Nancy Guthrie, 84 years-old, mother of Today show host, Savannah Guthrie, was reportedly abducted from her residence in Tucson, Ariz., where she lived independently on Feb. 1, 2026.
The following timeline depicts the sequential order of which the events took place:
Jan. 31, 2026: Guthrie spent the evening with her family.
5:32 p.m. – Nancy travelled to the home of her family member who lives locally.
9:48 p.m. – Nancy’s family drops her off back at her home; the garage door opens.
9:50 p.m. – The garage door closes.
Feb. 1, 2026:
1:47 a.m. – The doorbell camera disconnects.
2:12 a.m. – Software detects a person on camera (video is not currently available due to lack of subscription.)
2:28 a.m. – Her Pacemaker app shows that the phone has disconnected.
11:56 a.m. – Nancy’s family checks on her.
12:03 p.m. – 911 call was made to Pima County Sheriff’s Department.
12:15 p.m. – Patrol arrives.
The Guthrie family has publicly released multiple videos pleading for their mother back, offering incentives for the safe return of Nancy Guthrie.
“We still have hope,” Savannah Guthrie said in her video uploaded on Feb. 4. “It’s never too late to do the right thing,” she said.
Later, in their video posted on Feb. 7, the Guthrie family, as well as the Sheriff’s department, confirmed that they did in fact receive a message, though they are still working to verify the authenticity. “We received your message – we will pay,” the Guthrie family said.
Several possible ransom notes have been looked over by investigators, some of which were initially posted to media outlets. One of the possible notes was determined to be fake, leading to the arrest of a man living in California.
As of right now, there are no leads and no known motives.Though the suspect of Guthrie remains unnamed, authorities have gathered evidence through ring camera footage. The suspect was described as being a 5’9-5’10 male carrying a 25-liter “Ozark Trail Hunter” backpack.
The suspect appeared to be wearing black boxer gloves in the footage. Days after the incident, an identical glove was found approximately two miles from the residence. After running several tests, it was confirmed on Feb. 17, that the DNA from the glove did not match that of the one on the hand of the suspect, but rather an unknown man.
All members of the Guthrie family have been cleared as suspects, as reported by officials on Feb. 16.
After an in depth analysis of the suspects physique, many believed the cartel may be responsible, shifting the case over to Mexican authorities.
“That particular area of Arizona is a high drug and money transporting area,” Bill Garcia, a private investigator of 35 years living in Southern Cali., said. “It has deepened my believe that this is in some way related to a money-making venture by people involved with a cartel,” he said.
The Guthrie family took matters into their own hands, contacting a Mexican non-profit that works to find missing individuals within the region. The Sheriff’s department later denied the possibility of Guthrie being taken to Mexico, as there was no evidence to lead them to this conclusion.
Investigators have recently resorted to an investigative technique called “genetic genealogy,” trying to make the most of the DNA evidence they currently have.
Genetic genealogy combines DNA testing with traditional family history in order to trace ancestry, pinpoint biological relationships and ultimately solve forensic cases. This technique has been successfully utilized by investigators in the past, notably as it was used to solve the Golden State Killer case in 2018.
As of Feb. 24, 2026, the total reward for information leading to the finding of Nancy Guthrie is currently $1,000,000.
The search for Nancy Guthrie continues, marking its 3rd consecutive week undergoing investigation. Many have lost hope, while others remain optimistic. “We’re going to find Nancy and we’re going to find who did this,” Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said to NBC on Feb. 17.
