Savannah Guthrie pleads for return of mother Nancy Guthrie as search enters second week

A case involving Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy Guthrie, has drawn national attention after authorities said the 84-year-old disappeared from her home near Tucson, Arizona, under circumstances that indicate she did not leave voluntarily. The family has released emotional public messages urging whoever has Nancy to bring her home and signaling they are willing to pay to secure her safe return.

Nancy Guthrie was last known to be at her residence late Saturday night, January 31, 2026. She was reported missing the next day, Sunday, February 1, after failing to show up for church.

What happened the night she disappeared

Investigators say the timeline points to a late-night incident at or near Nancy Guthrie’s home in the Catalina Foothills area outside Tucson. Officials have described multiple red flags, including indications of forced removal and a missing home security camera component.

Key elements cited publicly by investigators include:

• Evidence of blood found at the residence later confirmed to match Nancy Guthrie.

• A doorbell-style camera reported as removed or disabled around the time she went missing.

• Personal essentials, including items she would likely need, left behind.

Authorities have not publicly confirmed a suspect or motive, and they have cautioned against assuming details that have not been verified.

Savannah Guthrie’s message and the family’s plea

Savannah Guthrie, joined by her siblings, has released video statements addressing the person or people believed to have taken their mother. In the most widely shared message, the family said they had received communication from the abductor and emphasized that their priority is Nancy’s safe return.

The family’s public posture has been consistent: keep attention on the case, encourage tips, and underscore Nancy’s vulnerability due to age, mobility limits, and the need for regular medication. Investigators have echoed that urgency, describing her as a vulnerable adult and asking anyone with information to come forward immediately.

Who is Nancy Guthrie

Nancy Guthrie is best known publicly now as Savannah Guthrie’s mother, but friends and family have described her as an active and independent presence in her community who maintained regular routines, including attending church services. She is 84 and has been living in the Tucson area for decades.

Officials and family members have emphasized that she has limited mobility and relies on daily medication, raising the stakes with each passing day.

A separate point of confusion has also surfaced online: there is another public figure named Nancy Guthrie who is a Christian author and speaker. That person is not Savannah Guthrie’s mother and is not connected to this missing-person investigation.

Investigation status: reward, tips, and false leads

Law enforcement has treated the disappearance as a criminal investigation rather than a routine missing-person report. Federal involvement has been confirmed, and search efforts have included extensive ground activity around the foothills terrain near the home.

A reward of $50,000 has been announced for information that leads to Nancy Guthrie’s recovery and the identification of those responsible. Investigators have also warned about misinformation and opportunistic hoaxes, including instances where third parties attempted to exploit the case with fraudulent messages. At least one suspect connected to a false communication effort has been arrested, while investigators continue to assess whether any other messages are credible.

Officials have not publicly stated whether there is verified proof of life. They have also not confirmed any ransom amount, method, or negotiation details, beyond acknowledging that communications have been under review.

What happens next

The immediate focus remains on gathering tips and narrowing the timeline around the overnight window when Nancy Guthrie appears to have vanished. Investigators have urged the public to prioritize actionable information—sightings, unusual vehicles, surveillance footage, or any relevant digital traces from the neighborhood—rather than sharing unverified claims.

For the family, the next steps hinge on two tracks: keeping public attention on Nancy’s disappearance while cooperating closely with investigators. With each day, the case is also likely to generate more scrutiny of the surrounding circumstances, including how the home’s security systems were disrupted and whether the incident was targeted or opportunistic.

Sources consulted: People, Business Insider, Pima County Sheriff’s Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation