On the night of January 31, 2026, 84‑year‑old Nancy Ellen Guthrie — the mother of Today show co‑anchor Savannah Guthrie. Was last seen at her home in the secluded Catalina Foothills area north of Tucson, Arizona. In the weeks since her disappearance, investigators, family members. And the public have been gripped by a deepening and complex investigation that has yielded intriguing forensic leads but no suspect in custody and…On the night of January 31, 2026, 84‑year‑old Nancy Ellen Guthrie — the mother of Today show co‑anchor Savannah Guthrie.
Was last seen at her home in the secluded Catalina Foothills area north of Tucson, Arizona. In the weeks since her disappearance, investigators, family members.
And the public have been gripped by a deepening and complex investigation that has yielded intriguing forensic leads but no suspect in custody and no confirmed understanding of exactly what happened to her.
For now, authorities remain cautious. Without a confirmed suspect, much about the incident remains speculative, and law enforcement officials emphasize that many theories — including whether the abduction was a planned crime or the result of an opportunistic break‑in — are still under active investigation.
The Last Confirmed Moments
According to investigators, Nancy Guthrie was dropped off at her home around 9:50 p.m. on January 31 by her son‑in‑law after spending the evening with family.
She was expected to attend a regular church gathering the following morning but never showed up. When friends and then family members visited her home the next day and found her missing, they called 911 around noon on February 1.
Inside her home, essential personal items including her cellphone, wallet, and car were found undisturbed — unexpected for someone who left voluntarily.
Detectives concluded the situation was inconsistent with a routine missing person’s case and officially declared her home a crime scene.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI have treated the case as a potential abduction, noting that Guthrie — who relied on daily medication and lived with limited mobility — could not have simply walked away from her home on her own.
Surveillance Footage and What It Shows
One of the most startling developments early in the case was the release of doorbell camera footage showing a masked and gloved individual on Guthrie’s front porch in the early morning hours of February 1.
In the video, the person appears to be tampering with the device, their face obscured, their movements deliberate but slow.
The FBI has described the individual as a male, approximately 5 feet 9 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall with a medium build, wearing gloves and carrying a distinctive 25‑liter “Ozark Trail Hiker Pack” backpack — a model sold exclusively by Walmart.
This item has helped investigators narrow their focus, including efforts to trace potential purchase receipts or footage from retail stores.
Despite this media release, investigators emphasize that no suspect has been officially identified or arrested — and the footage, while crucial for public awareness, has not yet led to a breakthrough in naming a suspect.
Forensic Clues: Blood Evidence and DNA Profiles
Early in the investigation, law enforcement confirmed that blood matching Nancy Guthrie’s DNA was found on her front porch, lending further weight to the belief that she was forcibly taken from her home.
A significant development reported by multiple outlets is the recovery of a glove containing DNA evidence roughly two miles from Guthrie’s home.
The FBI says this glove appears to match the type worn by the person seen on surveillance video. Preliminary analysis has been received, and authorities are awaiting full quality‑control confirmation before entering the DNA profile into national forensic databases.
Investigators have collected approximately 16 gloves in various locations near Guthrie’s residence; many initially recovered belonged to searchers and were discarded during the investigation, but this particular glove stands out because of its distinct DNA profile.
Additionally, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at Guthrie’s residence, towed a Range Rover SUV from a restaurant parking lot as part of the probe, and briefly detained a driver during a related traffic stop — though no charges have been filed in connection with the disappearance.
Ransom Notes and Contact Attempts
Shortly after her disappearance, unverified ransom notes demanding cryptocurrency were sent to several media outlets, including Tucson news stations and, in reports circulating online, claims of connections to platforms like TMZ.
Authorities have not confirmed the authenticity of these demands, and two purported ransom deadlines have passed without further communication or verified proof of life.
The Guthrie family, desperate for any sign of their loved one, publicly stated at one point that they were willing to pay if it meant confirming Nancy’s safety — even without direct proof she was alive.
Despite these notes and media speculation, law enforcement cautions that ransom demands are not confirmed as genuine, and misinformation — or opportunistic copycat claims — are possible. No negotiated exchange has occurred.
The Family’s Response and Public Appeals
Throughout the investigation, Savannah Guthrie has been at the forefront of public appeals for her mother’s safe return. In a heartfelt Instagram video, she addressed whoever may be holding her mother:
“It is never too late to do the right thing,” she said. “And you’re not lost or alone… We believe in the essential goodness of every human being.”
Savannah stepped away from her duties at the Today show, including planned coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics, to remain in Arizona and assist with the search.
Other family members, including Nancy’s daughter Annie and son Camron, have joined her in statements to the press and public.
Sheriff Chris Nanos has also publicly refuted media rumors suggesting the family were suspects in the case, stressing that the Guthrie family is considered victims, fully cooperative, and not under suspicion.
The Investigation Continues
As of mid‑February 2026, authorities have:
Treated Nancy Guthrie’s home as a crime scene since early in the case.
Increased the reward for information leading to her safe return or the arrest of those responsible to $100,000.
Collected thousands of tips from the public — more than 13,000 FBI tips and 18,000 calls to the sheriff’s department.
Made multiple appeals for neighbors and residents to share video footage and possible sightings.
Despite these efforts, no person has been arrested or publicly named as a suspect. Investigators are continuing to analyze forensic evidence, interview possible witnesses, canvass the Catalina Foothills area, and follow up on leads, including efforts to trace the distinctive backpack seen in the video.
Law enforcement has repeatedly emphasized they are keeping an open mind about motive and circumstance — cautious not to draw conclusions without verified evidence.
One inside source suggested to local media that the incident may not have been a carefully planned kidnapping but could have arisen from something like a burglary gone wrong, though that theory has not been confirmed publicly by officials.
Health Concerns and Public Sympathy
Nancy’s health is a major concern. At 84, she relies on daily medication for chronic conditions and has limited mobility, making it unlikely she could have survived on her own for an extended period without assistance.Her disappearance has drawn national attention not only because of Savannah Guthrie’s prominence but also due to the unsettling combination of surveillance video, blood evidence, the lack of a clear suspect, and the unanswered questions about what happened in the still hours of that February morning.
Where the Case Stands Now
More than two weeks after Nancy Guthrie vanished, no suspect has been apprehended, and law enforcement continues to investigate a wide array of leads.
DNA evidence, surveillance footage, and forensic clues are being processed with the aim of developing a credible suspect profile and confirming a timeline of events.
Investigators caution that without direct contact from whoever took her, or without a confirmed forensic match that leads to an identity, the mystery remains unresolved.
However, authorities and the family remain publicly hopeful that Nancy Guthrie could still be found alive — a possibility officials have not ruled out and one her loved ones have repeatedly spoken about with emotional appeal.
