Details of Nancy Guthrie’s Final Hours Before Disappearance Revealed

"This is very concerning to us," the sheriff said, because what began as a perfectly ordinary night quickly turned into something far more disturbing, leaving even seasoned investigators shaken.

News broke on Sunday, February 1, 2026, that Nancy Guthrie, the mother of the "Today" show co-host Savannah Guthrie, had disappeared from her Arizona home.

A concerned family member placed a 911 call that morning after realizing no one could find her. According to Us Weekly, law enforcement quickly realized this was not a routine missing-person case. The situation escalated fast, and so did the worry.

Who Saw Nancy Last

Authorities confirmed that Nancy's daughter, Annie Guthrie, was the last person to see her alive. That final interaction, however, did not raise immediate alarm bells.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told Us Weekly that Annie reported no unusual behavior from her mother during their last encounter.

There were, he said, no immediate "red flags."

When She Disappeared

Investigators have now narrowed down a crucial window. Nancy was dropped off at home after dinner sometime between 9:30 and 9:45 p.m. on Saturday, January 31, 2026.

"We have a start point," Sheriff Nanos said, explaining that detectives are working backward to even earlier that evening. Police are examining a timeline stretching from around 8:30 p.m. to 11 a.m. the following morning.

The Delay That Changed Everything

One detail investigators are quietly grappling with is the time gap before authorities were alerted. Family members were not aware Nancy was missing until about 11 a.m. that Sunday.

Police were officially contacted at 12:15 p.m., compressing precious hours that could have made a difference. That delay is now a key part of the investigation.

What Police Found at the Home

By Sunday afternoon, the case took a darker turn. Sheriff Nanos revealed that detectives from the homicide team were sent to the scene.

During a press conference, the sheriff noted that sheriffs do not typically respond this way. He added that what officers learned inside the house prompted them to "throw everything" at the case.

Nancy's Health Raises Stakes

Officials initially expressed concern about Nancy's physical condition. At 84, her health made the situation especially urgent.

Still, Nanos emphasized one crucial point: Nancy has "no cognitive issues at all." That clarification only deepened the mystery of how she could vanish without explanation.

Family Left Searching for Answers

Nancy shared daughters Annie and Savannah, 54, and son Camron with her late husband, Charles Guthrie, who died of a heart attack at 49.

For the family, the unanswered questions are mounting. "This is an 84-year-old lady who is safe in her own home asleep, and she is taken," Sheriff Nanos said. "That should never happen."

Why This Case Feels Different

While many details remain sealed, investigators admit the circumstances are highly unusual. From the timeline gaps to the condition of the home, nothing about this disappearance feels random.

And as authorities continue to comb through the hours leading up to that quiet Saturday night, one thing is becoming clear: the most critical clues may lie in the moments everyone thought were unremarkable.

As investigators later narrowed the critical window of Nancy Guthrie's disappearance, what had previously been reported as a puzzling missing-person case began to take a darker turn, setting the stage for the new details and troubling revelations now emerging from Arizona authorities.

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 Nancy as being "of sound mind" and "sharp as a tack."

Authorities have also outlined when and where Guthrie was last seen before she vanished.

Timeline of Events

According to WCPO ABC 9 Cincinnati, Nancy, a Northern Kentucky native, was last seen at her Tucson home around 9:30 p.m. Saturday, January 31. Family members reported her missing the following day.

The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not announced any arrests.

Family Response

Savannah, who is reportedly in Arizona, shared a statement on "Today" on behalf of her family, thanking the public for the thoughts, prayers, and messages of support. She added:

"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."

Family members told police they became concerned after receiving a call from someone at their local church saying Guthrie was not there. They went to her home to look for her before contacting authorities.

Years earlier, the former attorney shared a personal reflection about her relationship with her mother.

Savannah Guthrie on Her Mother

The broadcast journalist 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 the investigation presses on, authorities say every lead matters and every hour counts. With no arrests announced and Nancy Guthrie still missing, the focus remains on piecing together what happened during those quiet, overlooked moments before she vanished.

For now, her family waits, investigators work around the clock, and a case that began as ordinary continues to haunt those searching for answers, proof that sometimes the most unsettling mysteries are hidden in plain sight.