Elizabeth Smart Shares Her Advice on Nancy Guthrie’s Disappearance

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Elizabeth Smart doesn’t want anyone to lose hope. 

A woman who was kidnapped at age 14 in 2002 and rescued after nine months recently offered advice to those following the case of Nancy Guthrie, Savannah Guthrie’s mother. Nancy has been missing since January 31st, and her whereabouts remain unknown.

Elizabeth explained to podcast hosts Keltie Knight, Jac Vanek, and Becca Tobin that law enforcement often says a missing person’s chances of survival are nearly nonexistent after the first 48 hours. She believes it’s crucial not to give up hope, sharing that if people had adopted that mindset in her own disappearance, she might not be alive today.

Elizabeth, who was rescued from captivity when people spotted her captors, Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Ileen Barzee, thanks to an episode of America’s Most Wanted, pointed out that while cases like hers are unusual, they do happen. She wanted to emphasize that finding missing people isn’t hopeless.

I did return, and others have too,” the activist explained. “Even though it feels like hope is fading with each day, and the chances of finding her seem smaller, we have to keep reminding ourselves that giving up isn’t an option.

This optimism can lead to real progress. As Elizabeth wisely said, “If we all stay aware, someone is bound to notice something important.”

She went on to say that someone must have information, and if you see something unusual, don’t just dismiss it as odd – you should actually do something about it.

“Don’t wait, and don’t second-guess yourself,” she encouraged. “Just call the police and tell them everything you know and have seen.”

Elizabeth isn’t alone in hoping for Nancy’s safe return. This week, Savannah and her brothers and sisters offered a $1 million reward for information leading to their mother, regardless of whether she’s found alive or not.

In a video posted on February 24th, Savannah pleaded with the public, asking for any information that could help bring her mother home. She expressed hope for a joyful reunion, but also said her family would celebrate her mother’s life if she couldn’t be found, acknowledging her mother’s strength and courage.

For a complete timeline of the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, keep reading. 

Nancy Guthrie, mother to Annie, Camron, and Savannah Guthrie, was last seen at her home in Tucson, Arizona, around 9:30 p.m. on January 31st, according to police.

Police confirmed to Today that Nancy, age 84, was reported missing by her family on February 1st. A friend became worried when Nancy didn’t attend church that morning and alerted her family. After searching her property for about an hour, her children contacted authorities and reported her missing around noon.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos later explained the first steps of the investigation, which involved detectives specializing in homicides, at the victim’s home.

We don’t usually involve the sheriff in situations like this, but the details emerging from the house are deeply troubling,” he said at a press conference on February 2nd. “This case was particularly unusual based on what officers reported finding inside.

This isn’t how things usually work,” Nanos explained. “Normally, our homicide detectives are called out when someone dies, when we have a body to investigate. This time, we sent them based solely on the information the surveyors provided.”

After looking into what happened, officials said they think a crime occurred at Nancy’s house.

During a press conference on February 2nd, Nanos stated that investigators have confirmed a crime scene after processing the location. He asked for the public’s assistance, noting that the community has a history of helping to solve difficult cases and he hoped they would do so again.

The sheriff pointed out that Nancy had trouble walking—she couldn’t walk even a short distance on her own—which led him to suspect something wasn’t right about her disappearance.

He stated, “We’re certain she didn’t simply leave on her own. Evidence at the location suggests something else happened.”

The search for Nancy is ongoing, and officials are concerned because she needs daily medication to stay healthy, and she likely doesn’t have it with her.

During the February 2nd press conference, Nanos explained that the patient is an 84-year-old woman with health problems who urgently needs medication. Without it within 24 hours, her condition could become life-threatening.

We’re asking anyone with information about this case – if you’ve seen or heard anything, please get in touch. Call 911. We want to avoid another tragedy and need the public’s help.

Okay, so everyone’s been worried about Nancy’s health, and yeah, it’s true she’s had some physical struggles for a while now. But honestly? Her mind is amazing. Dr. Nanos keeps saying how sharp she still is, and it’s such a relief to know that, even with everything, she’s still Nancy – brilliant and quick-witted. It just makes me adore her even more!

