Nancy Guthrie update: Savannah Guthrie posts “we will pay” plea as FBI and Pima County Sheriff review a new message, no suspects named
The family of missing 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie has renewed its public plea for her safe return, with Savannah Guthrie posting a blunt message to whoever may be holding her mother: “We will pay.” The appeal comes as the FBI and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department review a new message tied to the case, while officials stress that no suspects have been publicly identified and no proof-of-life has been confirmed.
Nancy Guthrie vanished overnight near Tucson, Arizona, after family members dropped her off at home late Saturday, January 31, 2026. She was reported missing Sunday, February 1, when she failed to appear for church and relatives could not reach her.
The “we will pay” message and what it’s meant to do
In a video posted online over the weekend, Savannah Guthrie and her siblings addressed the person or people they believe took their mother, emphasizing urgency and a willingness to pay for her safe return. The family’s goal is twofold: prompt direct contact and keep public attention on the case as the search extends into its second week.
Officials have encouraged tips from the public while warning that high-profile disappearances often attract hoaxes and opportunistic interference—an issue this case has already faced.
Investigators review a new message, authenticity not confirmed
The FBI and the sheriff’s department say they are actively inspecting a new message connected to Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance. Authorities have not disclosed the content publicly, and they have not indicated whether it appears credible.
That authentication step is now central. If a message can be verified as originating with the person responsible, it can provide critical investigative leverage: proof-of-life, a traceable communication route, or clues that narrow location and identity. If it’s a hoax, it can waste valuable time and compound stress on the family.
The evidence trail: porch blood, tech disruptions, and a tight overnight window
Officials say they are treating the case as an abduction and have released details that point to a narrow time frame overnight. A key piece of evidence is blood found on the front porch, which investigators say was matched to Nancy Guthrie through DNA testing.
Authorities have also described unusual technology disruptions that help define the critical window:
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1:47 a.m. ET (Feb. 1): A doorbell camera disconnects.
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2:12 a.m. ET: Camera software detects a person, but no video is available.
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2:28 a.m. ET: A pacemaker app disconnects from her phone.
Investigators have said the home’s camera system did not preserve usable footage during that period, including because of account settings that resulted in older clips being overwritten. That places greater weight on secondary data—device logs, network records, and other digital traces—as well as neighborhood tips that can be anchored to a specific time and place.
Health concerns and why urgency is rising
Authorities have repeatedly stressed that Nancy Guthrie is frail, has very limited mobility, and requires daily medication. Those factors increase urgency and shape investigative priorities, because they raise the risk of rapid medical decline if she is being held without care.
Officials have not shared new medical specifics, but they have emphasized the basic concern: time matters more when a missing person has serious health needs.
Hoaxes complicate the case as reward stays in place
Investigators have already dealt with false communications connected to the disappearance. A California man has been charged in federal court in connection with allegedly sending a fake ransom note to the family while posing as someone involved. Authorities have framed that case as separate from the core abduction investigation, but it highlights the volume of noise that can surround a widely publicized search.
A reward of up to $50,000 remains available for information leading to Nancy Guthrie’s recovery and/or the arrest and conviction of anyone responsible for her disappearance.
What investigators are prioritizing now
With no suspect named publicly, the case is largely about turning fragments into a coherent, provable timeline and establishing a reliable channel of information. The immediate priorities appear to be:
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Verifying communications tied to the new message and separating credible leads from hoaxes
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Reconstructing the overnight timeline using digital logs and physical evidence
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Expanding neighborhood canvassing for sightings, vehicles, or unusual activity during the critical window
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Preserving and processing key items associated with the home and routine movements
For the public, the most helpful tips are typically the most specific ones: a license plate, a precise time stamp, an unfamiliar vehicle seen at a particular address, or any unusual activity that aligns with the early-morning window.
Sources consulted: Reuters, Associated Press, ABC News, PBS NewsHour
