New Details Released in the Case of Savannah Guthrie’s Missing Mother

It started as a worrying family situation, the kind no one ever expects to face. By Sunday night, however, the search had taken a darker, far more unsettling turn.

What initially appeared to be a missing-person case has now pulled in unexpected law enforcement resources. And that's why people hold their breath.

Savannah Guthrie's mother, Nancy Guthrie, was reported missing from her home in southern Arizona over the weekend, according to Page Six.

What Happened

Authorities say the 84-year-old was last seen Saturday night, January 31, 2026, around 9:30 p.m. local time at her home in Catalina Foothills.

A family member reportedly called 911 earlier that day after realizing something was wrong.

By Sunday evening, the search effort had expanded rapidly. Ground and air teams were deployed as concern for Nancy's safety grew.

When and Where She Was Last Seen

Officials confirmed that Nancy vanished from her own residence, a detail that immediately raised eyebrows. Catalina Foothills is typically known as a quiet, upscale area north of Tucson.

According to the Pima County Sheriff's Department, she has not been located at any nearby hospitals. That absence only deepened the concern.

"We're pretty much just throwing everything at this that we can. Guthrie is 84 years old and is not of good physical health, and so naturally that's a great concern," Sheriff Chris Nanos told reporters.

New Details Emerge

At first glance, the situation seemed straightforward: an older woman missing without explanation.

But investigators soon encountered troubling signs inside the home. Homicide detectives have now been called in to investigate the scene, a move that immediately shifted the tone of the case. Officials stressed that foul play has not been ruled out. The sheriff said during a press conference:

"This is very concerning to us. We don't typically get the sheriff out at a scene like this. But it's very concerning what we're learning from the house."

Nancy is described as being of "good sound mind," but she suffers from physical ailments that limit her mobility. Even more alarming, she reportedly left without her daily medication, which authorities say is necessary for her survival.

"And so we'll just continue. The detective's homicide team is out right now looking at the scene as well," he added. Investigators say they still do not know what Nancy was wearing when she disappeared, further complicating the search.

What We Know About Nancy

Nancy is described as standing 5-foot-5 and weighing about 150 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. Her physical limitations make the circumstances of her disappearance especially troubling.

Friends and family say she is not someone who would leave voluntarily or without notice. That fact has kept investigators focused on every possible angle.

Savannah Breaks Her Silence

Savannah was noticeably absent from Monday morning's episode of the "Today" show. Instead, her co-hosts shared a statement on her behalf.

"On behalf of our family, I want to thank everyone for the thoughts, prayers, and messages of support. Right now, our focus remains on the safe return of our dear mom," the statement read. "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."

A Deeply Personal Story

Savannah, 54, has often spoken about her close bond with her mother. Nancy has visited her on set multiple times over the years, becoming a familiar presence to viewers.

"She has met unthinkable challenges in her life with grit, without self-pity, with determination, and always, always with unshakeable faith," Savannah once said in a tribute to her mother on her 80th birthday in 2022.

Nancy became a widow at 46 after Savannah's father died when the journalist was just 16, a loss that reportedly drew the mother and daughter even closer.

For now, the search continues as authorities pursue every possible lead. The involvement of homicide detectives has cast a heavy shadow over what began as a desperate plea for help.

As questions lingered after authorities first hinted that something was deeply wrong inside Nancy's home, investigators have now revealed why this case is no longer being treated as a routine disappearance — and what they say they discovered has dramatically changed everything.

Officials say the case involving Nancy has taken a new turn after discoveries at a Tucson residence. Sheriff Nanos said Monday, February 2, 2026, that the findings have shifted the investigation's direction.

As authorities continued their work, the Guthrie family shared a public statement, and earlier reflections from her daughter in 2023 have drawn renewed attention.

New Developments in the Investigation

Speaking at a news conference, Nanos said evidence shows Nancy did not leave voluntarily. "We do in fact have a crime scene. We do in fact have a crime," Nanos said, according to NBC News. "She did not leave on her own. We know that."

According to Today, Nanos told Tom Llamas in an interview on "NBC Nightly News" that investigators believe Nancy was taken from her home against her will and was harmed during the incident.

He described the circumstances as highly unusual. "I can't think of the last time where in the middle of the night in someone's bed, an 84-year-old woman disappeared on us," Nanos said.

While Nanos did not specify what evidence led investigators to that conclusion, he said detectives are reviewing surveillance footage from Nancy's home. Authorities said she lives alone, employs staff, and that her cellphone has been recovered.

As part of the investigation, the sheriff urged neighbors to review footage from doorbell and home security cameras that may have captured relevant activity.

The evolving assessment has also influenced how authorities are deploying personnel and resources.

Search Strategy Adjusted

Later that Monday, the Pima County Sheriff's Department said in a statement that Nancy remains missing and that detectives are continuing to work at the scene and follow up on tips.

The change in focus has also reshaped how resources are being used. Search and rescue teams that canvassed the surrounding area on Sunday, February 1, have been dismissed, as investigators no longer view the case as a search operation.

"Right now, we don't see this as a search mission as much as we do a crime scene," Nanos said.

Authorities also raised concerns about Nancy's health. Nanos said she requires daily medication to survive and warned that missing doses could be fatal.

He added that investigators have ruled out dementia or cognitive decline, describing Guthrie as being "of sound mind" and "sharp as a tack."

Authorities have also outlined when and where Nancy was last known to be before she vanished.

Savannah Guthrie on Her Mother

The broadcast journalist, Savannah, has previously spoken about her mother's selflessness and encouragement. During an April 2022 interview on "Today," she reflected on how her mother supported her career ambitions.

She also recalled a moment when her mother urged her to pursue her goals, even if it meant being apart: "And that's when she said, 'If you can't leave me, then I didn't do my job right, Savannah.' She just gave me permission to go, you know?"

She said the message was not about pushing her away: "It's not because she didn't want me to stay. Of course she wanted me to stay. But she's like, 'I'm not going to stand in the way of your dreams. I'm going to tell you, go go go go go.'"

As investigators dig deeper, the case has shifted from a frantic search to something far more chilling, a criminal investigation with unanswered questions at its core. What happened inside Nancy's home that night remains unclear, but authorities are now convinced she did not simply walk away.

For Savannah and her family, the wait is agonizing, filled with hope, fear, and the relentless ticking of time. Until answers come, the focus remains singular and urgent: finding Nancy, uncovering the truth, and bringing her safely home, because this story is no longer just about a disappearance, but about what may have gone terribly wrong.