The Guthrie family is undergoing an agonizing period of uncertainty as their beloved family member remains missing more than two days later. Concern continues to mount as authorities work around the clock to locate Nancy Guthrie, who has been missing for more than a day after she was last seen. Investigators say the circumstances surrounding her disappearance have prompted an urgent search.
Guthrie, 84, is the mother of “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie and was last known to be at her Arizona home on January 31. Law enforcement has since intensified efforts to determine what happened in the hours before she vanished.
Below is a complete timeline of the key moments since Nancy Guthrie was last seen. (This timeline focuses on the critical first 48 hours after Nancy Guthrie was last seen.)
Last Confirmed Sighting Late January 31
NBCUniversal- Nancy Guthrie was last seen around 9:30 p.m. local time on Saturday, January 31.
- She was at her home near East Skyline Drive and North Campbell Avenue, just outside Tucson, Arizona.
- Investigators consider this moment the starting point of the timeline they are working to reconstruct.
February 1: Family Reports Her Missing After Missed Church
NBCUniversal- Concern grew late Sunday morning when Guthrie failed to attend church. A friend noticed her absence and contacted one of her adult children, according to Sheriff Chris Nanos, NBC reported.
- Around noon on Sunday, February 1, family members went to Guthrie’s home and called 911 after encountering what authorities later described as a concerning scene.
- The Pima County Sheriff’s Department launched an urgent search that same day, classifying Guthrie as a “vulnerable adult.”
February 2: Public Appeal and Escalation to a Criminal Case
NBCUniversal- By February 2, investigators escalated the case after deputies found what Nanos described as a deeply concerning situation inside the home, shifting the inquiry from a missing-person search to a criminal investigation.
- The same day, roughly 36 to 48 hours after Nancy was last seen, investigators confirmed the case was being treated as a crime. “We believe now, after we’ve processed that crime scene, that we do, in fact, have a crime scene, that we do, in fact, have a crime, and we’re asking the community’s help,” Nanos said, as reported by CBS.
- As per the Press Conference, Sheriff Chris Nanos said on February 2 that Guthrie has no cognitive issues but does have physical ailments that limit her mobility and require daily medication that she needs “for survival.” (Watch the press conference here.)
- “We get these calls quite often, and we do a good job of searching the area,” Nanos said. “But, this one stood out because of what was described to us at the scene and what we found and located just in looking at the scene.”
- “This is an 84-year-old lady who suffers from some physical ailments, has some physical challenges, is in need of medication — medication that, if she doesn’t have in 24 hours, it could be fatal,” Nanos said in the press conference.
- Nanos added that investigators believe Guthrie was of “great sound mind” and did not leave on her own.
- Nanos added: “So we make a plea to anyone who knows anything about this, who has seen something, heard something, to contact us. Call 911. We don’t we don’t need another bad, tragic ending. We need some help.”
- On February 2, just over 48 hours after Guthrie was last seen, the sheriff’s department announced a reward of up to $2,500 for information related to her disappearance.
The Same Day: February 2-Savannah Guthrie Breaks Silence on Mother’s Disappearance
- Savannah Guthrie was absent from the February 2 broadcast of “Today,” which opened with co-anchor Craig Melvin reading a statement from the family.
- “On behalf of our family, I want to thank everyone for the thoughts, prayers, and messages of support,” the statement read.
- “Right now, our focus remains on the safe return of our dear mom. We thank law enforcement for their hard work on this case and encourage anyone with information to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at 520-351-4900.”
- Later that day, Savannah Guthrie addressed the situation directly on Instagram, urging followers to pray.
- “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. “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.” She ended her message with a plea: “Bring her home.”
February 3: DNA Evidence, Reward Offered, and Ransom Note Reports
NBCUniversal- By February 3, investigators confirmed they had recovered biological DNA evidence from Guthrie’s home.
- Authorities did not disclose details about the evidence but said the DNA belongs to Nancy.
- Sheriff Chris Nanos told People that investigators “have taken what we believe is biological DNA-type evidence and we are submitting it to our labs,” alongside search-and-rescue work and surveillance review.
- Sheriff Chris Nanos declined to discuss specific evidence found at the scene during Tuesday’s news conference. (Watch the press conference here.)
- Nanos said investigators do not yet know whether Guthrie’s possible abduction was random or targeted. “We’re following all leads,” Nanos said. “We’ve got hundreds of leads.”
- FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge John Edwards said federal authorities are providing “analytical and technical support” and conducting interviews. “We know she was harmed at the home, but we don’t know to what extent,” Nanos told NBC News.
- In a later interview with the Arizona Daily Star, Nanos declined to confirm whether she was harmed, saying he “misspoke or something.”
- Nanos also added that authorities are not aware of any threats against the “TODAY” co-anchor (Savannah), who is currently in Arizona.
- Nanos confirmed that investigators have Guthrie’s cellphone and car and are reviewing video from cameras at her home.
- Nanos urged neighbors to review footage, asking them to “go through their Ring cameras.”
- The sheriff’s office is awaiting lab analysis of evidence collected from the scene.
- Nanos confirmed investigators are “done with the residence.”
- He declined to confirm whether blood was found inside or outside the home.
- Officials asked the public to share any video or photo evidence from the area near her home.
- Tips can be submitted anonymously through 88-CRIME, the P3TIPS app (available for both Apple and Android devices), or at 88crime.org.
- That same day, the department addressed reports of a possible ransom note following a TMZ report.
- The Pima County Sheriff’s Department said it is aware of the reports and is investigating all tips. “Anything that comes in goes directly to our detectives who are coordinating with the FBI,” PCSD said.
How You Can Help Find Nancy Guthrie?
LATEST: NANCY GUTHRIE t.co/bnwTx5VoPM
- Submit tips directly to investigators. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has set up a dedicated tip line to receive information related to Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance.
- Upload photos or videos. A QR code created by the Sheriff’s Department allows members of the public to upload photos or videos securely they believe may help the investigation.
NBCUniversal- Call with urgent information. Tips can be reported by calling 9-1-1 or the Sheriff’s Department at (520) 351-4900.
- Share relevant footage. Authorities are asking anyone with security camera, doorbell, dashcam, or phone footage from the area near Guthrie’s home to submit it.
- Know that every lead matters. Detectives say they are actively reviewing and following up on all tips as the search continues.
As of writing this story, authorities had not located Nancy.
