It’s been four days since “TODAY” co-anchor Savannah Guthrie‘s mother, Nancy Guthrie, was spotted in the neighbourhood where she was deeply cherished and loved. From a missed church session on Sunday to four days of disappearance with no trace, loved ones hold on to hope as they wait for Nancy’s safe return home.
While authorities are sharing hour-by-hour updates on the investigation, her friends have more heartwarming stories to share about someone they loved hanging out with. At 84, Nancy’s life in Tucson was marked by close friendships and an active social circle that friends say made her disappearance all the more difficult to comprehend. In the weeks before she vanished, Nancy was spending her days surrounded by people who knew her well and cared deeply for her.
‘She Was In Really Good Spirits’: Nancy Guthrie’s Friend Share Heartbreaking Details
GettyA longtime friend and book club companion, Mary Ann Blevins, spoke with Page Six on Wednesday about the days leading up to Nancy’s disappearance. The two had last seen each other during their regular book club meeting the previous month.
“We were together last month,” Blevins told Page Six, explaining that the group of eight friends gathered just as they always had. She recalled Nancy, 84, being “in really good spirits” when they last met.
NBCUniversal“We’ve known each other for many, many years,” Blevins said. “I met her a long, long time ago when we first started up the book club.”
‘She’s Just a Beautiful Person,’ Friend Says
NBCUniversalBlevins remembered Nancy as someone who stayed deeply connected to the people in her life. Outside of book club, she filled her days with her mahjong group and time spent with her grandchildren, always finding joy in the routines she shared with others.
“We’re in touch a lot,” Blevins told Page Six. “She’s just a beautiful person.”
Blevins also noted that Nancy’s daughter, Annie Guthrie, lives nearby, which allowed Nancy to remain closely involved in her grandson’s life.
“[Nancy’s] daughter lives here and has a young boy that she sometimes picks up at school or watches,” Blevins added.
Even as she navigated health challenges, Nancy remained engaged with the world around her.
Blevins said Nancy “needs medication” and has “trouble being mobile,” but described her longtime friend as someone whose kindness and warmth never faded.
“It’s amazing — you can know someone for years and then something like this can happen. It’s just impossible,” Blevins said. She added that Nancy was “a very sweet person” who is “very outgoing.”
No Fears, No Warnings Before Disappearance
NBCUniversalWhen asked whether Nancy had ever expressed concerns about her safety, Blevins said there were no signs of fear or unease.
“No, never,” she said when asked if Nancy had ever feared being alone or kidnapped. When asked about security concerns, she added, “No, not at all.”
“Anybody that knows her and met her loves her,” Blevins said. “I don’t think she has any enemies, and that’s why this whole thing is very scary.”
The New York Times confirmed on 2 February that Nancy had been reported missing on Sunday morning after she failed to arrive for church.
Her last confirmed sighting came the previous evening, around 9:30 p.m., after she shared dinner with Annie and Annie’s husband, Tommaso Cioni. The New York Post later reported that authorities clarified that Cioni was the last person known to have seen Nancy alive, after driving her home at approximately 9:45 p.m.
Investigation Deepens as Family Pleads for Information
NBCUniversalOn Monday, NBC reported that the Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that Nancy’s home was being treated as a crime scene, with investigators believing she may have been taken while she was asleep.
“[Nancy] did not leave on her own,” Sheriff Chris Nanos said, adding that investigators believe the “circumstances on scene […] are suspicious in nature.”
Photos later showed what appeared to be a trail of blood at the home, and authorities have said they are not ruling out the possibility of a ransom demand.
On Tuesday, the department addressed reports circulating about potential ransom notes linked to the case.
NBCUniversal“We are taking all tips and leads very seriously,” the department said in a statement. “Anything that comes in, goes directly to our detectives who are coordinating with the FBI.”
That same day, FBI agents were seen arriving at Annie’s Arizona home for a two-hour meeting with family members. Savannah Guthrie is believed to have been present during the visit.
According to the latest updates from the authorities, no suspect or person of interest has been identified. Sadly, as of the time of writing this story, Nancy had still not been located.
