Authorities in Arizona have confirmed they believe she was forcibly removed from her home in what is now being treated as an abduction.
With the investigation intensifying and tragic details continuing to surface, here is everything you need to know, including who Savannah Guthrie is, what happened to her mother, and what law enforcement is saying.
Who is Savannah Guthrie?
Savannah Guthrie is one of the most recognizable faces in American television journalism.
She serves as co-anchor of NBC’s flagship morning program, Today, one of the longest-running and most-watched morning shows in the United States.
Born in 1971, Guthrie built her career as a sharp, articulate journalist and legal correspondent before rising to one of the most prominent roles in broadcast news.
Her journey in journalism spans over two decades.
Guthrie began her career in local television before working her way up through the ranks at NBC News.
She served as a legal correspondent and White House correspondent, covering some of the most significant political stories in the country.
Her transition to the anchor desk of Today cemented her status as one of America’s leading news presenters.
Beyond her role on the morning show, Guthrie has hosted major live events for NBC, including Olympic coverage.
She was due to co-host coverage of the Winter Olympics opening ceremony for NBC on Friday, though it remains unclear whether she will take part in that broadcast given the circumstances surrounding her mother’s disappearance, the BBC reports.
Nancy Guthrie
Guthrie has frequently spoken about the influence of her mother, Nancy, on her life and career.
Her father, Charles Guthrie, passed away when Savannah was just 16 years old, and she is one of three children in the family, per NBC.
Over the years, Guthrie has paid heartfelt tributes to her mother on television and on social media, describing Nancy as someone who modeled selflessness, faith, and quiet strength.
In a 2022 tribute on her mother’s 80th birthday, Savannah wrote that her mom’s ‘steadfastness and her unmovable confidence is the reason any of us grew up to do anything.’
On Mother’s Day 2024, she called Nancy: “God’s first, best and most important gift to me.”
What Savannah Guthrie has said
On Monday, February 2, Guthrie was notably absent from the Today show studio.
Her co-anchor, Craig Melvin, opened the broadcast by addressing what he called a ‘deeply personal story for us.’
In lieu of appearing on air, Guthrie released a written statement through her colleagues.
“On behalf of our family, I want to thank everyone for the thoughts, prayers and messages of support,” she said, as reported by Hello.
“Right now, our focus remains on the safe return of our dear mom. We thank law enforcement for their hard work on this case and encourage anyone with information to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at 520-351-4900.”
Later that evening, Guthrie turned to Instagram to share a more personal and emotionally charged message.
She wrote about her belief in prayer and called on her followers to join her family in hoping for her mother’s safe return.
“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,” she wrote.
“Raise your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment.” She closed her post with a simple, powerful plea: “Bring her home.”
The disappearance of Nancy Guthrie
Nancy, 84, was last seen at her home in the Catalina Foothills area outside Tucson, Arizona, at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 31.
When she failed to appear for her regular church service the following Sunday morning, concerned family members went to her home, searched for her, and ultimately called 911 around noon.
What greeted authorities when they arrived painted a deeply troubling picture. The lights inside the home were on. Nancy’s phone, wallet, and car were all still there. The door was unlocked, and there were reported signs of forced entry.
Homicide detectives were called to the scene, a step that is not standard protocol in a missing person case, officials noted per CBS.
A massive search-and-rescue operation was launched immediately, deploying drones, helicopters, an airplane, heat sensors, infrared technology, trained personnel, volunteers, and even search-and-rescue dogs on loan from US Customs and Border Protection.
Despite these extensive efforts, Nancy was not found, and by Monday, the operation had shifted from a search mission to a full criminal investigation.
Nancy is described as 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighing 150 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.
Critically, authorities have emphasized that while she has significant mobility limitations (her family told investigators she ‘couldn’t walk 50 yards’) she has no cognitive issues whatsoever.
She is, in the words of the sheriff, ‘sharp as a tack.’ However, she is in urgent need of her daily medication, which officials have warned could be fatal if she does not receive it.
Neighbors in the quiet Catalina Foothills community have expressed shock and concern.
One resident, Jeff Lamie, told reporters: “It’s a very quiet neighborhood, it’s a very safe neighborhood. This is highly unusual, and we are very concerned about her.”
Local residents have begun forming volunteer search parties and cooperating with police by reviewing footage from their own security cameras.
The police statement
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has been the primary voice guiding the public through this unfolding crisis, and his statements have grown increasingly urgent.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Nanos was unequivocal in his belief that Nancy did not leave her home voluntarily.
“I believe she was abducted, yes,” Nanos stated. “She didn’t walk from there. She didn’t go willingly.”
He elaborated that someone, or possibly more than one person, entered the home in the middle of the night and removed her.
“We believe she was forced to leave that residence. It was against her will,” he said.
Nanos confirmed that the home is being treated as a crime scene, stating that investigators found circumstances on the property that were ‘suspicious in nature’ and ‘concerning.’
While he declined to elaborate on specific details due to the active nature of the investigation, he made clear that the evidence pointed firmly toward foul play.
The sheriff also addressed the question of motive. There is currently no indication that Nancy was targeted specifically because of her famous daughter’s name, but Nanos acknowledged that possibility has not been ruled out.
“We can’t dismiss that,” he said, adding that investigators would look into whether Nancy had been stalked or harassed in the days or weeks prior to her disappearance.
Authorities have also stated there is nothing to suggest cartel activity or any connection to the nearby Mexican border played a role in the disappearance. The FBI is now assisting with the investigation.
A nonprofit group called 88-Crime, which works closely with the sheriff’s department, has offered a reward of up to $2,500 for any information leading to the arrest of the person or people responsible.
Sheriff Nanos closed with a direct and emotional plea to the public: “Just call us, let her go.”
He urged anyone with information, no matter how small, to come forward, and asked neighbors throughout the area to review their security camera footage, particularly between 1:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. on Sunday morning.
“You never know what you’ll see,” he said. “Maybe it’s just a pair of headlights. But if you see something that just doesn’t seem right in that neighborhood, please let us know.”