Nancy Guthrie Abduction: Today Show Host's Mother Missing for Three Nights
Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC's Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie, has now been missing for three consecutive nights, with law enforcement authorities increasingly convinced she was abducted from her Arizona home. The Pima County Sheriff's Department has revealed they are treating the case as a crime scene rather than a simple missing person investigation, with the FBI and US Border Patrol providing crucial assistance in the search operation.
Details of the Disappearance
Nancy Guthrie was last seen around 9:30 pm on Saturday, January 31, at her residence in the affluent Catalina Foothills community just north of Tucson, Arizona. Authorities believe she was taken from her bed while sleeping, with the likely timeframe narrowed to between 1 am and 4 am on Sunday morning. She was reported missing later that same day, triggering an immediate and extensive search operation.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos stated at a Monday press conference that investigators have determined Nancy Guthrie did not leave her home voluntarily. "We know she didn't just walk out there, that we know," Sheriff Nanos emphasized, adding that "we believe now, after we've processed that crime scene, that we do, in fact, have a crime." The sheriff confirmed they believe she was "taken against her will, possibly in the middle of the night" in what constitutes either kidnapping or abduction.
Health Concerns and Vulnerability
Authorities have expressed particular concern about Nancy Guthrie's medical condition. Sheriff Nanos revealed she requires medication that "could be fatal" if she goes more than 24 hours without it, creating additional urgency in the investigation. Despite being described as having "very limited mobility" due to her age, the sheriff was clear that this is not a dementia-related disappearance.
"Nancy Guthrie is of great sound and mind, this is not dementia-related. She is as sharp as a tack," Sheriff Nanos stated. "Her family wants everybody to know, this is not somebody that just wandered off." She is officially classified as a vulnerable adult due to her age and physical limitations.
Investigation Developments
The investigation has seen significant resources deployed, including:
- Initial search efforts using drones, aircraft, ground crews, and dog teams
- Assistance from both the FBI and US Border Patrol with specialized resources
- Neighbors being asked to review security camera footage
- Door-to-door inquiries by law enforcement officers
Former FBI special agent Nicole Parker, now a Fox News contributor, suggested the perpetrator likely had intimate knowledge of Nancy Guthrie or her home. "I do believe that it was someone who likely knows her, knows her very well, or knows the structure of the home very well," Parker told Hannity, adding that investigators appear to have discovered something particularly compelling at the scene that is driving their sense of urgency.
Sheriff Nanos confirmed that large-scale search efforts have now been scaled back, noting: "Right now, we don't see this as a search mission, as much as we do a crime scene."
Community Response and Family Appeal
Neighbors in the Catalina Foothills community have expressed shock and rallied to assist. One neighbor told Us Weekly they had seen Nancy just two days before her disappearance, describing her as "always smiling and always asking about our family and neighbors." Another resident reported seeing numerous "dark vans with blacked out windows" in the area following the disappearance.
Savannah Guthrie has made an emotional public appeal for her mother's safe return. In an Instagram post on Monday night, 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."
The Today show host was absent from her program on Monday morning, with co-host Jenna Bush Hager making a plea for assistance on her behalf. Colleagues including Al Roker and Hoda Kotb have publicly expressed support, with Roker writing on Instagram: "We are praying for Savannah and her family and the return of their beloved Mom, Nancy."
Background and Family Information
Nancy Guthrie lives alone in the Catalina Foothills community where she has been described as engaged with her neighbors and community. Her daughter Savannah has spoken openly about their close relationship, particularly how her mother supported her through college by taking a job at the University of Arizona to secure tuition-free education for her children.
Savannah Guthrie, born in Australia but raised primarily in Tucson, has credited her mother with supporting her dreams of parenthood. She now has two children with her husband Michael Feldman. The family's connection to Arizona remains strong despite Savannah's high-profile career in New York as a Today show co-host and former White House correspondent.
The investigation continues with authorities urging anyone with information to contact the Pima County Sheriff's Department. Nancy Guthrie is described as a white female, approximately 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighing about 150 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.
