Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said Thursday investigators believe 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie — the mother of NBC’s Savannah Guthrie — remains missing as a high-profile search continues in Tucson, Arizona. The FBI has posted a $50,000 reward for information that leads to her recovery or to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.
Nanos told reporters, “Right now, we believe Nancy is still out there,” and added the department’s priority is bringing her home. Authorities say a ransom note, which investigators are treating seriously, included a 5 p.m. Thursday deadline (no time zone was specified). FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke said a second demand reportedly set a deadline for the following Monday if a transfer was not made. Janke declined to disclose the note’s specific threats and urged anyone holding Guthrie to release her. Separately, authorities arrested an individual alleged to have posed as an impostor and made a false ransom demand.
Officials believe Guthrie was taken from her residence after being dropped off Saturday night following a family dinner. Blood found outside the home has been confirmed as hers, Nanos said, and investigators are awaiting additional lab results. Surveillance and electronic records show concerning activity overnight Sunday: a doorbell camera was disconnected around 1:47 a.m.; a home camera registered a “person” detection at about 2:12 a.m. though recovered footage has not been found and could be an animal; and Guthrie’s pacemaker disconnected from its phone app at roughly 2:28 a.m.
Detectives returned to the neighborhood for follow-up work, and the sheriff’s office is sharing the scene with investigators from other agencies. No suspect or person of interest has been publicly identified. Two law enforcement sources told CBS News an FBI team is on the ground in Tucson, supporting evidence recovery, intelligence and analysis, hostage negotiation, victim assistance, and administrative functions. Agents are reviewing area camera footage, interviewing neighbors, family and associates, and examining cellphone tower pings. The FBI has established a 24/7 command post at its Tucson field office.
Officials emphasized urgency because Guthrie requires daily medication. Nanos rejected the idea that she simply wandered off, noting she has no cognitive impairment and limited mobility.
Neighbors described the Catalina Foothills community as quiet and subject to a dark-sky ordinance that limits outdoor lighting; some residents have upgraded security systems or reviewed cameras at deputies’ requests. In a social media video posted Wednesday, Savannah Guthrie, joined by her brother and sister, pleaded directly with whoever has their mother, stressing that Nancy is fragile, in pain and needs medication. Savannah said the family is willing to negotiate but needs proof that Nancy is alive and in the hands of whoever is contacting them, warning that images and audio can be manipulated.
Family members, including Camron Guthrie in a separate video, reiterated they are doing everything possible to bring their mother home and asked for a reliable way to communicate with those holding her. Former law enforcement analysts covering the case emphasized that establishing motive will be critical to developing leads and identifying persons of interest.
Officials continue to ask anyone with information to contact law enforcement. The FBI’s $50,000 reward remains active for tips that lead to Nancy Guthrie’s recovery or to the arrest and conviction of those involved. President Trump posted that he had spoken with Savannah Guthrie and said federal resources were being used to try to secure Nancy Guthrie’s safe return.