According to Dr. Nanos, Nancy Guthrie is mentally sound and this situation isn’t related to dementia. She remains very alert. The family wants to emphasize that she didn’t simply wander off, and any physical limitations are simply due to her age.

With the search for Nancy still ongoing, Nanos expressed his wish for her to come home safely.

“I hope we find her safe and sound,” he emphasized, “but we cannot ignore what’s in front of us.”

Oh my gosh, it’s just heartbreaking! The day after they said Nancy was missing, I saw her, the anchor from Today, actually talking about what her family is going through. It’s just… devastating to even think about. I’ve been glued to the news, and seeing her speak like that just made it all so real. I feel so awful for them!

Speaking for my family, I want to express our gratitude for all the kind thoughts, prayers, and supportive messages we’ve received,” she shared on February 2nd during an interview on NBC’s morning show. “Our top priority right now is bringing Nancy home safely.

She expressed gratitude to law enforcement for their efforts in the investigation and asked anyone with relevant information to reach out to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.

Once Savannah learned her mother, Nancy, had been reported missing, her colleagues on the Today show publicly expressed their support.

Jenna Bush Hager shared on the February 2nd episode of Today with Jenna & Sheinelle that she is personally close to Nancy and has a lot of affection for her.

She continued, saying they were thinking of Savannah and her family and sending their prayers to everyone affected.

Meanwhile, Sheinelle Jones emphasized the importance of community during this difficult time. 

She felt the show was at its best when it called on the community for help, asking viewers to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s department with any information related to the case, even if it seemed insignificant.

She added, “So we’re sending our prayers but we’re also sending our collective action.”

Before concluding the segment, both hosts continued, “We love you, Savannah.”

And Sunday Today anchor Willie Geist also urged fans to keep an eye out for Nancy.

On February 2nd, he posted on Instagram asking anyone with information about the whereabouts of Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy, to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department in Arizona. He also included the relevant phone number.

Savannah’s former colleague, Hoda Kotb, responded to the surprising announcement by posting a heartwarming photo of Savannah and Nancy together on the Today show set. In a simple message on Instagram from February 2nd, Hoda shared a red heart and praying hands emoji.

Police have labeled Nancy’s home in Arizona a crime scene, but they say there’s no reason for the public to be worried.

At a press conference on February 2nd, Pima County Sheriff Nanos stated that he didn’t believe there was an immediate danger, but emphasized that the investigation was ongoing and much work remained.

Savannah hasn’t appeared on Today since February 1st, when her mother was reported missing. However, local authorities have been checking in with her to ensure she’s safe.

The sheriff confirmed they had spoken with her. Her security team has been in contact with them all night, but they aren’t ruling anything out at this point.

On Feb. 2, Pima County police shared a series of updates on the timeline of Nancy’s disappearance.

Investigators now think the woman was taken from her home against her will, likely sometime during the night, according to a Pima County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson. Detectives are investigating the possibility that she was kidnapped.

After news broke that Nancy might have been taken from her home in Arizona while she was sleeping, Savannah made a heartfelt plea.

In a recent Instagram post on February 2nd, she shared her faith, writing, “We believe in the power of prayer, in coming together with love and hope, and in the goodness of people. Most importantly, we believe in God.”

Savannah continued, expressing gratitude for everyone’s prayers for her mother, Nancy, whom she described as a woman of strong beliefs and a devoted person. She asked for continued prayers, believing they would provide comfort and strength to Nancy right now.

She added, “we need you.”

To conclude her plea, Savannah shared a Bible verse from Isaiah.

She shared a verse from Isaiah, writing, ‘He will keep those with steadfast hearts, who trust in the Lord, in perfect peace.’ She believed this message was timeless and universally relevant.

Savannah continued, “Bring her home.”

Pima County Sheriff Nanos stated that DNA evidence was discovered at Nancy’s home, which is now being treated as a crime scene.

We collected samples and are hoping they contain enough DNA to help us identify what we’re looking for, he told NBC News in a report on Today on February 3rd.

At a press conference held two days after Nancy went missing, Nanos explained what happened leading up to her disappearance.

