The 84-year-old mother of NBC “Today” show anchor Savannah Guthrie has vanished from her Arizona home in what authorities are investigating as a criminal abduction.
Nancy Guthrie was last seen on the evening of Jan. 31 after family members dropped her off following dinner.
Savannah Guthrie’s sister, Annie Guthrie, is believed to be among the last people to see their mother before she disappeared.
Annie reportedly shared a meal with Nancy on the evening of Jan. 31 and told Arizona law enforcement that nothing seemed unusual during their time together.
After the dinner concluded, family members transported Nancy back to her residence in the Catalina Foothills area around 9:30 to 9:45 p.m.
The property, valued at over one million dollars, would become the center of a criminal investigation within hours.
Nancy failed to arrive at church services on Sunday, prompting family members to report her missing around noon that day. However, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos indicated that investigators are focusing their timeline on the late evening hours of Jan. 31.
Sheriff Nanos told media outlets that the investigation’s starting point begins when Nancy returned home from dinner.
Authorities are examining the window between 8:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. on Saturday evening as the critical timeframe.
Law enforcement officials have classified Nancy’s disappearance as a crime rather than a standard missing persons case.
Sheriff Nanos stated his belief that the elderly woman was taken from her home against her will.
Evidence discovered at the residence has reinforced investigators’ suspicions of foul play.
Blood was located inside the home, according to law enforcement sources who spoke with The Los Angeles Times.
Additionally, signs indicating forced entry were documented at the scene.
Personal belongings that Nancy would typically need were left behind at the property.
Her cellular phone, vehicle, and wallet all remained at the home, raising immediate red flags for investigators.
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DNA evidence was collected from the scene and has been transported to a laboratory in Phoenix for analysis.
Sheriff Nanos acknowledged that processing the samples could require several days before results become available.
Nancy’s physical condition adds urgency to the search efforts.
The 84-year-old cannot walk more than 50 yards without assistance and depends on life-sustaining medication.
Authorities previously issued warnings that going 24 hours without her required medication could prove fatal.
As Nancy approached 48 hours missing, Sheriff Nanos emphasized the critical nature of the time element. “The longer this goes on the more danger she faces,” he said.
The search operation has mobilized extensive resources across multiple agencies.
Drones have been deployed to scan the area, while search dogs have been brought in to track potential leads.
Volunteer groups have joined professional searchers, and Border Patrol officials have contributed personnel to the effort.
Savannah Guthrie was noticeably absent from Monday’s broadcast of NBC’s “Today” show.
The veteran news anchor later addressed the situation through social media, requesting support from the public.
“We believe in prayer. We believe in voices raised in unison, in love, in hope. We believe in goodness,” Savannah wrote in an Instagram post published Monday evening.
She shared her message alongside an image containing the words “Please pray.”
The post continued with Savannah describing her mother as a woman of strong faith.
“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,” she wrote.
Savannah concluded her message by asking followers to maintain hope through prayer.
“Raise your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment,” the post stated.
