What a Neighbor Says About Nancy Guthrie's Disappearance – New Details Emerge

The quiet desert foothills of Arizona have become the backdrop for a deepening mystery that has left a family frantic, a neighborhood shaken, and investigators racing against time.

On Sunday, February 1, news emerged that Nancy Guthrie, mother of NBC anchor Savannah Guthrie, had gone missing in Arizona. Now, a neighbor is speaking out about the unusual circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the 84-year-old woman.

Vans, Helicopters, and a Growing Sense of Dread

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos described the situation as "very concerning," emphasizing that investigators are not excluding the possibility of foul play. Savannah was absent from the "Today" show on Monday, February 2.

It has been confirmed that she is in Arizona while authorities continue their investigation. Some neighbors, such as Morgan Brown, have come forth with information about the case. Morgan lives just a quarter-mile up the street from Nancy.

"There were a lot of dark vans with blacked-out windows. There were a lot of cop cars there at first, and then it was vans, so I assumed that maybe they came across something," he said.

Morgan said neighbors have been asked to review their home security cameras for any unusual activity. He also noted that investigators are focusing on a window of time between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. on Sunday morning.

"I don't know how they know that. My Ring cameras don't face the street, but I went through them and haven't heard that anyone found anything," he said.

After noticing the vans and helicopters on Sunday afternoon, Morgan said no one had arrived at the scene since. However, a helicopter was deployed to search for Nancy.

Morgan described the neighborhood as lacking sidewalks, with streets leading directly into the surrounding desert. Authorities speculated that she might have wandered into the desert, but Morgan pointed out that Nancy uses a cane, making that unlikely.

The area is also rugged, covered in scrubby mesquite trees, cacti, and rocks. "This is the foothills of Tucson. If you step two feet off the road, you are basically in the thick of the cactus. It's not gated at all," he added.

Morgan noted that while the neighborhood sees frequent foot traffic, it is unusual during the early morning hours. He added that many residents are retirees or long-time neighbors, and the area is generally quiet with few incidents.

A Vulnerable Adult with Fragile Health and a Narrow Timeline

As the search continues, the Pima County Sheriff's Office described Nancy as a vulnerable adult in their missing person report, while noting that she has no cognitive impairments.

The report also indicated that her physical health is fragile. It has been revealed that she relies on a daily medication, with missing a dose for more than 24 hours potentially posing serious, even fatal, risks.

Nancy was last seen on the evening of Saturday, January 31. Chris confirmed that Annie, Savannah's older sister, was the last family member to see Nancy before she went missing. The sheriff noted that Annie did not observe anything unusual in Nancy's behavior during their last interaction.

He said the family had taken her home from dinner on Saturday, around 9:30 to 9:45 p.m. Chris suggested that investigators consider the timeline starting as early as 8:30 or 9 p.m.

He added that Nancy's family only realized she was missing around 11 a.m. the following day. After Nancy did not show up for Sunday service the next morning, a concerned church member called her family, who went to look for her.

The police were notified at 12:15 p.m. on Sunday, February 1. Officials are therefore focusing on a window between roughly 9:30 p.m. and 11 a.m. as the likely period when Nancy disappeared.

A Case That No Longer Looks like a Simple Search

During a second press briefing on Monday, February 1, authorities suggested that Nancy likely did not leave on her own, pointing out that she would be unable to walk even short distances unaided. "This is an 84-year-old lady who is safe in her own home, asleep, and she is taken. That should never happen," Chris said.

The sheriff described her home as a crime scene and indicated that the case is no longer being treated as a standard search.

"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. And so we'll just continue. The detective's homicide team is out right now looking at the scene as well," Chris shared.

An insider, who agrees with the police, said, "Her stuff was left behind at the house: keys, ID, purse, phone. Everything."

The source added that Savannah does not think her mother left on her own. "It’s not a situation where she voluntarily went away, because she didn’t take any of the things you would normally take if you voluntarily went out," the insider added.

Morgan expressed shock at the entire situation, "I can't imagine what someone would want with an 84-year-old woman. The thought comes to my mind is maybe they are trying to get to Savannah somehow, political or whatnot. It's horrible news," he speculated.

Nancy's neighbor, Paul Arnaud, said many in the community are concerned the disappearance may involve an abduction. He noted that authorities conducted an extensive search of the area throughout the day and early evening without finding her.

Other neighbors echoed this sentiment, pointing out that Nancy was mentally alert and unlikely to have wandered off on her own. Customs and Border Protection have become involved in the search due to Nancy's close location to the U.S.-Mexico border.

"We're gonna pull all the stops and go at all angles. We really do hope it's a search and rescue mission, and we find her, and she's safe and sound. But it would be unjust if we didn't look at what's in front of us and go, 'We need to act,'" Chris noted.

Savannah's Emotional Plea as Support Pours In

Meanwhile, Savannah's co-anchor, Craig Melvin, read a statement on behalf of her and her family on Monday on the "Today" show. She penned, "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."

Savannah continued, "We thank law enforcement for their hard work on this case and encourage anyone, anyone with information to contact the Pima County Sheriff's office at 520-351-4900."

Jenna Bush Hager also addressed Nancy Guthrie's disappearance on "Today With Jenna & Sheinelle" on Monday. She expressed support for Savannah and her family and offered thoughts and prayers during the difficult time.

Savannah's fans have also quickly taken to social media to share their concern and theories. One wrote, "Praying they find her safe!! 🙏🙏" Another expressed disbelief about her living situation, "Surprised she lived alone in that big house with what weve been told about how frail she was."

Some were more alarmed, speculating, "So sad and scary! I wonder if she was abducted for ransom. They inducted FBI has been called in."

A Devoted Mother and a Tight-Knit Family

Savannah shared a close relationship with her mother and had recently brought her to visit the "Today" show studios at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City.

Nancy was widowed after her husband, Charles, Savannah's father, passed away from a heart attack in 1989 at the age of 49. Aside from Annie and Savannah Guthrie, she has another child, a son, Camron.

The family remains anxious and worried but continues to hold hope that their mother will be found safe and in good health.