TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- Law enforcement officials are intensifying their search efforts for Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy Guthrie, who has been missing for nearly three weeks. The 84-year-old was last seen at her Tucson, Arizona, home on January 31. Authorities reported her missing on February 1 after a concerning 911 call was made. The investigation took a grim turn when blood belonging to Nancy was discovered on her front porch, and suspected ransom notes were sent to media outlets, with two payment deadlines already missed.
Concerns regarding Nancy's health have heightened, given her reliance on essential daily medication as well as her use of a pacemaker due to existing cardiovascular issues. In media communications, sheriff’s dispatchers have expressed urgency regarding her well-being.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has played a critical role in the investigation, releasing surveillance footage of a masked individual seen near Guthrie's residence the night she disappeared. The video captured by a porch camera shows a person carrying a backpack and wearing a ski mask, prompting the FBI to label this individual a suspect. Described as approximately 5 feet, 9 inches tall with a medium build, the suspect was identified as carrying a distinctive Ozark Trail Hiker Pack.
Initially, investigators struggled to acquire surveillance footage due to a lack of an active subscription to the doorbell camera system utilized by the Guthrie household. However, digital forensics experts continued to delve into back-end software files, ultimately retrieving valuable video evidence. In addition, investigators have collected DNA samples from the property, which do not match Nancy or anyone in her immediate circle, and forensic analysis is in progress.
Authorities have actively pursued tips, announcing dedicated phone lines and a website for information submission. The case has attracted extensive public attention, with the FBI reporting over 13,000 tips since February 1 and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department recording at least 18,000 calls. Despite the volume of information received, it remains uncertain if any tips have significantly advanced the investigation.
As the search intensifies, law enforcement cordoned off a roadway near Nancy’s home, suggesting that ongoing investigative activities continue in the area. Detentions have occurred, such as a recent traffic stop in which a man was questioned and subsequently released. Further, on the same day, law enforcement conducted a court-authorized search in Rio Rico, an area roughly an hour’s drive south of Tucson.
The emotional toll on the family is evident. Savannah Guthrie, alongside her siblings, has actively appealed for assistance via social media, initially expressing desperate pleas to whoever may be holding their mother. Their messages have evolved from offering to pay a ransom to more poignant and public calls for aid in locating Nancy. On a recent occasion, the family shared a personal video memory of their mother along with assurances that they would "never give up" on finding her.
Nancy Guthrie lived independently in a tranquil neighborhood characterized by spacious homes set back from the road. This upscale area is located in the Catalina Foothills of Tucson, where property privacy is often maintained by long driveways, gates, and dense desert vegetation. Savannah, who has remained a prominent figure on the "Today" show since 2011, grew up in this community and carries fond memories of her upbringing there.
The investigation remains in active pursuit of leads, with both the FBI and Pima County authorities collaborating to uncover new evidence. As the search enters a critical phase, the hope remains that Nancy Guthrie will be found safe and returned to her family.
