The Disappearance of Nancy Guthrie: A Detailed Timeline
In the early hours of February 1, 2026, 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie vanished from her home in the Catalina Foothills neighborhood of Tucson, Arizona. What began as a missing person report quickly escalated into a suspected abduction, with her family and authorities launching a desperate search. Here is a comprehensive breakdown of the events surrounding her disappearance and the ongoing investigation.
Saturday, January 31, 2026: The Last Evening
At 5:32 PM, Nancy Guthrie took an Uber to her daughter Annie's house in Tucson, located approximately four miles from her own property. She spent the evening enjoying dinner and games with her family. At 9:48 PM, after the gathering, a family member drove her home. Initially, police reported it was her son-in-law, Tommaso Cioni, who accompanied her. Cioni later informed authorities that he watched Nancy enter her home through the garage door at around 9:50 PM, marking the last confirmed sighting of her.
Sunday, February 1, 2026: The Alarm Is Raised
The first signs of trouble emerged in the early morning. At 1:47 AM, her doorbell camera was disconnected from the front door. By 2:12 AM, the device's software detected a person on camera, but an analysis by the Pima County Sheriff's Department revealed that the footage appeared to "loop right and cover up" due to a lack of subscription link. At 2:28 AM, Nancy's pacemaker, an implanted medical device that regulates heart rate, disconnected from her phone and Apple Watch.
Later that morning, at 11 AM, a friend who had planned to watch a streamed church service with Nancy notified her family that she did not turn up, which was described as very out of character. Her daughter Annie was alerted, and by 11:56 AM, relatives arrived at Nancy's home to find her missing. At 12:03 PM, the Guthrie family called 911 to report her disappearance. Officers from the Pima County Sheriff's Department arrived at 12:15 PM and determined she was missing under "concerning" circumstances. Sheriff Chris Nanos later confirmed that Nancy did not leave her home willingly.
Monday, February 2, 2026: Ransom Demands Emerge
Sheriff Nanos held a news conference, publicly stating that Nancy "did not leave on her own" and appealing for help from the community. It was later confirmed that she had been abducted from her home in the middle of the night. That evening, Nancy's daughter, journalist Savannah Guthrie, broke her silence in an emotional video posted to Instagram, sitting alongside her siblings Annie and Camron. She pleaded for her mother's safe return and directly addressed potential captors, stating, "we are ready to talk," but only if provided with genuine proof of life, not AI-generated images or videos.
Around 5 PM, KOLD News Director Jessica Boubula reported that the local station received a ransom note, setting a first deadline for Thursday at 5 PM local time.
Tuesday, February 3, 2026: Investigation Intensifies
During another press conference, Sheriff Nanos offered limited information, confirming that authorities still did not know Nancy's whereabouts or the exact circumstances of her disappearance. He acknowledged that the agency was investigating potential ransom notes. TMZ reported receiving an alleged ransom letter demanding payment in Bitcoin for Nancy's release, requesting millions to be sent to a specific cryptocurrency address. This note was forwarded to the Pima County Sheriff's Office for review.
Wednesday, February 4, 2026: Family Appeals and Fake Ransom
Savannah and her siblings released another emotional video, directly addressing potential kidnappers and referencing the ransom reports, urging them to make contact. Savannah said, "Everyone is looking for you, Mommy, everywhere. We will not rest." Meanwhile, a ransom text was sent to Annie and Tommaso by a Los Angeles man, Derrick Callella, who was later arrested for sending a fake ransom demand. Daily Mail pictured Tommaso and Annie hiding their faces during this period.
Thursday, February 5, 2026: Blood Evidence and Reward
Sheriff Nanos revealed that blood droplets found on Nancy's front porch matched her DNA. He noted that police were no closer to identifying a suspect, but no one had been ruled out. The FBI announced a $50,000 reward for information. The first reported ransom deadline of 5 PM local time passed without resolution. Nancy's son, Camron Guthrie, shared a video pleading for those responsible to contact the family.
Friday, February 6, 2026: New Messages and Evidence Collection
The sheriff's department announced they were "aware of a new message regarding Nancy Guthrie" and were examining its authenticity. A second ransom note was sent to KOLD around 11:45 AM, containing no further demands or proof of life. KOLD anchor Mary Coleman noted on social media that this note came from a different IP address than the first. KGUN 9 claimed that several outlets received a message demanding $6 million in Bitcoin by Monday at 5 PM local time, with threats to Nancy's life. Authorities did not publicly confirm the validity of any ransom letters.
Detectives scoured the roof of Nancy's home, recovering a previously missed security camera, and towed a dark SUV from her garage.
Saturday, February 7, 2026: Searches and Billboards
Savannah shared another video, indicating readiness to pay for Nancy's safe return. Investigators conducted a late-night search of Annie's home, taking photographs for several hours until around 10:30 PM local time, though no new evidence was disclosed. Drone footage showed investigators removing a floodlight from Nancy's home, coinciding with revelations that a ransom note referenced the fixture. Missing person billboards with Nancy's image were erected across Southwestern states.
Sunday, February 8, 2026: Septic Tank Search and No Suspects
Pima County investigators used a pole to search inside a septic tank behind Nancy's home. Former SWAT team captain Josh Schirard explained that wastewater in such properties goes into tanks, not city sewers. Around 1 PM, the Pima County Sheriff's Office posted on X that they had no suspects or persons of interest identified a week after Nancy was reported missing.
Monday, February 9, 2026: Continued Investigation and Deadlines
Water was seen shooting from a sprinkler at Nancy's home as the search continued. A security camera was removed from the exterior of the property. At 5 PM local time, the second ransom deadline passed. The FBI and Pima County Sheriff's Department released separate statements, confirming that after nine days, they still had no suspect or persons of interest. The FBI added it was unaware of any continued contact between the Guthrie family and suspected kidnappers, urging, "Someone has that one piece of information that can help us bring Nancy home."
Tuesday, February 10, 2026: Breakthrough and Detention
A major breakthrough occurred with the recovery of Nest doorbell camera footage from outside Nancy's home, revealing an armed, masked suspect on the night she vanished. FBI Director Kash Patel released the photos and videos on social media, appealing for information. It was later confirmed that the Guthrie family did not recognize the person in the footage. At around 7 PM local time, delivery driver Carlos Palazeulos was detained in Rio Rico, approximately 60 miles from Tucson, questioned for several hours, and then released, telling reporters he had nothing to do with the case.
The investigation into Nancy Guthrie's abduction remains active, with authorities and her family continuing their relentless pursuit for answers and her safe return.
