New details have emerged in the unsettling disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of “Today” show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, after law enforcement found blood and signs of forced entry inside her Arizona home — evidence that has intensified the ongoing investigation and heightened urgency around efforts to locate her safely.
A DNA test has already been conducted, but will take a few days for the results.
The update was first reported by the Los Angeles Times.
Authorities are now urging the public for help as the search continues.
Nancy Was Last Seen Saturday Night
Nancy Guthrie was last seen on Saturday night in her residence near Tucson, Arizona, a community in the Catalina Foothills area.
Savannah’s older sister was the last person to see her, as the family had dinner together.
Her family reported her missing on Sunday after she didn’t show up for church and could not be reached.
Investigators have since treated her disappearance as a potential criminal act, saying evidence suggests she did not leave voluntarily.
According to law enforcement sources, the home exhibited signs that suggested a struggle or forced entry, and investigators discovered blood inside the residence.
While authorities have not disclosed whose blood it may be, these findings contributed to the decision to treat the location as a crime scene and not merely a missing-person case.
Detectives have transitioned their efforts to include criminal investigators and homicide units due to the concerning nature of the evidence.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has publicly appealed for assistance and information from the community, stressing both the unusual circumstances and the need for help from anyone in the area who may have relevant video footage or insights.
Urgency of the Search
Nancy Guthrie is described as having limited mobility and requiring daily medication for her health, which makes her prolonged absence particularly dangerous.
Authorities noted that she did not have cognitive issues like dementia and was in generally sound mental health before her disappearance — further strengthening the view that she did not simply wander away.
The discovery of personal belongings — including her car, cellphone and wallet — still at the home also added to investigators’ concerns that she left under distressing circumstances.
Law enforcement is reviewing neighborhood camera footage, license-plate readers and other evidence as part of a broad search effort that currently includes local sheriff’s teams alongside federal partners.
Family and Community Response
Savannah Guthrie, who has temporarily stepped away from her ”Today” show duties, has expressed profound gratitude for public support and prayers, sharing a statement that encouraged continued hope for her mother’s safe return.
She took to social media on Monday, Feb. 2, with a heartfelt message.
“We believe in prayer. We believe in voices raised in unison, in love, in hope. We believe in goodness. We believe in humanity. Above all, we believe in Him,” she wrote.
Guthrie added, “Thank you for lifting your prayers with ours for our beloved mom, our dearest Nancy, a woman of deep conviction, a good and faithful servant. Raise your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment.”
