Savannah Guthrie issues emotional video plea as search for her 84-year-old mother enters Day 5; family says they’re “ready to talk” pending proof of life

Savannah Guthrie issued an emotional recorded plea late Wednesday as the search for her missing 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, entered its fifth day on Thursday, February 5, 2026 (ET). In the video, Guthrie and her siblings said they are “ready to talk” but asked for clear proof of life, underscoring fears that modern technology could be used to fake a message.

Investigators in Pima County, Arizona, continue to treat the case as a suspected abduction and say no suspect or person of interest has been publicly identified. Officials have also said they are reviewing possible ransom communications as part of the ongoing investigation.

What the family said in the new video

In the recorded message posted Wednesday evening (ET), Guthrie addressed reports of ransom communication and made a direct appeal for proof that her mother is alive. The family framed that request as a safeguard against manipulated audio or video, while also signaling a willingness to engage if the abductors make contact in a verifiable way.

Guthrie also stressed her mother’s medical vulnerability, saying Nancy Guthrie’s heart is fragile, she lives with chronic pain, and she needs medication to survive and avoid suffering. The family’s language was both urgent and practical: show proof of life, then a conversation can begin.

Timeline: last known moments and the Day 5 milestone

Officials say Nancy Guthrie was last known to be at her home in the Catalina Foothills area north of Tucson late Saturday, January 31, 2026 (ET). She was reported missing on Sunday after she did not appear for church. Investigators have said they believe she was taken from the home overnight, potentially while she slept.

By Thursday morning (ET), the case had reached Day 5. The sheriff’s office scheduled a public briefing for 1:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 5, with investigators expected to address the status of the search, tips, and key evidence that can be shared without jeopardizing leads.

What investigators have confirmed so far

• The disappearance is being handled as a suspected abduction, not a voluntary departure.

• Nancy Guthrie has limited mobility and needs daily medication; officials have said missing those doses could be fatal within a short time frame.

• Investigators are reviewing possible ransom communications tied to the case, while cautioning that legitimacy has not been publicly established.

• No suspect or publicly named person of interest has been announced as of Thursday morning (ET).

Ransom note questions and the “proof of life” demand

Investigators have acknowledged that a ransom communication was sent to a local outlet and contained specific details about the home and what Nancy Guthrie was wearing that night. The sheriff has said the information is being treated like any other lead: analyzed, vetted, and followed where it points, without assuming it is authentic.

Separately, investigators have said they are reviewing additional “possible” ransom notes circulating. The family’s proof-of-life demand reflects a key tension in the case: urgency to communicate versus the risk of being misled by fabricated content or opportunistic hoaxes.

Evidence at the home and the search ahead

Officials have described the residence as a crime scene and have referenced physical evidence consistent with a forced or clandestine removal. A small amount of blood has been noted in public reporting tied to investigative sources, and officials have said the home was processed and could be revisited as new leads emerge.

The sheriff has also described difficulties with neighborhood security video, including the possibility that relevant footage was automatically deleted and now requires forensic recovery efforts. With no confirmed sighting since Saturday night, the investigation appears focused on three parallel tracks: verifying the authenticity of ransom communications, expanding tip-driven searches in and around Tucson, and reconstructing movements and access to the home during the critical overnight window.

Sources consulted: Associated Press, ABC News, CBS News, The Guardian