“Today” anchor Savannah Guthrie was absent from NBC’s broadcast Monday morning after her mother was reported missing in Arizona over the weekend. Now, officials are saying they “do in fact have a crime scene.”
Nancy Guthrie, 84, was last seen at her home in Tucson on Saturday, and family members contacted authorities to report her missing on Sunday afternoon.
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What officials are saying
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said investigators found elements at the home that caused “grave concern.” However, he declined to provide details.
“This one stood out because of what was described to us at the scene and what we found and located just in looking at the scene,” Nanos told reporters. He did not elaborate on what investigators found, but noted that homicide detectives have been called to the home to process the scene.
Nanos noted their presence is not standard protocol, and said officials can’t rule out foul play.
In a Monday update, Nanos said, “We know she didn’t just walk out of there. She did not leave on her own.”
Authorities say Guthrie is 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighs around 150 pounds, and has brown hair and blue eyes. Officials and family say she is in poor physical health but has no cognitive impairments.
Search efforts are continuing with the help of drones, aircraft, a helicopter, search-and-rescue dogs and volunteers. The sheriff’s office says crews worked through the night and resumed operations Monday.
Comments from Savannah and the family
The “Today” show opened Monday’s broadcast by acknowledging the situation, with anchor Craig Melvin calling it “a deeply personal story for us.”
NBC shared a statement from Savannah Guthrie, who said, “On behalf of our family, I want to thank everyone for the thoughts, prayers, and messages of support.”
She added, “Right now, our focus remains on the safe return of our dear mom.”
Guthrie also thanked law enforcement for their efforts and asked anyone with information to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Office.
