Why Elizabeth Smart Thinks Nancy Guthrie Could Still Be Alive

Elizabeth Smart is confident Nancy Guthrie could still be alive.

Savannah Guthrie’s mother has been missing for over three months. Reflecting on her own experience – being kidnapped at age 14 and rescued nine months later – the activist shared that her story, and those like it, demonstrate that there’s always a possibility of hope, even in difficult situations.

Elizabeth said she believes 84-year-old Nancy could still be alive when asked on CNN’s Erin Burnett OutFront on May 5th. She stated definitively, “She could absolutely still be alive.”

She added that some people have survived being missing for many years – even decades – so there’s definitely a chance this person could still be alive.

Elizabeth, 38, explained that while another option exists, they need to continue searching until they have more information.

Ultimately, she emphasized that Nancy “deserves, either way, to be brought home.”

I still can’t believe it! Elizabeth, my absolute idol, recently revealed she’s been secretly building her physique – seriously, a total queen! But what gets me is what she said about being found. She explained it was because people just refused to give up looking for her, even after almost a whole year had passed. It’s just… incredible. She’s so inspiring, and the dedication of everyone involved is just amazing!

She explained on the February 26th episode of the Ladygang podcast that law enforcement often says a missing person’s chances of survival are nearly zero if they aren’t found within the first 48 hours. She added that it’s as if they’re considered lost forever, but she believes it’s important to never give up hope, because if people had thought that way about her own disappearance, she might not be alive today.

I did return, and others have too,” she said. “Even though it feels like hope is fading with each day that passes, and the chances of finding her seem smaller, we need to keep reminding ourselves to never give up.

Like Elizabeth’s parents, Nancy Guthrie’s family is not giving up hope that she will be found.

Since Nancy was reported missing from her Arizona home on February 1st, her daughter Savannah and her brothers, Camron and Annie Guthrie, have repeatedly asked for the public’s help in finding her. They’ve also offered a $1 million reward for information that leads to her safe return.

I was so heartbroken hearing Savannah say in an interview with Hoda Kotb that they were all truly suffering. She said, ‘Someone needs to do the right thing,’ and you could just feel the pain in her voice. She described it as unbearable, and honestly, it just felt so raw and real. It’s been incredibly difficult to watch.

For a complete timeline of Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, read on.

The child safety advocate, who was saved when people on the street identified her captors, Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Ileen Barzee, stressed the importance of being aware of your surroundings and reporting anything that seems unusual. She believes someone has information that could help, as she pointed out, “Someone does know something.”

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

Like Elizabeth’s parents, Nancy Guthrie’s family is not giving up hope that she will be found.

In a March interview with Hoda Kotb, Savannah, 54, expressed deep pain, saying, “Someone needs to do what’s right. This is just unbearable for us.”

For a complete timeline of Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, read on.

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 the Pima County police.

I was so worried when I heard Nancy, an 84-year-old woman, had gone missing. Her family told me it all started when a friend noticed she hadn’t been at church one morning. That’s when they went to check on her, searched her property for about an hour, and then, when they couldn’t find her, they had to call the police around noon. It’s just a terrible situation, and everyone is hoping for her safe return.

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

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve covered a lot of unusual situations, and this one was particularly unsettling. During a press conference on February 2nd, authorities explained they don’t usually see this level of concern with a scene like this one. What really stood out was the initial description from those first on the scene, and what they actually discovered inside the house – it was truly something else.

This isn’t how things usually work,” Nanos explained. “Normally, our homicide team is called out when there’s a death, a body to investigate. In this case, we sent them based solely on the information the surveyors provided.”

After looking into the situation, officials stated they think a crime happened at Nancy’s house.

During a press conference on February 2nd, Nanos stated that investigators now believe they have confirmed a crime scene after processing the area. He asked for the community’s assistance, noting their history of helping solve difficult cases and expressing hope they will do so again.

The sheriff pointed out that Nancy had trouble getting around – 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 definitively, “We’re certain she didn’t simply leave on her own.” He also mentioned that evidence at the location suggests she didn’t leave voluntarily.

The search for Nancy is still ongoing, and officials have stressed that she requires daily medication to stay healthy, and she likely doesn’t have it with her.

During a press conference on February 2nd, Nanos explained that an 84-year-old woman is facing serious health issues and 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 – to please get in touch with us. Please call 911. We want to avoid another tragedy and need the public’s help.

Although Nancy has had some health issues, Dr. Nanos highlighted that her mind remains sharp.

According to Dr. Nanos, Nancy Guthrie is mentally alert and this situation isn’t related to dementia. She’s very sharp and aware. 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.”

The day after Nancy was reported missing, the anchor of the Today show shared how difficult this time is for her family.

In a statement to NBC’s morning show on February 2nd, she expressed her family’s gratitude for all the support, prayers, and kind messages they’ve received. Their main 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 Guthrie learned her mother, Nancy, had been reported missing, her colleagues on the Today show immediately voiced their support publicly.

