Sheriff: No suspect yet as Nancy Guthrie case widens and alleged ransom notes reviewed

Mo. Basuony

Published: February 5, 2026 1:41 AM ET

Nancy Guthrie

The search for Nancy Guthrie intensified Wednesday after the Pima County Sheriff said investigators have not identified a suspect or person of interest, even as detectives review alleged ransom notes that surfaced in recent days. The clarification came as Guthrie’s family released a video message aimed at whoever may be holding the 84-year-old, saying, “We’re ready to talk,” while demanding proof of life amid mounting concern over her health.

Nancy Guthrie, the mother of television host Savannah Guthrie, disappeared from her Tucson-area home over the weekend. Authorities have said the scene at the residence raised “very concerning” red flags and that they believe she was taken against her will.

What the sheriff said Wednesday

Sheriff Chris Nanos emphasized that investigators are still working through a heavy flow of information while trying to keep the public focused on verified facts. His core message: no one has been publicly identified as a suspect, and online speculation naming specific individuals is not helping the investigation.

Nanos also confirmed that detectives are examining alleged ransom note(s) that were provided to law enforcement after circulating outside official channels. The materials are being reviewed with federal assistance, and the sheriff’s office has not publicly confirmed whether any note is authentic or connected to the disappearance.

Alleged ransom notes under review

Multiple messages described as ransom notes have been shared with authorities after appearing in media and online discussions. Investigators have treated them as potential evidence, but key details remain unclear:

how many messages are connected to the case
whether any contain information only a perpetrator would know
whether they were sent by a genuine abductor or by hoaxers seeking attention

The sheriff’s office has said that anything received is routed to detectives and evaluated with technical support, including analysis that can help identify where a message originated and whether it was altered or reposted.

Family video: “We’re ready to talk,” but only with proof of life

In a video posted online, Savannah Guthrie appeared with her siblings to plead for their mother’s return and to open a channel for communication. The family asked anyone holding Nancy to provide clear proof she is alive, noting that modern tools make it easy to fake images, audio, or text.

The family’s message framed “we’re ready to talk” as conditional: they signaled willingness to communicate, but not to proceed based on unverified claims. They also repeated that Nancy needs daily medication and urged the person responsible to act quickly.

Timeline and what investigators are working with

Authorities have said Nancy Guthrie was last seen Saturday night, January 31, 2026 (ET), when she returned to her home after a family gathering. Concern escalated Sunday morning, February 1, after she failed to show up for church and relatives could not reach her.

Detectives say the home is being treated as a crime scene and that evidence supports the belief she did not leave voluntarily. Investigators have been:

rechecking the residence and collecting physical evidence
reviewing any available camera footage from nearby sources
examining digital and device-related data that could narrow the timeline
interviewing people who had recent contact with her

Some public discussion has focused on whether health-monitoring device data could help establish when she left the home, but authorities have not publicly confirmed specific device timestamps.

Why health concerns are driving urgency

Investigators and family members have repeatedly stressed that Nancy Guthrie’s age and medical needs make this case especially time-sensitive. The family has said she lives with chronic pain and relies on daily medication. Authorities have echoed that her health profile raises immediate risk if she is being held without proper care.

That urgency is also shaping the public strategy: the family’s appeal is designed to reach a possible abductor quickly while encouraging anyone with credible information—neighbors, drivers, workers, or passersby—to come forward.

Key takeaways

Law enforcement says no suspect or person of interest has been publicly identified.
Alleged ransom notes are being examined and have not been publicly verified.
The family says it is ready to communicate but wants proof of life first.
Authorities believe Nancy Guthrie was taken against her will and are pursuing both physical and digital leads.