Latest on Nancy Guthrie: ransom messages reviewed as abduction probe enters second week

The search for Nancy Guthrie, 84, intensified Sunday, Feb. 8, as investigators in Arizona continued treating her disappearance as an apparent abduction and worked to verify new messages tied to the case. Her daughter, U.S. television host Savannah Guthrie, appeared with siblings in a somber public appeal over the weekend, saying the family has received a message and will pay to bring their mother home.

Authorities have not announced any suspects or arrests. A federal reward remains in place as detectives pursue leads, review communications, and revisit key evidence from the night Nancy Guthrie vanished.

What’s new as of Sunday, Feb. 8

Investigators say they are actively evaluating a newer message connected to the case, focusing on whether it is authentic and whether it can help locate Nancy Guthrie. The family’s latest public plea referenced receiving a message and emphasized urgency, centering on her safe return.

A first deadline mentioned in an earlier purported ransom note has now passed. Officials have not said whether any payment was made or whether they advised the family on next steps publicly, but they continue to emphasize that the investigation is active and ongoing.

The timeline: last known sighting and overnight signals

Nancy Guthrie was last seen Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, after family members dropped her off at her home in the Catalina Foothills area north of Tucson following an evening together. She was reported missing the next day after she did not show up for church.

Authorities have highlighted a narrow overnight window as critical. Investigators say a doorbell camera at her home was disconnected at about 3:45 a.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 1. Shortly afterward, a heart-device application associated with her pacemaker indicated it was disconnected from her phone at about 4:28 a.m. ET. Officials say those details reinforce concerns that she did not leave voluntarily.

Nancy Guthrie is described by authorities as frail with limited mobility and in need of regular medication, increasing urgency around locating her.

Evidence investigators have discussed publicly

Law enforcement has called the home a crime scene and says there are indicators consistent with a forced removal. The sheriff has said blood found on the porch was linked to Nancy Guthrie, a point that has weighed heavily in the assessment that she was taken against her will.

Investigators have also said they were hindered by missing video, because the doorbell camera was disconnected around the time of the disappearance and usable footage was not recovered. Officials have expressed frustration that the lack of video narrowed their ability to identify a vehicle or person captured on camera during that window.

Even so, authorities have cautioned that they are working multiple angles. In earlier briefings, the sheriff noted it was still important to keep an open mind while investigators confirm the meaning and reliability of each piece of evidence.

The reward and what officials want from the public

The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information that leads to Nancy Guthrie’s recovery, or to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved. Officials have continued to ask for tips that are concrete and time-specific—sightings, vehicles, unusual activity, or information tied to communications being circulated.

They have also urged the public to avoid amplifying unverified claims. In abduction investigations, false tips can consume time and complicate efforts to prioritize the most actionable information.

Key takeaways right now

• Authorities are treating the case as an apparent abduction and say Nancy Guthrie did not likely leave on her own.

• Investigators are reviewing at least one newer message tied to the case, and a first ransom-note deadline has passed.

• No suspects or people of interest have been named publicly as of Sunday, Feb. 8.

• A $50,000 federal reward remains available for information leading to her recovery or an arrest and conviction.

What to watch next this week

The next major development will likely hinge on whether investigators authenticate any message and connect it to a traceable person, device, or location. If a communication is verified, it could shape the pace and direction of the search—either by narrowing a geographic focus or by triggering a more targeted operational response.

Separately, investigators may release additional identifying details about potential vehicles or movements near the home if they determine it could generate higher-quality tips. For now, officials appear focused on quiet lead development rather than broad public disclosures, a typical posture when authorities believe a case could turn on a small number of credible leads.

Nancy Guthrie’s family remains in Arizona as the search continues, urging whoever has her to return her safely and stressing that bringing her home is the only outcome they are seeking.

Sources consulted: Reuters; Associated Press; ABC News; PBS NewsHour