Savannah Guthrie’s mom missing: investigators chase new message as family pleads for return

The search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of television host Savannah Guthrie, entered a more urgent phase this weekend as investigators evaluated a new message tied to the case and the family issued a public plea offering to pay for her safe return. Authorities in southern Arizona continue to treat the disappearance as an abduction, citing evidence at the home and a sequence of events that suggests someone interfered with security systems.

Nancy Guthrie was last seen Saturday night, January 31, 2026, after family dropped her off at her home near Tucson. She was reported missing the next day, Sunday, February 1, 2026.

What investigators say points to an abduction

Authorities have said forensic testing confirmed that blood found at the home matched Nancy Guthrie. Investigators have also described suspicious disruption to home security equipment during the overnight window when she is believed to have been taken.

Officials have raised concerns about her vulnerability: Nancy is described as frail and with limited mobility, and authorities have said she requires daily medication for serious medical conditions. That health backdrop has shaped both the pace of the investigation and the urgency of public appeals.

No suspect has been publicly identified as of Sunday, February 8, 2026 (ET), and investigators have not publicly confirmed proof of life.

The message investigators are evaluating

Over the past week, multiple communications tied to the case have circulated. Law enforcement has confirmed it is evaluating at least one message that appears to reference details about Nancy Guthrie and her home.

The content and authenticity of any message matters for two reasons: it can help establish whether the abductor is in contact, and it can provide technical leads. Even small details—wording, delivery method, timing, and any device references—can support tracing efforts and narrow the timeline.

Authorities have not publicly disclosed whether the most recent message included a deadline, a demand, or verifiable proof that Nancy Guthrie is alive.

Hoax ransom note leads to an arrest

Investigators have also confronted a familiar complication in high-profile cases: hoaxes. Federal authorities arrested a Southern California man accused of sending a fake ransom communication connected to the Guthrie case. Prosecutors have described the message as an imposter demand, and the suspect has made an initial court appearance.

Officials have emphasized that the arrest does not mean the underlying abduction case is solved. Instead, it reflects a parallel problem investigators often face—false tips and fraudulent communications that drain time while the real investigation continues.

Family plea: “We will pay”

In a weekend video statement posted on social media, Savannah Guthrie appeared with her siblings and addressed the person holding their mother directly. The family said it had received a message and pledged to pay for Nancy Guthrie’s safe return, urging the captor to release her.

The family’s public stance serves a practical purpose as well as an emotional one: it signals a willingness to engage if contact is genuine, while also generating fresh attention that can produce tips. At the same time, it can raise risks by encouraging copycat hoaxes—one reason investigators have been careful about what details they share.

Reward and the investigation’s next pressure points

The FBI has announced a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to Nancy Guthrie’s recovery and/or the arrest and conviction of those responsible. Search work and evidence processing have continued in the neighborhood, while investigators also focus on digital threads that could clarify what happened during the critical overnight hours.

Key developments so far

• Last confirmed sighting: Saturday, January 31, 2026, near Tucson, after a family dinner

• Missing report: Sunday, February 1, 2026

• Evidence: blood at the home confirmed to match Nancy Guthrie

• Communications: at least one message under active review; a separate hoax communication led to an arrest

• Reward: up to $50,000 for information leading to recovery and/or arrests

For now, the most consequential unknowns remain tightly defined: whether investigators can authenticate any communication as coming from the true abductor, whether a clear vehicle or route can be tied to the disappearance, and whether the forensic trail at the home yields additional leads. Until those answers firm up, authorities are likely to continue balancing public tip requests with limited disclosure, while the family’s plea keeps the case in the national spotlight.

Sources consulted: Reuters, Associated Press, Federal Bureau of Investigation, ABC News