As the desperate search for 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie stretches into its fourth week, TODAY show anchor Savannah Guthrie has escalated her public campaign — posting detailed videos explaining how anonymous tipsters can claim a $1 million family reward for information leading to her mother’s safe return.
The Reward Announcement
On Tuesday, February 24, Savannah Guthrie released an emotional video on Instagram announcing that her family is offering up to $1 million for any information leading to Nancy’s recovery. The FBI’s separately maintained reward of $100,000 remains active, bringing the total combined reward to $1.2 million. In a somber acknowledgment, Savannah also admitted for the first time that her mother may no longer be alive, saying: “She may already be gone… For that reason, we are offering a family reward of up to $1 million”. The Guthrie family also announced a separate $500,000 donation to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
By Friday, February 27, Savannah posted additional videos walking the public through exactly how to claim the reward anonymously — a key concern, as law enforcement had previously worried that potential informants might hesitate due to fear of being identified. According to the TODAY show segment she reshared, tipsters need only a 7-digit PIN number and can collect the reward at a neutral location, such as a post office.
A Delayed Reward — and Why
Sources close to the family revealed that Savannah had wanted to offer a significant reward from day one, but was advised against it by Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, who oversaw the case in its early days. The family was reportedly prepared to fund the reward from the start but held back at law enforcement’s request.
The Kidnapping
Nancy Guthrie, 84, was taken from her home near Tucson, Arizona, in the early hours of February 1 — believed to have been abducted in the middle of the night. Doorbell camera footage captured a masked man wearing gloves, carrying a backpack and what appeared to be a gun, tampering with the camera shortly before Nancy disappeared. Her pacemaker disconnected from her phone app at approximately 2:30 a.m., and her wallet and personal belongings were left behind. Blood was found on her front porch, and at least two alleged ransom notes were sent to media outlets demanding money.
A suspect was detained during a traffic stop south of Tucson about ten days after her disappearance, while FBI teams simultaneously searched a location in Rio Rico. Despite this, the investigation has continued without a confirmed resolution, and over 50,000 tips have been submitted to law enforcement.
Sheriff Under Fire
The investigation has been clouded by a significant controversy surrounding Sheriff Chris Nanos. He has faced sharp criticism for allegedly sidelining the FBI — reportedly stemming from a longstanding feud dating back to a 2015 federal investigation into his department for misappropriation of civil asset forfeiture funds. Rather than send DNA evidence and physical items to the FBI’s Quantico crime lab, Nanos routed the evidence to a private Florida laboratory, a decision that federal officials say caused costly delays — with outsourced analysis reportedly exceeding $200,000.
Internally, Sgt. Aaron Cross of the Pima County Deputies Organization described the investigation as having “morphed into an ego issue” for Nanos. Additionally, the sheriff was criticized for failing to deploy the department’s thermal-imaging Cessna aircraft in the critical early hours of the search, sending a standard helicopter instead due to a staffing shortage. Nanos has consistently defended his decisions and stated: “The family believes she’s alive. I believe she’s alive”.
Investigation Status
As of February 27, the Pima County Sheriff has confirmed that all members of the Guthrie family — including all siblings and spouses — have been fully cleared as possible suspects. No DNA matches have been found on a glove recovered near the scene, and there is currently no evidence that Nancy was taken to Mexico. The case remains open, with Savannah urging the public: “Please — be the one that brings her home”.
