Today show host Savannah Guthrie's mother, Nancy Guthrie, 84, went missing on Sunday morning from her house in Arizona outside Tucson, and each day there have been updates released, leading police to believe that not only was she abducted from her bed Sunday morning at about 2 a.m. but there were drops of blood found leading out of the home. Law enforcement also confirmed that there were signs of forced entry.
In a timeline leading up to today, Nancy was dropped off at her home at 9:48 p.m. on Saturday -- January 31, 2026 -- after going out to dinner with her other daughter, Anna. A spokesperson for the Pima Country Sheriff’s Department reported that investigators believe Nancy was taken from her bed against her will, in the early hours of Sunday morning.
While searching Nancy's home on Sunday at around noon, police found that her phone and Apple Watch were still inside the house, and that Nancy’s pacemaker stopped syncing with her Apple devices at 2:28 a.m. The FBI does not believe that Nancy, who lives alone, could have wandered away from her home because her mobility is limited and she doesn't have any cognitive issues.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said, "We believe now, after we process that crime scene, that we do, in fact, have a crime scene, that we do, in fact have a crime and we're asking the community's help." He added that Nancy Guthrie "is in need of medication, medication that if she doesn’t have it in 24 hours, it could be fatal."
Savannah, who was scheduled to co-host the 2026 Olympics opening ceremony, pulled out of her hosting duties. An NBC spokesperson stated, "Savannah will not be joining us at the Olympics as she focuses on being with her family during this difficult time."
The ring camera from Nancy Guthrie's front door was disconnected by the kidnapper(s) at 1:47 a.m. and a local Arizona news station has reported receiving a ransom note, which they did not make public, but handed to the FBI. TMZ also reported that they'd received a ransom note asking for millions of dollars in cryptocurrency to be deposited into a Bitcoin account.
The alleged ransom note describes an item the sender says was damaged at her home and the note also says she was not wearing a specific item that had been mentioned before in reports.
Meanwhile, Today show bosses have taken measures to protect NBC staff, including ramping up security and police presence at their studio in New York City. "Things are tense at the studio, and as a result, NBC has stepped up security for on-air talent," a source told the outlet.
On Tuesday, Savannah Guthrie posted an image to her Instagram page, @savannahguthrie, that said simply, "PLEASE PRAY." She wrote a caption that read: "we believe in prayer. we believe in voices raised in unison, in love, in hope. we believe in goodness. we believe in humanity. above all, we believe in Him. Thank you for lifting your prayers with ours for our beloved mom, our dearest Nancy, a woman of deep conviction, a good and faithful servant. Raise your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment. we need you."
Updates will be made as soon as more details become available. ~Alexandra Heilbron
The Family has asked for Prayers. I am Praying for Nancy and her family. I will continue until she is home safe.
I'm sick about this. If that was my mom, I'd be catatonic. Prayers for them and hoping whoever took her is taking good care of her.
Can't begin to imagine what they are going through. God bless them. Praying for her safe return.
I know the investigators are experts at what they do. My first inclination is that the restaurant where the family dined on Saturday evening should be part of the investigation...all the staff who were there while they were dining and to capture any camera footage of the patrons who were dining there. The motivation could have started there, or even at some other location where Mrs. Guthrie had been during the recent days.
I pray for your family and especially Nancy. I know what you are going thru since my sister Kay Read, age 61 was taken from her home there in Tucson years ago. They found who took her and he is in prison but to this day she has never been found. God be with the whole family and keep the faith she will be found. God bless and many many prayers.
My heart and prayers go out to the Guthrie's family especially Nancy. Let this nightmare come to a quick end and she comes soon home in health. I pray this in Jesus name Amen
Law enforcement should get thr dogs put searchimg: blood hound s and German Shepherds highly trained in this sort of thing. I know nothing but to kid sp an elderly woman, weak and defenderles is a heinois crime. It is a family member or a lunatic. Put the dogs to work. Fly’em in if necessary. I pray to G*d she is found soon, safe, and ok.
the random note requnestimg cryptocurtency into a bitcóin account is a huge lead.
To Alice Dailey I am so sorry for what you and your family have gone through and continue to go through to this day. God Bless.
There is blood--hers--on the porch. Whoever it is, is NOT taking good care of her. If she passes, no one will hear anything more. It would become a murder/kidnapping, which would probably result in the perpetrator just leaving her somewhere and taking off, never to be found.