Investigators treat Tucson home as a crime scene amid an urgent search.
TUCSON, AZ — The Pima County sheriff said Monday that Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of “Today” co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, was likely taken from her home while she slept, and deputies are processing the residence as a crime scene after finding signs of foul play.
Authorities said the case is being handled as a suspected abduction because there is no indication Guthrie left of her own accord and she has limited mobility. The search has drawn national attention as detectives, forensic teams and volunteers fan out across neighborhoods north of Tucson. Investigators emphasized that Guthrie requires daily medication considered vital. Family members, including Savannah Guthrie, are in Arizona and cooperating with detectives as the Sheriff’s Department coordinates with federal partners and canvasses for security camera footage from the area.
Guthrie was last seen late Saturday at her home in the Catalina Foothills. When she did not appear at church Sunday morning, a friend contacted her children. Relatives checked the house and the immediate area before calling 911, deputies said. Sheriff Chris Nanos told reporters, “I believe she was abducted, yes. She didn’t walk from there. She didn’t go willingly.” He said investigators noted concerning signs inside the home and shifted from a missing-person call to a criminal investigation. Crews used drones and search dogs Sunday before pausing parts of the ground search to allow crime-scene specialists to document the residence.
Officials said Guthrie is 5 feet, 5 inches tall and weighs about 150 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. She does not have known cognitive issues but is “very limited in her mobility,” according to the Sheriff’s Department. Her cellphone was recovered, and there was no immediate evidence she could have traveled far on foot. Nanos said the timeline points to the overnight hours between late Saturday and early Sunday. “The clock is literally ticking,” the sheriff said, citing Guthrie’s need for medication. Detectives conducted door-to-door interviews, pulled license-plate and camera footage from nearby streets and asked residents to check saved video for anything unusual in that window.
Authorities described the neighborhood as a quiet pocket of the foothills north of Tucson, where homes are set back on desert lots and nighttime traffic is light. Deputies said there were no prior welfare calls at Guthrie’s address in the past year and no active protective orders on file. The Sheriff’s Department’s homicide unit joined the case as a matter of protocol when evidence suggested a crime, Nanos said. While investigators have not identified a suspect or vehicle, they are reviewing tips and building a minute-by-minute timeline. As of Monday night, officials had not released details on any items collected from the scene beyond confirming the house is being treated as a crime scene and certain rooms were sealed for processing.
Records show the Catalina Foothills area has seen sporadic property crimes but few abduction reports in recent years. Family members said Guthrie, who is widowed, lives independently but relies on a close circle of church friends and neighbors. Savannah Guthrie, who has previously shared stories about visits to Tucson, did not appear on “Today” on Monday as the program led its broadcast with the case. The national attention has increased tip volume to the Sheriff’s Department, officials said, noting that investigators are prioritizing leads with identifiable times, vehicles or faces captured on video.
Detectives outlined several next steps. Forensic specialists will complete processing of the residence and outbuildings, then release parts of the home back to the family. Investigators plan additional canvasses in adjoining blocks and will re-interview neighbors to reconcile any gaps in the timeline. The Sheriff’s Department said it is coordinating with federal agents on phone, financial and geolocation analysis typical in abduction cases. A public briefing schedule has not been announced. If charges become appropriate, prosecutors would review evidence for counts that could include kidnapping and related offenses under Arizona law.
Outside the home Monday, unmarked vehicles moved in and out as technicians carried paper evidence bags. A neighbor described the overnight hours as “quiet,” telling deputies they did not notice unusual traffic. “We know she couldn’t get far from that home unless she was removed from that home,” Nanos said. Savannah Guthrie posted a brief message to social media Monday night: “Bring her home,” adding thanks to law enforcement and those sharing information. Church friends told reporters they were organizing prayer gatherings while waiting for official updates.
As of early Tuesday, Nancy Guthrie remained missing, and investigators said the case would continue with crime-scene work, digital evidence pulls and neighborhood canvasses through the day. Authorities said they would release new information when confirmed and would provide another update as lab results and video reviews come back.
Author note: Last updated February 3, 2026.