TODAY show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie and her family have launched a deliberate public plea for information as the search for her missing 84-year-old mother passed its eighth week — a “deliberate” tactic, experts say, aimed at overcoming what appears to be an investigative impasse.
Nancy Guthrie disappeared from her Tucson, Arizona, home in the Catalina Foothills on Jan. 31. Despite a large multi-agency probe including local police and the FBI, officials have been unable to find the woman, who needs daily medication that could be life-threatening if not taken every 24 hours.
The family’s renewed effort comes as Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said investigators are working with “workable” DNA evidence and reviewing thousands of hours of video. With nearly two months elapsed and 40,000 tips pouring in, the case has taken on greater urgency.
The family also asked residents to check memories and recordings from the late evening of Jan. 11, a previously unreported date of interest that officials haven’t publicly explained but which could indicate the suspect conducted surveillance on the property weeks before the disappearance.
The timeline of Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance resembles a crime drama. Relatives dropped her off around 9:45 p.m. on Jan. 31. Hours later, at 1:47 a.m., her doorbell camera disconnected and was removed. At 2:28 a.m., the app linked to her pacemaker lost connection to her phone. When she didn’t attend a virtual church service the next day, family members checked on her and found her missing.
Federal agents are also probing whether intentional internet outages in Guthrie’s neighborhood that night relate to the disappearance. Several neighbors said their home security footage from the same evening is missing or marked “not available,” and investigators have questioned residents about unusual connectivity issues around Feb. 1.
Authorities recovered disturbing doorbell footage of a masked suspect, estimated at 5 feet 9 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall, wearing a 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack. Blood on Guthrie’s porch tested positive for her DNA. Investigators found 16 gloves during searches, though most belonged to volunteers helping look for her.
Sheriff Nanos told Newsweek on March 20 that the investigation is far from over. “We’re working with the FBI. We’re working with several labs around the country on this. We’re working with forensics, examiners, digital video and media analysts. There’s just a lot going on,” he said.
In a notable update, Sheriff Nanos told NBC Nightly News that investigators now believe they understand why Nancy Guthrie’s home was targeted, though he declined to provide details, suggesting the act was more premeditated than previously thought.
The probe shifted when multiple outlets received what appeared to be ransom notes demanding cryptocurrency. NBC News reviewed one such message, but no law enforcement agency has verified it. The absence of direct communication with a potential captor and unclear ransom terms has puzzled investigators and former FBI officials monitoring the case.
In a move that seemed aimed at generating proof of life, Savannah Guthrie released a statement: “We received your message and we understand. We beg you now to return our mother to us … This is very valuable to us, and we will pay.”
The family has offered a $1 million reward for Nancy Guthrie’s recovery. Together with $100,000 from the FBI and $102,500 from 88-CRIME, the total reward now exceeds $1.2 million.
Authorities detained a man on Feb. 10 and released him hours later. They searched a home on Feb. 13 and questioned someone during a traffic stop, but no arrests were made. All Guthrie siblings and their spouses have been cleared as suspects.
President Donald Trump has shown interest in the case, calling Savannah Guthrie to offer federal assistance and telling reporters on Air Force One that investigators have “very strong” clues. The FBI deployed substantial resources, with Director Kash Patel sharing surveillance images of the masked suspect on social media in early February, a move some investigators criticized for revealing sensitive details.
Sheriff Nanos told the BBC he believes Nancy Guthrie remains in the Tucson area, describing her as in “not good physical health” and saying she “did not leave on her own.”
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department continues to process evidence across multiple labs and review images and video from area cameras. Despite numerous leads — including tips from as far away as Australia — investigators say they have not yet achieved a breakthrough.
The family’s public approach of addressing potential captors while appealing to the community is a calculated risk. By combining a large financial reward with emotional appeals, they hope someone with information will come forward.
NBC News reporters Liz Kreutz and Tom Winter have been tracking the story, and TODAY has provided frequent updates as the investigation continues. The national spotlight has kept pressure on authorities, even as the case becomes more complicated day by day.