, Arizona area around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday. Living alone, she was reported missing by her family at noon on Sunday. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department is exploring the possibility that she was taken during the night, according to spokesperson Angelica Carrillo.
Guthrie, who had limited mobility, is believed by officials not to have left voluntarily. Sheriff Chris Nanos confirmed that Guthrie was in a sound state of mind, emphasizing that her disappearance is not related to dementia but rather a situation where she did not simply wander off. During a news conference held on Tuesday, the sheriff and the Tucson FBI chief appealed to the public for tips but disclosed few new details about the ongoing investigation. Nanos did not specify whether the disappearance was considered random or targeted, nor did he elaborate on the evidence discovered at Nancy Guthrie’s residence.
When asked if they were searching for her alive, Nanos expressed hope that they were. A family member received a call from someone at church on Sunday reporting Guthrie’s absence, prompting the family to search her home before contacting 911. Nanos stressed the urgency for Guthrie to have her daily medication and urged her captors to release her, stating that without her medication, her health could deteriorate rapidly.
Search efforts, including the use of drones and search dogs, have been underway to locate Guthrie. Volunteers, Border Patrol, and the homicide team are supporting the search and rescue teams. The involvement of the homicide team in such cases is unusual, noted Nanos, adding that the FBI has offered assistance. The circumstances surrounding Guthrie’s disappearance raised concerns, with Nanos not ruling out the possibility of foul play.
Acknowledging the community’s support, Nanos mentioned that the search has transitioned from a rescue mission to a criminal investigation. Despite scaling back search activities, a sheriff’s helicopter was observed surveying the desert near Guthrie’s residence in the Catalina Foothills region of Tucson. Savannah Guthrie issued a statement expressing gratitude for the outpouring of support and emphasizing the family’s focus on Nancy’s safe return.
The Today show highlighted the news of the co-anchor’s mother’s disappearance, with Nanos confirming Savannah Guthrie’s presence in Arizona during the news conference. Savannah Guthrie, a Tucson native and University of Arizona graduate, previously worked as a reporter and anchor for KVOA-TV in Tucson. Nancy Guthrie appeared in a segment her daughter produced in November 2025, reminiscing about their family’s decision to settle in Tucson in the 1970s due to the city’s relaxed atmosphere and quality of life.