Investigators in Arizona believe 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, the mother of NBC "Today" show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, is still alive and "out there" five days after her suspected abduction from her Tucson-area home, despite no suspect or proof of life yet identified.
Authorities, including the Pima County Sheriff's Office and FBI, have ramped up the search with additional personnel, forensic analysts, and digital experts analyzing cell phone, bank, and social media data. They confirmed blood found on the porch steps belongs to Nancy Guthrie via DNA testing and described the scene as "alarming," prompting homicide detectives' early involvement even without a body.
No direct communication has occurred with the family or authorities, unusual for typical kidnapping cases, FBI Special Agent Heith Janke said.
The family remains hopeful but urgent: Nancy's son Camron Guthrie posted a video Thursday evening pleading for the captor(s) to contact them directly and provide proof of life, stating, "We need you to reach out... so we can move forward. But first we have to know that you have our mom."
Savannah Guthrie released a similar emotional video Wednesday, saying, "We need to know without a doubt that she is alive... Please, reach out to us. We are ready to listen."
Nancy Guthrie, frail and reliant on daily medication that could prove fatal if withheld, was last seen January 31 after family dropped her off post-dinner. Her doorbell camera was disabled and pacemaker app disconnected in predawn hours February 1, when investigators believe the abduction occurred.
Due to limited mobility, she could not have left voluntarily.
- Jan. 31 at 5:32 p.m. Guthrie traveled to her family's house for a game night.
- Jan. 31 at 9:48 p.m. Her family dropped her back at home, and the garage door opened.
- Jan. 31 at 9:50 p.m. The garage door closed.
- Feb. 1 at 1:47 a.m. Doorbell camera in front of Guthrie's home disconnected.
- Feb. 1 at 2:12 a.m. Software for the smart home detected a person on the camera, but no video is available.
- Feb. 1 at 2:28 a.m. Guthrie's pacemaker app shows it was disconnected from her phone.
- Feb. 1 at 11:56 a.m. The family checks on her.
- Feb. 1 at 12:03 p.m. Family calls 9-1-1 to report her missing.
- Feb. 1 at 12:15 p.m. Patrol cars arrive.
The FBI offers a $50,000 reward for information leading to her recovery or arrests. One person was arrested for a separate fake "impostor" ransom demand sent to family. Janke urged captors: "You still have time to do the right thing before this becomes a much worse scenario for you."