The search for Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie’s mother stretched into a fifth day Thursday as authorities intensified efforts to identify a possible suspect or motive in the 84-year-old’s disappearance.
Nancy Guthrie was reported missing on Sunday in Arizona after failing to show up for church. Her family has been pleading for her return. Savannah Guthrie directly appealed to whoever may have taken her mother, and President Trump said he was directing all federal law enforcement to be at the family’s “complete disposal.”
Here is a timeline of Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance.
Saturday night: Last seen
Nancy Guthrie was last seen Saturday night. She arrived at her daughter Annie’s home at 5:32 p.m., dined there, and was dropped off at her own home around 9:48 p.m. She was dropped off by her son-in-law, Tommaso Cioni, who waited until she was inside before driving off. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said at a Thursday news conference her garage door closed at 9:50 p.m., which led investigators to assume she was home and going to bed.
Sunday morning: Not at church
A doorbell camera at the Guthrie home disconnected at 1:47 a.m., and software detected someone — or possibly an animal — on a camera about 25 minutes later, Nanos said, though no video is available. Guthrie’s pacemaker app showed a disconnect from her phone at 2:28 a.m.
On Sunday morning a friend called the family saying Nancy had not shown up for church. The family checked on her and notified the sheriff’s department around noon. Police arrived at 12:15 p.m. and determined she was missing under “concerning” circumstances.
Guthrie has limited mobility and relies on daily medication, prompting an urgent search Sunday night.
Monday: Sheriff says “I believe she was abducted”
On Monday, Sheriff Nanos confirmed the disappearance was being treated as a crime and urged neighbors to review home video footage. “We saw some things at the home that were concerning to us,” Nanos said. After processing the scene, he said investigators believed they had a crime scene and asked the community for help. He told reporters he believed Guthrie was abducted in the middle of the night: “I believe she was abducted, yes. She didn’t walk from there. She didn’t go willingly.”
A missing-person flyer described her as 5 feet 5 inches tall, with brown hair, blue eyes, and weighing 150 pounds.
Tuesday: Ransom note and blood at scene
On Tuesday, authorities said they were analyzing an apparent ransom note that included details about what Guthrie was wearing the night she disappeared. “We are aware of reports circulating about possible ransom note(s) regarding the investigation into Nancy Guthrie,” Nanos said in a social media statement, adding tips go directly to detectives coordinating with the FBI.
Investigators found what appeared to be drops of blood outside the front door and some inside the house. The blood outside the home was later confirmed to be Nancy Guthrie’s; authorities awaited additional test results. Surveillance video from the home had yielded no suspect leads.
Wednesday: Savannah Guthrie’s video appeal
Wednesday morning investigators still had not identified a suspect or person of interest. Detectives continued to interview anyone who may have had contact with Mrs. Guthrie.
That night the FBI returned to the home with canines to search and pursue leads. Savannah Guthrie released an emotional video pleading for her mother’s return and saying her family was “ready to talk.” Addressing a possible captor, she said, “We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you, and we are ready to listen. Please, reach out to us.” She stressed her mother’s fragile health and need for medication: “She lives in constant pain. She is without any medicine. She needs it to survive.”
Around the same time, President Trump posted that he spoke with Savannah Guthrie and was directing all federal law enforcement to assist immediately.
Thursday
At a Thursday news conference Nanos said, “We believe Nancy is still out there.” As of late morning, authorities had not identified a suspect or person of interest. Officials continued to ask the public for help and urged anyone with information to call (520)-882-7463. Fabian Pacheco, chief of detectives for the Pima County Attorney’s Office, said about 10% of leads have value and emphasized that it only takes one tip to break the case.
The FBI announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to Nancy Guthrie’s recovery or the arrest and conviction of those involved in her disappearance.
In a video posted to Savannah Guthrie’s Instagram Thursday night, her brother Camron Guthrie made another plea: “Whoever is out there holding our mother, we want to hear from you. We haven’t heard anything directly. We need you to reach out, and we need a way to communicate with you so we can move forward. But first, we have to know that you have our mom.”
Pat Milton, Alex Sundby and Brian Dakss contributed to this report.