According to Nanos, the doorbell camera stopped working at 1:47 a.m., just about four hours after she got back from a family visit. She shared this information at a press conference on February 5th.

The software identified someone at the door, but the video was automatically deleted because Nancy didn’t have a paid subscription. However, the representative assured her they were still working to recover the recording.

The sheriff explained that Nancy’s pacemaker app lost connection with her phone at 2:28 a.m. Later, at 11:56 a.m., her family found her missing, and they called 911 at 12:03 p.m. to report it to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.

About ten minutes after that, he explained that when their patrol teams arrive at the scene, they immediately begin responding with both search-and-rescue and detective units.

On February 4th, Savannah, Camron, and Annie read letters they hoped would reach their mother and anyone holding her, asking for her safe return.

In a video posted to Instagram, the family spokesperson said they are doing everything possible and are willing to communicate. They emphasized concerns about the potential for misinformation, stating they need definitive proof their loved one is alive and in the possession of those they are communicating with.

She described her mother as the center of their world and a source of comfort. Sadly, her mother is very ill and in constant pain. Her heart is weak, and she desperately needs medication to manage her condition and relieve her suffering. Without it, her health is at serious risk.

The next day, Camron confirmed in a separate video that the family was still “waiting for contact.”

We’re asking whoever has our mother to please contact us. We haven’t received any direct communication and need to establish a way to connect so we can begin to resolve this.

During a press conference on February 5th, FBI agent Heith Janke announced the arrest of Derrick Callella from California. Callella is accused of sending fake texts as part of a scheme to profit from the situation. Authorities are also taking a detailed ransom letter, which was shared with TMZ, very seriously. Callella has not yet entered a plea and was released on a $20,000 bond.

However, he noted, the Guthrie family was “still waiting for communication.”

On February 7th, the day officials told Today they had searched Annie’s Arizona home as a routine part of the investigation, Savannah posted a new video on Instagram suggesting they had received what they asked for.

Holding hands with Camron and Annie, she said in the video, “We understand your message, and we’re asking you to please bring our mother back so we can celebrate with her. That’s the only thing that will bring us peace.”

And if her intentions weren’t clear, Savannah added, “This is very valuable to us and we will pay.”

Investigators shared surveillance photos of a person of interest in the case on February 10th.

Footage from a camera on Nancy’s property shows a person wearing a ski mask and carrying a backpack walking up to the house. The individual then appears to punch the camera, damaging it. Police had previously noted the camera was broken when they responded to the property.

For the past eight days, the FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department have been collaborating with private companies to find any lost, damaged, or hidden images and videos from Nancy Guthrie’s home. This effort included recovering data after recording devices were removed. The recovered video was found as leftover data within those systems, according to a statement shared with TopMob News.

“Working with our partners,” the note continued, “law enforcement has uncovered these previously inaccessible new images showing an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie’s front door the morning of her disappearance.”

As a lifestyle expert focused on safety, I’ve been following the recent case closely. Just two days after the FBI shared video of someone approaching Nancy’s house, they’ve now given us a more detailed description of the person they’re looking for. It’s a small step, but hopefully, this information will help anyone who might recognize them.

According to the FBI’s Phoenix office, the suspect is a man around 5’9” to 5’10” tall with an average build. He was seen in a video wearing a black ‘Ozark Trail Hiker Pack’ backpack that holds about 25 liters.

As a long-time follower of this case, I was really encouraged to hear the FBI has doubled the reward for information about Nancy Guthrie. They’ve increased it from $50,000 to $100,000, hoping it will help locate Nancy and, importantly, bring anyone involved in her disappearance to justice. It’s a significant step, and I truly hope it generates some new leads.

After Savannah Guthrie’s mother was reported missing over two weeks ago, Pima County Sheriff Nanos released a statement to explain who authorities are looking at in connection with the 84-year-old’s disappearance.

In a statement released on February 16th, authorities confirmed that the entire Guthrie family – including all siblings and their spouses – has been ruled out as suspects in this case. They emphasized the family’s full cooperation and stated they are, in fact, victims themselves.

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2026-02-26 17:20