A week has passed since Nancy Guthrie disappeared from her Tucson home, and investigators are now racing against time to verify the authenticity of a newly discovered message that could hold the key to finding the 84-year-old mother of NBC’s TODAY show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie.
The FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department announced Friday they are “actively inspecting” a new communication regarding Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, marking the latest development in a case that has gripped the nation and prompted the highest levels of federal intervention.
A Timeline of Terror
Nancy Guthrie was last seen on the evening of February 1, 2026, when family members dropped her off at her Catalina Foothills residence around 9:48 PM after an evening of dinner and games. What happened in the hours that followed has become the subject of an intensive criminal investigation involving multiple law enforcement agencies.
According to authorities, Guthrie’s doorbell camera disconnected at 1:47 AM. At 2:12 AM, the camera software detected movement, though no video footage was captured due to the lack of an active subscription. Just 16 minutes later, at 2:28 AM, her pacemaker monitoring app disconnected from her phone. By noon the next day, when Nancy failed to appear at church, her worried family reported her missing.
The evidence found at her home painted a chilling picture. Sheriff Chris Nanos confirmed that Nancy’s blood was discovered on her porch, and investigators believe she was forcibly taken from her residence. The front door camera itself is now missing from the property.
A Mother’s Fragile Health
What makes this disappearance particularly urgent is Nancy Guthrie’s vulnerable medical condition. At 84 years old, she relies on a pacemaker and requires daily medication for a chronic condition that, if left untreated, could prove fatal. Despite her physical limitations, family members describe her as mentally sharp and independent—leading investigators to firmly rule out the possibility that she wandered away voluntarily.
“Nancy Guthrie is of great, sound mind. This is not a dementia-related case,” Sheriff Nanos emphasized during a press conference. “She is as sharp as a tack.”
Ransom Notes and Desperate Pleas
The investigation took a darker turn when multiple alleged ransom notes surfaced, sent to various media outlets including TMZ, CBS affiliate KOLD-TV, and other news organizations. The communications, which authorities are taking seriously, reportedly demand millions of dollars in Bitcoin for Nancy’s safe return and include specific details about her home and what she was wearing the night she vanished.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke confirmed that one note referenced an Apple Watch and a floodlight at Guthrie’s residence—details that were publicly available but demonstrated insider knowledge. The first ransom note established two deadlines: one for February 5 at 5 PM, and a second for February 9.
As the first deadline approached, Savannah Guthrie’s brother Camron posted an emotional video pleading with whoever might be holding their mother. “Whoever is out there holding our mother, we want to hear from you,” he said, his voice breaking. “We haven’t heard anything directly. We need you to reach out and we need a way to communicate with you so we can move forward.”
The family’s anguish intensified in a Saturday video, where Savannah, flanked by her siblings Annie and Camron, delivered a simple but powerful message: “We will pay.” The TODAY show host, who has suspended her broadcasting duties including coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics, added, “We received your message and we understand. We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her.”
Presidential Intervention and Federal Resources
The high-profile nature of the case drew attention from the White House, with President Donald Trump personally reaching out to Savannah Guthrie on February 4. Following their conversation, Trump posted on Truth Social: “I am directing ALL Federal Law Enforcement to be at the family’s, and Local Law Enforcement’s, complete disposal, IMMEDIATELY. We are deploying all resources to get her mother home safely. The prayers of our Nation are with her and her family.”
On Friday night, while aboard Air Force One, Trump told reporters the investigation was proceeding “very well” and that investigators had developed “very strong” clues, suggesting answers could come soon.
The Investigation Intensifies
Throughout the week, law enforcement presence at Nancy’s home and the surrounding area has been substantial. FBI evidence recovery teams, canine units, and deputies have conducted multiple sweeps of the property. On Friday, agents were observed removing a mounted device from the side of the house, and a vehicle was towed from the property under police escort to a lot near the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.
Investigators have also been seen at the home of Nancy’s daughter Annie, where Nancy had dinner the night before her disappearance. Deputies with flashlights were observed inside the residence, and one was seen wearing blue latex gloves as they left with bags of potential evidence.
The FBI has deployed crisis negotiators from Quantico and is actively reviewing digital footprints from banks, social media companies, phone providers, and other sources that could help piece together what happened. Despite these extensive efforts, no suspects or persons of interest have been publicly identified.
“Everybody is still a suspect in our eyes,” Sheriff Nanos said Thursday, acknowledging the challenges facing investigators: difficult terrain, sparse evidence, and the unknown authenticity of the ransom communications.
A Community on Edge
The Catalina Foothills Association sent a letter to residents Friday, acknowledging the collective shock rippling through the normally quiet neighborhood. “I know we all stand together in our collective disbelief and sadness,” the association’s president wrote, thanking residents for cooperating with law enforcement by sharing camera footage and allowing property searches.
Authorities have urged anyone with information to contact the FBI tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit anonymous tips at 88crime.org. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to Nancy Guthrie’s recovery and the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance.
As investigators work to authenticate the latest message and pursue every lead, one fact remains constant: time is running out for an elderly woman whose health grows more precarious with each passing day. The nation watches and waits, hoping for a resolution that brings Nancy Guthrie home alive to the family that so desperately needs her.