The missing mother of the TODAY anchor is not in good health, and was last seen Saturday night at her Arizona home. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department Monday updated the media, saying that after fruitless searching, “we don’t see this as much as a search mission as a crime scene.”
Savannah Guthrie and her mother, Nancy Guthrie, in 2023.NBC/Getty Images
Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of TODAY anchor Savannah Guthrie, was reported missing in Pima County, Arizona on Sunday. She was last seen at her home in the Catalina Foothills, north of Tucson, on the evening of Saturday, January 31. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department issued a missing person alert Sunday and asked anyone with information to call 911. In a news conference Monday morning, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said that law enforcement is now considering her home a crime scene, and that after searching through Sunday night “to no avail,” the search and rescue team has stepped aside.
“Right now, we don’t see this as much as a search mission as a crime scene,” he said.
He repeatedly described Nancy as being “sharp as a tack,” with no known cognitive issues, though he noted that she faces some physical challenges that come with age. He said that if she goes without her medication for 24 hours, “it could be fatal.”
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Nancy’s family called 911 Sunday after learning that their mother was not at church and then going to her house. In comments Sunday, Nanos said that the state of Nancy’s home when they arrived caused “grave concern,” which prompted an intensive law enforcement response.
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On Monday, he doubled down: “We know she didn’t just walk out of there,” he said. “There are other things at the scene that indicate that there was a–she did not leave on her own, we know that.”
“We believe now, after we’ve processed that crime scene, that we do have a crime scene and we do have a crime, and we’re asking for the community’s help,” he said.
He declined to offer more detail about what so troubled officers at Nancy’s house.
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“I know that everybody wants to know certain things, but I can’t do that,” he said of the active investigation. “It would be inappropriate at this time.”
Homicide detectives are reportedly also working the case, and foul play has not been ruled out. Drones and helicopters are involved in search efforts, and U.S. Border Patrol is also assisting in the search.
“Everybody just wants to be able to know that they can go outside and enjoy their community and come home and be safe at night in their rooms asleep in bed, and this lady wasn’t able to accomplish that,” Nanos said. “That’s a sad statement. We need her back. We need to find her. And time’s very critical. She’s 84. She needs her meds. Her family needs her too.”
Savannah Guthrie was absent from the anchor desk of TODAY on Monday morning, and NBC News released a statement to media confirming the missing persons case and asking anyone with information to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.
“The family is grateful for the outreach, thoughts, and prayers,” the statement concluded.
The news was also mentioned on-air Monday morning, with a statement from Savannah: “On behalf of our family, I want to thank everyone for the thoughts, prayers, and messages of support. Right now, our focus remains on the safe return of our dear mom.”
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Co-anchor Jenna Bush Hager said on-air Monday that Nancy Guthrie depends on daily medications to survive, and that she is believed to be without them.
