Savannah Guthrie: Missing Mom Nancy Elevated To Crime Case

By now, you probably know that Savannah Guthrie from the Today show is frantically worried about her missing mom, Nancy. On February 2, she rushed to her home in the Catalina Foothills area in Arizona to try and help solve the mystery. Nancy Guthrie is 84 years old, and it looks like it’s no longer about a missing person, but a serious true crime case.

Suspicions Of Abduction

Late Monday night, Ashleigh Banfield took to her Drop Dead Serious podcast to recap the scary circumstances. And, she also shared a conversation she had with Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos.

During their serious chat, the sheriff couldn’t answer many questions in case they compromised the investigation. However, he did reveal that “there is definitely in our eyes, and in our belief, evidence that shows and suggests that she was removed from that home” against her will.

Nancy Is Not Suffering From Dementia

The sheriff and Ashleigh discussed how Nancy, while “sharp as a tack” mentally, has severe physical limitations and cannot walk more than 50 yards on her own. Because her vehicle and cell phone were left behind, it leans towards an abduction. So, investigators treat her home as a crime scene.

Banfield reminded viewers that the situation seems very bad because Savannah Guthrie’s mom needs critical meds. Notably, Nancy Guthrie can’t go without them for more than “24 hours.” Actually, it seems as if her medication wasn’t taken with her.

DNA Recovered

What Sheriff Nanos was able to say, included the fact that detectives recovered DNA evidence and sent it to Phoenix for “rapid DNA testing” to help identify potential suspects. However, it takes time with backlogs and breakdowns.

Savannah stopped preparations to lead NBC’s 2026 Winter Olympics coverage. Instead, the TV celebrity does everything she can to help the investigation. Not unwelcome, the sheriff praised her contribution, noting her legal background makes her “extraordinary” in assisting the police. Recall, she was a lawyer and worked for Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld for a while.

A Crime Investigation 

Other news from the sheriff noted that the search has been scaled back. So, Nancy’s case is leaning towards a true crime of unknown nature. Now, the focus is on the case as a “criminal investigation.”

Right now, investigators currently analyze digital data like surveillance cameras and tech company data. Chris Nanos seemed grateful that huge names like “Apple and Google” in the tech industry, help out.

Law enforcement, along with Savannah’s family, remain hopeful that if anyone saw something like a suspicious vehicle near the home on Saturday night, January 31, that they will come forward

Reactions In The Comments

You might be throwing around the idea in the back of your mind that possibly Nancy was taken by someone with strong political feelings. However, that seems unlikely as Savannah is known for quite balanced reporting. But for now, most people just pray the old lady gets home again.

One of them wrote, “This is awful. I feel terrible for her family. Who on earth would abduct an 84-year-old woman? My mom and I were very close, and I can’t imagine how her family is coping.”

Here are a few more responses from the discussion:

• The Sheriff is very compassionate! He has a tough job. OMG! This is so horrible!
• Imagine how terrified her mother had to be in the middle of the night to have someone in her home and take her. I can’t get it out of my mind … her family has to be distraught…God help that mother tonight. And bless her family.. I am so sorry for them all.
• Prayers for Nancy Guthrie. The response is terrifying and am so very shocked. Also, her home seems so isolated back from the road.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, and come back here often for all your true crime news and updates.