Officials Offer New Insights Into Nancy Guthrie's Disappearance

Amid the tragic and harrowing case, one specific detail has cast a long, chilling shadow over the search…

Days after Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of "Today" show cohost Savannah Guthrie, vanished from her Arizona home, authorities say they still have no suspects, no persons of interest, and no proof of life. But what they do have is evidence they cannot afford to ignore.

The Search Enters a Critical Phase

During a press conference on Thursday, February 5, 2026, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos confirmed the investigation had entered its fifth day.

He stressed that despite the alarming discoveries, officials still believe Nancy could be alive. Chris emphasized, "We want her home."

A Health Detail Raising an Urgent Alarm

However, the sheriff also underscored a frightening medical concern: Nancy requires daily medication, and investigators have no indication she's had access to it since she disappeared. To make matters even worse, he added that being without it for several days "could, in itself, prove fatal."

Outside of the medication saga, Chris confirmed the most unsettling detail yet. Blood found on the porch outside the home was tested and confirmed to belong to Nancy. On the matter, Chris divulged:

"The only DNA evidence we got back is on the porch. We saw the importance of that blood. It came back to Nancy."

Where the Timeline Begins

Authorities now believe Nancy's disappearance occurred sometime between Saturday night, January 31, and late Sunday morning, February 1. That window has become the backbone of the investigation.

Nancy had dinner with family Saturday evening and was brought back to her desert home just north of Tucson between 9:30 and 9:45 p.m. Officials say investigators are even considering an earlier start time of 8:30 or 9 p.m. for extra measure.

Initially, it was reported that Nancy's daughter, Annie Guthrie, was the last to see her mother. The sheriff confirmed Annie raised no red flags and had no concerns about her mom's behavior that night.

Nancy shares daughters Annie and Savannah as well as son Camron Guthrie with her late husband Charles Guthrie, who died of a heart attack at age 49.

But days later, authorities clarified a crucial detail…

It was actually Annie's husband, Tommaso Cioni, who last saw Nancy. Tommaso reportedly dropped her off, watched her safely enter the home, and then left.

The Morning That Sparked Concern

Nancy was not reported missing until Sunday morning, February 1, when friends at church became concerned after she failed to show up.

Family members were alerted around 11 a.m., and police were called at 12:15 p.m. That delay left investigators examining a troubling gap of several hours.

What Police Found at Nancy's House

When deputies arrived, they immediately noticed suspicious and concerning circumstances. Nancy was gone, but everything she would normally take with her remained behind.

Her cellphone, wallet, car, and medication were all still at home. While Nancy was described as being of sound mind with no cognitive issues, officials noted she suffers from physical ailments that limit how far she can walk, making it unlikely she left voluntarily.

Additionally, according to law enforcement sources, there were signs someone may have forced their way inside.

Images reviewed by investigators showed blood spatters near the front door of the home, and a security camera frame at the front door was found empty, though authorities could not determine how long it had been that way.

Chris admitted during an early press conference that what detectives were learning from the house was deeply troubling. The department's homicide team was dispatched to assist almost immediately.

Federal Agents Enter the Picture

As the search intensified, federal involvement raised new questions. The FBI visited Tommaso's home, located about 10 minutes from Nancy's house, according to authorities. Soon after, law enforcement activity at Annie and Tommaso's house escalated.

Photos later showed agents wearing ICAC insignia (appearing to be from the Internet Crimes Against Children task force, according to TMZ) arriving at the couple's home, carrying what appeared to be a Cellebrite Universal Forensic Extraction Device, a tool capable of retrieving encrypted and deleted data from phones and SIM cards.

Agents were seen removing items from the house, though authorities declined to confirm what was seized. The sheriff's department later clarified that the presence of ICAC branding does not indicate a specific crime, stressing that multiple units are assisting and that no suspects have been named.

Where the Case Stands Now

Despite the blood evidence, the forced entry, and the widening investigation, the sheriff insists there is no reason to believe Nancy is deceased.

Still, as the days continue to pass, officials admit the case has only grown more urgent and more haunting.

For now, one truth remains unavoidable: Nancy vanished from what should have been the safest place she knew, and investigators are racing against time to find out why.