Why Officials Say It Could Take Years to Find Nancy Guthrie

by

It may take longer than expected to find Nancy Guthrie.

After Savannah Guthrie, co-host of the Today Show, reported her 84-year-old mother missing two weeks ago, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos stated that the investigation may take a significant amount of time to resolve.

Nanos told the New York Times on February 13th that they could find Nancy anytime from within the hour to potentially weeks, months, or even years from now. However, they are determined to keep searching until both Nancy and the person responsible are found.

Although investigators are diligently working on the case, Nanos admitted the process is draining with its many twists and turns. However, he affirmed they will continue to persevere.

Investigators confirmed they found several gloves near the property of Nancy in Tucson, Arizona. This discovery follows surveillance footage showing a masked man in the area on February 1st.

Okay, so the sheriff’s department put out a statement on February 13th – I’ve been following this so closely – and it said the gloves they found weren’t anywhere near the house, like two miles away! Everyone was saying a glove was inside the house or on the property, but that’s totally false. They’ve sent everything they found to the lab, which is good, I guess, but I just need to know everything about those gloves! It’s all so frustrating!

Police also found unidentified DNA evidence in her home.

Investigators have found DNA on the property that doesn’t belong to Nancy Guthrie or people who have been in close contact with her. They are currently working to identify the source of this DNA, but are not releasing its location at this time.

After Nancy went missing – she is the mother of Annie and Camron Guthrie, and was married to the late Charles Guthrie – the FBI shared footage from a doorbell camera and details about the person they believe may have taken her.

The FBI confirmed new information about the person suspected in the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping after carefully examining video from a doorbell camera, the bureau announced on February 12th.

According to witnesses, the suspect is a man around 5’9″ to 5’10” tall with a medium build. He was seen in the video carrying a black ‘Ozark Trail Hiker Pack’ backpack, which appears to be about 25 liters in size.

Even though Nancy’s family is worried about her health, authorities haven’t found any proof that she has passed away, according to Nanos.

He told Reuters there’s no reason for him to think she isn’t still alive. He explained that while everyone asks about her condition, for him it’s straightforward: her family believes she’s alive, he believes she’s alive, and the 400 officers on his team are working diligently with that same belief.

(TopMob and MS NOW are both part of the Versant Media family.)

Keep reading for a full timeline on Nancy’s disappearance.

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, 84, was reported missing by her family on February 1st. A friend became worried when Nancy didn’t attend church that morning and let the family know. After searching her property for about an hour, Nancy’s children contacted authorities and reported her missing around noon.

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

It’s unusual for the sheriff to be called to a situation like this, but the details emerging from the house are deeply troubling,” he explained to reporters on February 2nd. “This case was particularly striking based on what officers described and what we discovered at the scene.

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

After looking into what happened, officials stated they thought a crime occurred 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 appealed to the public for assistance, noting the community has consistently helped solve difficult cases and asking for their help once again.

The sheriff pointed to Nancy’s difficulty walking – she couldn’t walk even a short distance on her own – as a key reason to suspect something wasn’t right with 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 are concerned because she needs daily medication to stay healthy, and she likely doesn’t have it with her.

I was really concerned to hear what Dr. Nanos shared at the press conference on February 2nd. She described an 84-year-old woman who’s quite frail and needs medication urgently. Apparently, without it within 24 hours, her condition could become life-threatening. It’s just heartbreaking to think about.

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

Although Nancy has faced some health challenges, Dr. Nanos highlighted that her mind remains sharp.

According to 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 she has 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 publicly 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 case and asked anyone with relevant information to reach out to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.

As soon as I heard the news that Savannah’s mom, Nancy, had been reported missing, it was incredibly touching to see her Today show colleagues rally around her with such public support. It really highlights the strong bonds they share, and it’s a reminder of how important it is to lean on your community during difficult times.

Jenna Bush Hager shared on the February 2nd episode of Today with Jenna & Sheinelle that she is personally friends with Nancy and expressed her affection for her.

She continued, saying they were keeping Savannah and her family in their thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

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 reach out to 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 department’s phone number, stating that she was missing.

Savannah’s former colleague, Hoda Kotb, responded to the surprising announcement by posting a heartwarming picture of Savannah and Nancy together on the Today show set. In a simple message on Instagram from February 2nd, Hoda included only 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 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 been on Today since February 1st, when her mother was reported missing. However, local authorities have been checking in with her to make sure she’s okay.

Oh my gosh, the sheriff finally said they’ve talked to her! Apparently, she has a whole security team that’s been keeping them updated all night, but they’re still not ruling anything out, which… honestly, good! They have to be thorough, for her sake. I just need to know she’s safe, and it’s a little reassuring they’re not jumping to conclusions.

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

As a lifestyle expert focused on safety and well-being, I’m following this case closely. Law enforcement officials now believe this woman was likely taken from her home, possibly while she was asleep. They’re currently investigating it as a potential kidnapping or abduction, and are working hard to uncover what happened.

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 coming together with love and hope, and in the goodness of humanity. Most importantly, we believe 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 provide comfort and strength 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 believed this message held timeless wisdom for everyone.

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 NBC’s Today show 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., about four hours after she got back from a family visit, as she explained 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 footage.

Okay, so get this – according to the app that monitors her pacemaker, Nancy actually disconnected from her phone at 2:28 AM. It’s just… unsettling. Then, the family went to check on her around 11:56 AM and she was gone. They immediately called 911, at 12:03 PM, straight to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. I’ve been tracking everything, and these times… they just don’t add up!

About ten minutes after that, he explained that once their patrol teams arrive and assess the situation, they begin responding with both search and rescue and detective units.

It was a really tough day on February 4th. My kids – Savannah, Camron, and Annie – and I read letters we’d written, hoping to reach our mom, Nancy, and anyone who might be holding her. We were just desperately pleading for her safe return home. It was incredibly emotional, putting all our hopes and fears into those words.

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, stating they need undeniable proof that their loved one is alive and in the possession of those who have her.

My mom is the center of our world and where we feel most safe,” she said. “Her health is very delicate, and she’s constantly in pain. She doesn’t have the medication she needs to stay alive and to feel better.

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 communicate 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 an attempt to profit from the situation—described as a complete fraud. Authorities are also taking a detailed ransom letter 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 property as a routine part of the investigation, Savannah posted another Instagram video suggesting they had received what they’d asked for.

Holding hands with Camron and Annie, she said in a video message, ‘We got your message, and we understand. Please, bring our mother back so we can celebrate with her. It’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 toward her home. 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 working with private companies to find any lost, damaged, or hidden images and 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 still stored in the systems’ background processes, 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.”

Two days after the FBI shared video of the person who went near Nancy’s house, investigators provided a description of the suspect.

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 with a capacity of 25 liters.

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.

Read More

2026-02-15 18:49