An 84-year-old woman has disappeared from her Tucson, Arizona home under what authorities are describing as disturbing circumstances.
The development has prompted a massive search operation involving homicide detectives.
Nancy Guthrie, mother of NBC’s Today Show host Savannah Guthrie, was last observed at her residence on Saturday evening between 9:30 and 9:45 p.m., according to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.
A family member contacted emergency services around noon on Sunday to report the elderly woman missing from her home in Tucson’s Catalina Foothills neighborhood.
Sheriff Chris Nanos revealed that deputies discovered concerning evidence at the scene during their initial investigation, though he declined to provide specific details about the nature of the findings.
The discovery of this evidence prompted the department to bring in homicide detectives to assist with the case, raising serious questions about what may have happened to the missing woman.
“We hope we find her safe and sound, but we are very concerned,” Nanos stated.
The sheriff emphasized that while the case is officially being treated as a search and rescue operation, investigators have not ruled out the possibility of foul play, the Arizona Daily Star reported.
Law enforcement has mobilized an extensive search effort across the Tucson area, deploying K-9 units, drone technology and the sheriff’s department’s aircraft to locate Nancy Guthrie.
“We’re pretty much throwing everything at this,” Nanos said, describing the scope of the search operation.
Authorities have contacted local hospitals and medical transport services throughout the region, but no medical facility has reported any contact with the missing woman.
Nancy Guthrie stands five feet five inches tall and weighs approximately 150 pounds. She has brown hair and blue eyes.
Officials have not released information regarding what clothing she may have been wearing when she disappeared.
Deputies classified the elderly woman as a vulnerable adult primarily due to her advanced age and physical mobility limitations.
Authorities noted that she does not suffer from any cognitive impairments.
The Today Show host has not issued any public statement regarding her mother’s disappearance.
Savannah Guthrie grew up in Tucson and earned her degree from the University of Arizona.
She returned to her hometown late last year to film segments showcasing the city to Today Show viewers.
Nancy Guthrie frequently traveled to New York City to visit her daughter at the Today Show studios, where Savannah has publicly expressed appreciation for her mother’s support throughout the years.
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