A disturbing and rapidly unfolding investigation is gripping both Arizona authorities and the wider public after the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Savannah Guthrie. Police now believe Nancy was abducted from her Tucson-area home while she slept — a scenario investigators describe as deeply alarming.
According to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, what initially began as a missing-persons search has escalated into a potential criminal investigation. Sheriff Chris Nanos confirmed Monday that authorities suspect Nancy was taken from her bed overnight.
“I believe she was abducted, yes,” Nanos told CBS, adding that the circumstances surrounding her disappearance are “concerning” and highly unusual.
Last known moments
Nancy Guthrie was officially reported missing around noon on Sunday after she failed to appear at church — something her family said was entirely out of character. However, investigators believe the critical timeline begins earlier.
The sheriff’s office confirmed that family members, including Savannah’s sister Annie Guthrie, had dinner with Nancy on Saturday evening, January 31. Annie is believed to be the last person to see her mother before she returned home to her residence in the upscale Catalina Foothills area north of Tucson.
“There were no red flags,” Annie reportedly told investigators, according to US Weekly. Nancy appeared mentally sharp and in good spirits when she was dropped off at home sometime between 9:30 and 9:45 p.m.
“She went to bed Saturday night, and by Sunday morning she was gone,” Sheriff Nanos said. “I can’t think of the last time where, in the middle of the night, an 84-year-old woman disappeared from her bed.”
Evidence raises concern
Authorities say Nancy left behind her cell phone, wallet, and car — further strengthening the belief that she did not leave voluntarily. Investigators also recovered DNA evidence from inside the home, which has been sent to a Phoenix laboratory for analysis. Results are expected to take several days.
Sheriff Nanos emphasized that while Nancy is mentally alert and has no cognitive impairments, her physical health is fragile.
“She cannot walk 50 yards on her own,” he said. “She relies on life-saving medication, and she’s been missing for nearly 48 hours. Timing is very critical. The longer this goes on, the more danger she faces.”
Search efforts have been extensive, involving drones, search dogs, volunteers, Border Patrol agents, and homicide detectives — a rare escalation for a missing-person case but one authorities say is warranted given the evidence.
Family’s plea for prayers
Savannah Guthrie did not appear on Monday’s broadcast of Today, but she shared an emotional message on Instagram asking for public support and prayers.
“We believe in prayer. We believe in voices raised in unison, in love, in hope. We believe in goodness. We believe in humanity. Above all, we believe in Him,” she wrote, alongside an image reading, “Please pray.”
She added, “Thank you for lifting your prayers with ours for our beloved mom, our dearest Nancy, a woman of deep conviction, a good and faithful servant. Raise your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment.”
Community on edge
Authorities have asked residents in the Catalina Foothills area to review any home surveillance or doorbell camera footage from Saturday night into early Sunday morning. Investigators believe even small details could prove critical.
While no suspects have been publicly identified and no arrests have been made, law enforcement continues to stress that they are treating the case with urgency and seriousness.
As the search continues, concern is growing not only for Nancy Guthrie’s safety but also for the unsettling implications of an apparent nighttime abduction from a quiet residential neighborhood.
For now, investigators say their focus remains clear: finding Nancy and bringing her home safely.
