Law enforcement officials in Arizona have made a stark admission in the ongoing search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of television presenter Savannah Guthrie. As the investigation enters its third day, authorities confess they remain completely in the dark about her location.
Urgent Search for Missing Grandmother
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos held a press conference on Tuesday, delivering the sobering update that investigators are no closer to finding Nancy Guthrie. "We don't know where she is," Sheriff Nanos stated bluntly, highlighting the growing urgency surrounding the disappearance of the elderly grandmother.
Nancy Guthrie vanished from her home in the Catalina Foothills neighbourhood, near Tucson, Arizona, sometime between late Saturday night and early Sunday morning. The sheriff revealed that investigators now suspect she was taken against her will, with the case being treated as a potential kidnapping or abduction.
Critical Timeframe and Medical Concerns
Sheriff Nanos provided specific details about the disappearance timeline. Nancy Guthrie was last seen at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Saturday night when she returned home from an outing with family. Her absence was noted when she failed to attend her regular church service on Sunday morning.
The sheriff emphasised the critical nature of time in this investigation, revealing that Nancy depends on vital medication. "If she's alive right now, her meds are vital. I can't stress that enough," Nanos explained. "It's been better than 24 hours, and the family tells us if she doesn't have those meds, it can become fatal."
Home Declared Crime Scene
Investigators have declared Nancy Guthrie's home a crime scene after finding both her cellphone and car still at the property. Sheriff Nanos clarified the nature of their investigation: "We don't see this as a search mission so much as it is a crime scene."
When questioned about reports of blood evidence found at the home, the sheriff offered a careful response. "I'm not saying there's blood inside that house or outside that house," he told reporters. "What I'm saying is our team will process the scene. Like you would think of any crime scene, we go in and we process it. We look for things like that, blood, DNA, any kind of physical evidence, fingerprints, anything."
Investigative Challenges and Community Response
The investigation faces significant challenges due to the neighbourhood's layout. The Catalina Foothills area features homes on large lots with minimal sidewalks, making surveillance footage difficult to obtain. Despite this, investigators are reviewing available camera footage from nearby homes and analysing cellphone tower data.
Laura Gargano, a Catalina Foothills Association board member who lives near Nancy Guthrie, has been actively canvassing the neighbourhood since Sunday night. "I've been out walking, talking to other neighbours, asking them to check their surveillance cameras," Gargano told reporters. "She's well known in this community. We're all hoping for some good news."
FBI Joins Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has now joined the case, with agents from the Tucson office working alongside local authorities. Jon Edwards, assistant special agent in charge at the FBI's Tucson office, outlined their involvement: "We're downloading and analysing cell phones, obtaining cell tower information, conducting interviews and providing any and all investigative support that the sheriff's department needs."
Sheriff Nanos appealed directly to the public for assistance, stating: "We're looking at this from every angle but we need your help." When asked whether investigators believe they are searching for someone who is still alive, Nanos replied simply: "We hope we are."
Family Appeals and Media Absence
Savannah Guthrie, the longtime co-host of NBC's Today show, has made a public appeal for her mother's safe return. In an Instagram post to her 1.2 million followers, she wrote: "Thank you for lifting your prayers with ours for our beloved mom, our dearest Nancy, a woman of deep conviction, a good and faithful servant. Raise your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment. Bring her home."
The television presenter has been absent from the Today show since Monday, with co-host Jenna Bush Hager making appeals to viewers on her behalf. Investigators have confirmed that Nancy Guthrie lived alone, has limited mobility but no cognitive issues, and would not have left voluntarily.
Sheriff Nanos concluded the press conference by noting they are following hundreds of leads but declined to comment on whether any ransom demands have been made. The investigation continues as authorities work against the clock to locate the missing grandmother.