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 keeping Savannah and her family in their thoughts and sending their prayers to everyone affected.

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

You know, when I saw them ask viewers to reach out to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department with any information, even if it seemed insignificant, it really struck me. It felt like that was when our community was truly at its finest – everyone coming together and wanting to help, no matter how small the detail. It was a powerful moment, and I felt so proud to be a part of it.

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 sheriff’s department’s phone number, noting that she was missing.

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

Police have labeled Nancy’s home in Arizona a crime scene, but they don’t think the public needs to be concerned for their safety.

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

Savannah hasn’t been 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 communicating 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 during the night, according to a Pima County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson on February 2nd. 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 asleep, 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 people coming together with love and hope, in the goodness of humanity, and most importantly, in God.”

Savannah continued, thanking everyone for keeping her mother, Nancy, in their thoughts and prayers. She described Nancy as a woman of strong beliefs and a devoted person, and asked for continued prayers, believing they would help her 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 and unwavering trust in the Lord in perfect peace.’ She added that this message holds true for everyone, always.

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 hopeful they contain enough DNA to help us identify what we’re investigating,” he said in a report on Today, February 3rd.

Two days after Nancy went missing, Nanos explained what happened leading up to her disappearance at a press conference.

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, as she explained in 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 footage.

The sheriff explained that Nancy’s pacemaker app lost connection to her phone at 2:28 a.m. The family found her missing at 11:56 a.m., and 911 was called to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department just three minutes later, at 12:03 p.m.

About ten minutes after that, he explained that when their patrol teams arrive at the scene, they immediately begin responding by deploying search and rescue teams, along with detectives from different units.

On February 4th, Savannah, Camron, and Annie read letters they had written, hoping to reach their mother and anyone who might be 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. However, they expressed concern about the potential for misinformation and insisted on verifiable proof that their loved one is still alive and in the custody of those communicating with them.

My mom is the center of our world and everything to us. Her health is very delicate, especially her heart, and she’s in constant pain. Unfortunately, she doesn’t have the medication she needs to manage her pain and stay alive. Getting her the right medicine is essential for her well-being and to prevent her from suffering.

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 we need to establish a way to connect so we can begin to resolve this situation.

During a press conference on February 5th, FBI special 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 investigating a detailed ransom letter shared with TMZ and are taking it 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 property as a routine part of the investigation, Savannah posted a new video on Instagram suggesting they had received a response to a previous request.

Speaking while holding hands with Camron and Annie, she said they received the message and understood its contents. She pleaded for their mother’s return, explaining it was the only way they could find peace and celebrate with her.

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

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

As a lifestyle and home safety expert, I’ve been reviewing the footage recovered from Nancy’s property, and it’s quite concerning. The video clearly shows someone approaching her home wearing a ski mask and carrying a backpack. Sadly, the footage then shows this person actually hitting the security camera with their fist, which explains why police found it damaged when they arrived. It’s a clear act of intentional vandalism, and we’re hoping the footage helps authorities identify the individual.

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 or videos from Nancy Guthrie’s home. This effort was necessary because recording devices had been removed. They were able to recover the video from data remaining in the systems’ background processes, according to a statement provided to 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.”

Two days after the FBI published video of the person who went near Nancy’s house, investigators shared details about what the suspect looked like.

Okay, so the FBI just put out a new update, and I’ve been studying the details! They say the guy they’re looking for is around 5’9″ to 5’10”, just a regular build, nothing super distinctive. But here’s the thing that really caught my eye – he was carrying a black Ozark Trail Hiker Pack, a 25-liter one! I’ve already been searching everywhere for that exact backpack, because honestly, knowing what he carried is a HUGE clue. I’m telling you, this is going to help crack the case!

The FBI is now offering a $100,000 reward – up from $50,000 – for information that helps find Nancy Guthrie or leads to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance.

After Nancy had been missing for over two weeks, Pima County Sheriff Nanos released a statement to explain who might be connected to the case.

In a statement on February 16th, authorities confirmed that the entire Guthrie family – including all brothers, sisters, and their spouses – have been ruled out as suspects. They emphasized the family has been fully cooperative and are themselves considered victims in this situation.

The gloves discovered close to Nancy’s house didn’t seem to connect with the rest of the evidence in the case, according to police.

On March 2nd, Pima County Sheriff Nanos explained to KVOA, the local NBC station, that around three weeks prior, they had found a pair of gloves with DNA about two miles from the victim’s home. At the time, investigators genuinely thought the gloves were related to a restaurant.

Although some people thought the gloves found near the crime scene resembled those worn by the suspect in the doorbell camera footage, Detective Nanos dismissed this as just a guess. They identified the gloves’ owner as an employee of a local restaurant and confirmed the gloves were not connected to the case.

2026-05-09 00:53

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