Savannah Guthrie, co-anchor of NBC’s Today, is living through an unthinkable ordeal: her 84-year-old mother, Nancy, has vanished from her Tucson, Arizona home under circumstances that authorities now describe as suspicious and possibly criminal.
The beloved journalist, who recently returned to work after surgery, stepped away from her duties to issue a statement urging the public to help find her mother:
“Right now, our focus remains on the safe return of our dear mom. We thank law enforcement for their hard work on this case,” she wrote.
Guthrie then encouraged anyone with information to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s office at 520-351-4900.
NBC’s Savannah Guthrie’s mother has disappeared under potentially criminal circumstances
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Nancy Guthrie was last seen around 9:45pm on Saturday (January 31), after being dropped off at her Tucson home by a friend following a church event. The next morning, she failed to appear at her usual Sunday service.
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When family members and investigators entered her $1 million home, they found a crucial detail:
Nancy’s purse, cell phone, ID, and even her medication, items no one would leave behind if they were planning to step out, were all untouched.
Image credits: Pima County Sheriff’s
“It’s not a situation where she voluntarily went away,” a source close to the family told the Daily Mail. “She didn’t take any of the things you would normally take if you voluntarily went out.”
At a Monday press conference, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos confirmed that the home is now being treated as a crime scene.
He said Nancy’s limited mobility made it extremely unlikely she left the house unaided, and although he declined to elaborate, he said additional evidence inside the residence suggested she did not leave on her own.
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Authorities quickly ruled out the possibility that Nancy, who had lived alone since the passing of her husband Charles in 1989, had wandered off due to cognitive issues.
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She was mentally sound, did not suffer from dementia, and was known to depend on medication she left behind to survive.
On Today, co-host Jenna Bush Hager grew visibly emotional as she reminded viewers of how critical those pills were to Nancy’s health.
Nancy Guthrie was not known to suffer from any form of cognitive decline
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Homicide detectives have now joined the case. So have Customs and Border Protection officials due to the home’s proximity to the Mexican border. The FBI is also reportedly aware of the investigation.
Advanced search tactics, such as drones for aerial surveillance, have already been deployed across the area.
Neighbor Paul Arnaud, who lives nearby, said the situation took a turn when word spread that Nancy’s front door had been left ajar.
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“We heard that the front door was left open,” he told reporters. “So a lot of us are worried that it was an abduction… They did a thorough search throughout the entire day and early evening of the entire area and they could not find her.”
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Another source echoed the sentiment: “I don’t think they can say [what happened] yet, but it sounds like it was bad. It’s not like she was mentally unwell and wandered out, if you know what I mean.”
NBC News staff held a prayer circle Monday morning to pray for Nancy’s safe return.
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On Today, broadcaster Craig Melvin appeared visibly tense as he shared updates with the audience.
Nancy was recently seen visiting the Today show studios in New York alongside Savannah, who remains extremely close to her mother. In photos from the visit, the two smiled beside Savannah’s siblings, her brother Camron and sister Annie.
“She doesn’t believe that her mom just went out of her own accord,” said the insider close to Savannah.
Authorities are still classifying the situation as a “search and rescue operation,” but Sheriff Nanos made it clear that foul play has not been ruled out.
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“I moved away from the Tucson area in October. As a senior dependent on public transportation, I feared for my safety because of the sky rocketing crime,” a reader wrote.
“I hope Ms. Guthrie’s mother is returned to her safely.”
“The Sheriff’s words are alarming. I do not believe this story will have a happy ending,” another added.
“Terrible.” Netizens shared their thoughts on the disappearance on social media
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