The mother of βTODAYβ co-anchor Savannah Guthrie was reported missing Feb. 1 when she didn’t show up to watch an online church service at a friend’s house.
Investigators continue to search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of βTODAYβ co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, whose disappearance has transfixed the nation.
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Guthrie was reported missing Feb. 1 from her home near Tucson, Arizona. She was last seen the previous night around 9:45 p.m, according to Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos. Authorities have described the case as a possible kidnapping or abduction, but clues have been scarce.
Investigators got a major break in the case last week when the FBI recovered chilling doorbell camera images of an armed and masked man outside Guthrieβs home on the morning of her disappearance. The FBI has since described that man as a suspect.
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Hereβs an overview of the key facts in the case.
The timeline of Guthrieβs disappearance
Guthrie visited her daughter Annie Guthrieβs house Jan. 31, according to the Pima County Sheriffβs Department, before being driven back to her home in the Catalina Foothills, a quiet unincorporated community.
She was reported missing around noon the next day after she didnβt show up at a friendβs house to watch Sunday morning virtual church services, a source close to the family told NBC News.
At least three news outlets have said they received a ransom note referring to Guthrie. NBC News reviewed a copy of the note, and its contents were consistent with the descriptions provided by the FBI and those news outlets.
No law enforcement agency has so far substantiated the note. The absence of direct communication with the possible kidnapper and the lack of a clear ransom demand is highly unusual,Β former FBI agents said.
Nanos has laid out the following timeline of events. All timestamps are in Mountain time.
Saturday, Jan. 31
5:32 p.m.: Guthrie left her home in an Uber to go to Annie Guthrieβs home βfor dinner and playing games with the family, just visiting,β Nanos said. Authorities spoke with that Uber driver, Nanos confirmed, though he did not provide specifics about that conversation.
9:48 p.m.: Guthrie was dropped off at home, where she employs staff members but lives alone. The garage door opened at that time, and it closed two minutes later.
Sunday, Feb. 1
1:47 a.m.: Guthrieβs doorbell camera disconnected. Nanos said the doorbell camera has not been located and confirmed there were multiple cameras at the home.
2:12 a.m.: Software detected a person on camera.
2:28 a.m.: Guthrieβs pacemaker disconnected from her phone.
11:56 a.m.: Guthrieβs family went to check on her at home and discovered she was missing.
12:03 p.m.: The family placed a 911 call, and deputies arrived about 10 minutes later.
A sign of support outside the home of Nancy Guthrie in Tucson, Ariz., on Feb. 7.Rebecca Noble / Getty Images
What the investigation has found
Guthrie is believed to have been taken, possibly in the middle of the night, Nanos has said. The investigation, which involves local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, has so far not identified a motive.
Blood found on the porch outside her home tested positive for her DNA, Nanos said. DNA from someone other than Guthrie and those in close contact with her was collected from somewhere on the property, and investigators were working to determine whom it belongs to, the sheriff’s department said.
Nanos’ office hasnβt commented on whether there were signs of forced entry at the property.
The case appeared to enter a new phase Feb. 10 after FBI Director Kash Patel released Google Nest doorbell camera screenshots and video clips of a man wearing a ski mask and a holstered pistol outside Guthrieβs house the morning she went missing.
In one video, the man β whose eyes are visible through the holes in his mask β appears to tamper with the doorbell camera.
The FBI on Feb. 12 provided new identifying details about the man, referring to him as a suspect. The bureau described him as a man of average build, 5 feet, 9 inches to 5 feet, 10 inches tall, wearing a black, 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack.
Images posted on X by the FBI’s Phoenix office show security video of a masked man and a black Ozark Trail backpack.Β via FBI Phoenix
The Guthrie familyβs emotional pleas
Savannah Guthrie and her siblings, Annie and Camron Guthrie, have posted a series of wrenching videos on Instagram about their mother and the investigation.
In a video Feb. 4, Savannah Guthrie tearfully pleaded with her motherβs possible captor to provide proof of life and return her safely. In a Feb. 5 video, she directly addressed the possible kidnapper and asked the person to make contact with the family.
In a third video, posted Feb. 7, Savannah Guthrie said the family was willing to pay a for Guthrieβs return.
βWe beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her,β Savannah Guthrie said. βThis is the only way we will have peace.β
βThis is very valuable to us, and we will pay,β she added.
