Authorities in Arizona say they are now investigating the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of “Today” co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, as a criminal abduction. They say evidence inside her home suggested she was taken against her will.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said investigators believe Guthrie did not leave her home voluntarily and may have been taken during the night. Homicide detectives have been assigned to the case, an uncommon step in missing-person investigations, after what Nanos described as a “very concerning” scene inside her residence.
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Sheriff: ‘She did not leave on her own’
“We know she didn’t just walk out of there,” Nanos said during a news conference. He later told CNN investigators believe Guthrie was taken from her home, adding that evidence suggests she may have been removed from her bed.
“I’ve been doing this for 50 years. I have a gut feeling,” Nanos told CNN’s Erin Burnett.
Nancy Guthrie was last seen around 9:30 p.m. Saturday at her home in the Catalina Foothills area near Tucson. When she failed to show up for church Sunday morning, a church member contacted her family, who went to the house and called 911 around noon to report her missing.
Sheriff Nanos emphasized the case is not dementia-related, saying Guthrie is of sound mind but has limited mobility and could not have left on her own. He said she relies on daily medication to survive.
“This is a 84 year old lady who suffers from some physical ailments, has some physical challenges, is in need of medication. Medication that if she doesn’t have in 24 hours, it could be fatal,” Nanos said.
Authorities urge public to review security footage
Authorities say there is no known threat to the public, but they are urging neighbors and nearby businesses to review security and doorbell camera footage. Investigators are also analyzing cell phone data and have enlisted help from federal agencies, including the FBI. A reward of up to $2,500 is being offered for information leading to an arrest.
“It’s very bizarre. This is a very safe neighborhood,” said Lisa McIntire, a neighbor of Guthrie. “The first thing that comes to my mind is that this probably is not going to be a good outcome.”
Savannah Guthrie speaks out on Instagram
Late Monday, Savannah Guthrie addressed the case in a new Instagram post, thanking the public for their support and asking for continued prayers.
“Thank you for lifting your prayers with ours for our beloved mom, our dearest Nancy,” she wrote. Guthrie described her mother as “a woman of deep conviction” and asked supporters to “raise your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment,” ending the post with a plea: “Bring her home.”
Savannah Guthrie has not appeared on “Today” since her mother was reported missing.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Office tip line.
