Investigators said Wednesday they have not identified a suspect or person of interest in the disappearance of 84‑year‑old Nancy Guthrie, the mother of NBC “Today” co‑host Savannah Guthrie. Pima County authorities are treating the case as a crime and continue to search for her after she was reported missing Sunday.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department said detectives are speaking with anyone who may have had contact with Mrs. Guthrie as the investigation continues. Authorities believe she was taken from her Tucson home over the weekend. A law enforcement source told CBS News that a “little bit of blood” found inside the residence is being tested.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said evidence collected to date has not pointed to a suspect and that investigators do not yet know how many people may have been involved. “Nothing has come up that says, here he is, here’s your bad guy,” Nanos told CBS News. He added the immediate priority is finding Nancy Guthrie: “We’re working towards, where is Nancy? Where is Ms. Guthrie? We want to find her. That’s what everybody wants. Once we do that, then we can worry about the whodunit.”
The FBI has sent additional personnel to assist local investigators. Officials continue to appeal to the public for information. Fabian Pacheco, chief of detectives for the Pima County Attorney’s Office, which oversees a tip line, urged anyone with information to come forward: “It only takes one tip, just one, to break this open, to offer the lead that we so desperately need in this case.”
Nancy Guthrie’s family called police Sunday after she missed church that morning. Nanos said a ransom note was sent Monday to a local Arizona news station; while the sheriff would not confirm all details, he said the note contained specific information about the home and what Guthrie was wearing and is being taken seriously. CBS affiliate KOLD‑TV reported it received an email that “appears to be one of the alleged ransom notes” and forwarded it to authorities.
Investigators are also reviewing home security footage. Nanos said the system may have been set to automatically delete footage after a short period and officials are attempting forensic recovery. A Google spokesperson confirmed the company, which acquired Nest, is assisting law enforcement but declined to provide further details.
Local reporting and statements from officials indicate that Nancy Guthrie ate dinner Saturday at her daughter Annie Guthrie’s home and was driven back by her husband, Tommaso Cioni. Annie is reported to be the last known person to see her mother. Nanos dismissed the idea that Guthrie — who lives alone and has limited mobility — wandered off, saying she does not have cognitive issues. Investigators have not determined whether she was specifically targeted or whether the disappearance was random.
Former President Trump posted on Truth Social that he had spoken with Savannah Guthrie and had directed “ALL Federal Law Enforcement” to assist local authorities, saying federal resources were being deployed to help bring Nancy Guthrie home.
Nancy Guthrie has three children: Annie, Savannah and Camron. The siblings released an emotional video pleading for their mother’s return and urging anyone holding her to prove she is alive. Savannah Guthrie said, “However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated. 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.”
Investigators say they are following hundreds of leads and have emphasized the urgency of locating Guthrie because she requires daily medication. Savannah Guthrie has described her mother’s health as fragile and said she needs the medicine “to survive” and to avoid suffering.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department reiterated that spreading unverified accusations or false information can hinder the investigation and urged anyone with information to contact law enforcement immediately.