A nationwide search continues for 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, who investigators say was kidnapped from her Tucson-area home in the early hours of Sunday, February 1, 2026. The mysterious disappearance has drawn intense public and law-enforcement scrutiny, with the FBI and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department jointly leading the probe.
Guthrie, mother of NBC Today host Savannah Guthrie, is described as frail with limited mobility and reliant on daily medication, heightening urgency among family and authorities.
“We will pay for her safe return,” Savannah Guthrie said in a public plea video, emphasizing that finding her mother alive is the family’s highest priority.
Evidence and Investigation Developments
In recent days, law enforcement released still images from a residential security camera showing a masked individual manipulating the front-door camera on the night of Guthrie’s disappearance. The person is seen carrying a backpack and appears armed, authorities say.
Blood found on the front porch was confirmed through DNA testing to belong to Guthrie, reinforcing investigators’ belief that she was taken against her will.
Officials have recovered several items of evidence, including gloves believed linked to the case, and are actively appealing for public assistance with tips and recognition of the subject depicted in released media.
No suspects have been publicly identified, though a person briefly detained for questioning in the investigation was released without charges.
Timeline of the Case
Here’s how the key events in the disappearance and investigation have unfolded:
📅 January 31, 2026
- ~5:32 p.m.: Guthrie is driven by her son-in-law to a family dinner at her daughter Annie’s home.
- ~9:48 p.m.: She returns home in Catalina Foothills, just outside Tucson. Security data indicates her garage door closed at about 9:50 p.m., suggesting she was inside.
📅 Early Morning, February 1, 2026
- 1:47 a.m.: The doorbell camera at her home is manually disconnected, authorities say.
- 2:12 a.m.: Camera software detects motion—but no usable footage has been recovered.
- 2:28 a.m.: Guthrie’s pacemaker stops syncing with her phone, indicating she may have left home or that the device lost connectivity.
📅 February 1, 2026 (Afternoon)
- ~11:56 a.m.: Family arrives at her home after she misses a morning church service and finds her missing.
- ~12:03 p.m.: Pima County Sheriff’s Department is called; Guthrie is officially reported missing.
📅 February 3–5, 2026
- Law enforcement labels the scene as suspicious with evidence of foul play. Blood matching Guthrie’s DNA is confirmed on the porch. Ransom notes demanding payment in cryptocurrency are received by at least two media outlets, though authorities have not confirmed their legitimacy and note no proof of life has been shown in them.
📅 February 7–8, 2026
- Savannah and her siblings issue emotional pleas for contact from whoever is holding their mother and stress they are willing to negotiate for her safe return.
📅 February 10–12, 2026
- The FBI and the sheriff’s office release security stills of a masked individual linked to the incident and offer a reward for tips. A man detained in the investigation is released after questioning; authorities continue to pursue leads.
What’s Next in the Search
Authorities say the investigation remains active, with search efforts ongoing and hundreds of tips received from the public. The FBI is urging anyone with information to contact law-enforcement tip lines, and family members continue to make public appeals for information and for proof that Guthrie is still alive.
Despite widespread attention and lead generation, the search has yet to produce definitive clues about Nancy Guthrie’s current whereabouts or the identity of her alleged kidnappers.
