Law enforcement officials say a small amount of blood was found inside the Tucson home of Nancy Guthrie, mother of Today show co‑host Savannah Guthrie. A source familiar with the investigation told CBS News samples have been collected and are being tested to determine whose blood it is.
Investigators and forensic teams searched the 84‑year‑old’s residence as part of an active probe that authorities are treating as a criminal disappearance. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said the property was returned to the family on Monday, and that evidence gathered at the home remains under analysis. He added that none of the material processed so far has identified a suspect.
What appeared to be a small patch of dried blood was visible next to a doormat outside the front door on Tuesday. When asked for details about items seized from the house, Nanos declined to be specific, saying evidence was still being processed.
Officials believe Nancy Guthrie was taken from her home during the night over the weekend. The sheriff said the search for her is ongoing and that authorities do not yet know her whereabouts. It is also unclear whether a single person or multiple people were involved, he said. Investigators are examining whether a front‑door security camera was removed or tampered with.
Detectives confirmed that a ransom note was sent to a local Arizona news outlet; the station agreed not to publish it. The sheriff said the note contained specific descriptions of the home and details about what Guthrie was wearing that night, but he would not verify the note’s accuracy or authenticity. The department had hoped to keep information about the note confidential, but media outlets later obtained and published it.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department said on social media it is treating all tips and leads seriously and is coordinating closely with the FBI. The FBI’s Tucson office is assisting by providing technical support, including efforts to obtain cell tower data. An assistant special agent in charge urged anyone who saw activity in the Catalina Foothills neighborhood late Saturday night or early Sunday morning to contact investigators.
Nanos rejected the idea that Guthrie, who lives alone, simply wandered away. He said she has no cognitive impairment and has limited mobility. Authorities reported she was last seen at home Saturday night and was found missing the next morning when she did not attend church. Because she takes medication daily, officials stressed time is critical and said they are working under the hope she is still alive.
Savannah Guthrie posted on social media asking people to pray for her mother and thanking supporters for their prayers. A local nonprofit, 88‑Crime, has offered a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to an arrest. Nancy Guthrie’s family has asked neighbors to review any security footage from the weekend, especially between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. on Sunday. The sheriff said investigators are starting with that narrow window but will widen the timeframe as needed.
Nanos urged residents to report anything that seems out of place, even something that looks minor like a pair of headlights, and said investigators can download and review digital evidence from neighbors who come forward.