The search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie, has taken a troubling turn as investigators shift their focus from rescue operations to a full-scale criminal investigation following her mysterious disappearance from her Arizona residence.
Authorities responding to the case have uncovered disturbing evidence suggesting the elderly woman was forcibly removed from her home during the early morning hours of Sunday.
The discovery has prompted Pima County law enforcement to dramatically alter their approach to the case.
Digital evidence has emerged as a crucial component in establishing a timeline for the incident.
Nancy Guthrie’s implanted pacemaker, which had been synchronized with her Apple devices, ceased communicating with those products approximately at 2 a.m. on Sunday, according to information obtained by Fox News from a law enforcement source.
When officers arrived at the Arizona residence around midday, they made additional discoveries that deepened concerns about her welfare.
Nancy Guthrie’s phone and Apple Watch remained inside the home, suggesting she did not leave voluntarily or with time to gather personal belongings.
Physical evidence discovered at the scene has further alarmed investigators.
Sources confirmed to the New York Post that blood was located inside the residence.
Additionally, signs indicating forced entry were documented by responding officers, pointing toward a violent intrusion.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos addressed the evolving nature of the investigation during an appearance on MS Now on Tuesday morning.
The senior law enforcement official indicated that search protocols were being modified as the case progresses.
“The air and ground searches … you’ll see that slow down,” Sheriff Nanos stated.
“Those things are going to slow down, we’re pushing more to the investigative side of this.”
The sheriff emphasized that additional forensic evidence is anticipated.
Authorities expect to receive more DNA evidence and video footage as the investigation continues to unfold.
These materials could prove vital in piecing together what transpired at the Guthrie residence.
Sheriff Nanos did not mince words regarding the severity of the situation and the urgency of locating Nancy Guthrie.
The 84-year-old woman requires regular medication, making her extended absence increasingly perilous with each passing hour.
“She is an 84-year-old woman who went to bed and sometime in the middle of the night she was removed from that home and now here 48 plus hours and this lady needs her medication,” Nanos said. “So it’s not good.”
The Pima County Sheriff’s Office announced plans to conduct a press conference scheduled for approximately 11:30 a.m. local time on Tuesday.
This briefing was arranged hastily, as officials had told the Post just hours earlier that no media appearances were planned for that day.
Law enforcement has been transparent about their working theory regarding Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance.
Officials previously stated publicly that they believe she was possibly kidnapped or abducted from her residence, based on the evidence collected thus far.
The case has drawn national attention due to Savannah Guthrie’s prominence as a television journalist.
The “Today” show co-host has been notably absent from her usual broadcasting duties as the family confronts this crisis, Resist the Mainstream previously reported.
Savannah Guthrie has turned to social media to communicate with the public and request support during this difficult period.
She posted a message on Instagram Monday evening appealing to her followers for assistance through prayer.
“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,” Savannah Guthrie wrote in the Instagram post.
“Raise your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment.”
