On February 1, 2026, Nancy Guthrie (), the 84‑year‑old mother of NBC News journalist and Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, was kidnapped from her home in Catalina Foothills, a suburb of Tucson, Arizona, United States. Evidence recovered at the residence indicated that Guthrie had been taken against her will, and Pima County sheriff Chris Nanos stated that he believed she had been abducted.
A multi‑agency investigation led by the Pima County Sheriff's Department (PCSD), with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and search-and-rescue teams, has included extensive forensic analysis, neighborhood canvassing and review of surveillance footage. Bloodstains found at the scene were confirmed to be Guthrie's. Multiple ransom notes of undetermined origin demanded payment in cryptocurrency, with two deadlines that had passed by February9. On February10, the FBI released still images along with a short video from a video‑doorbell camera, showing an "armed individual" wearing a mask and carrying a backpack tampering with said doorbell camera on Guthrie's property prior to her disappearance.
Family appeals on social media have not yet yielded any "proof of life" sought from the person or persons who abducted Guthrie. On February24, the family offered $1million for information that assists in her recovery. Her condition and whereabouts remain unknown. The case has drawn international attention, with Savannah suspending her broadcasting duties, including coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, to participate in the ongoing search.
A note reportedly sent on February 6, 2026, claimed that Guthrie died shortly after her kidnapping. Law enforcement requested that the note be kept private to avoid interfering with the investigation; it was not revealed until June 22.
Background Nancy Ellen Long was born on January 27, 1942, in Fort Wright, Kentucky. She lived in Tucson, Arizona, for more than five decades, having moved there with her family in the early 1970s. She was married to Charles Guthrie until his death at age 49 during a mining exploration trip in Mexico in 1988. She had three children: Camron, Annie and Savannah. According to family members, Guthrie was mentally sharp and independent, and lived alone in her home in the Tucson suburb of Catalina Foothills. At age 84, she had limited mobility and required daily medication for a chronic condition. Before her disappearance, she was active in her community and a regular churchgoer.
Disappearance Guthrie was last seen at her home in Catalina Foothills on the evening of Saturday, January 31, 2026. She was dropped off by her son‑in‑law, Tommaso Cioni, at approximately 9:50 p.m. Cioni, who is married to Guthrie's daughter Annie, is the last known person to have seen her.
The following morning, Guthrie did not arrive for a scheduled livestream of a church service, prompting concern. A member of her church contacted the family to report that she had not appeared as expected. Relatives went to Guthrie's home around 11 a.m., searched the house and surrounding property, and found no sign of her. Around noon, the family called 9-1-1 and reported Guthrie missing to the Pima County Sheriff's Department (PCSD). Responding deputies noted that Guthrie's personal belongings, including her phone and other essential items, were still inside her home. Given her limited mobility and the absence of any indication that she had left voluntarily, investigators immediately regarded the situation as more than a routine missing‑person report.
+ Official timeline from Thursday, February 5, 2026, press conference Date Time Event Saturday, January 31, 2026 5:32 p.m. Guthrie takes an Uber taxi to her daughter Annie's home for dinner. 9:48 p.m. Guthrie is dropped off by her son-in-law: Annie's husband, Tommaso Cioni. 9:50 p.m. Guthrie's garage door is closed. Cioni reportedly drives off at this time. Sunday, February 1, 2026 1:47 a.m. A doorbell camera at Guthrie's home is disconnected by a masked and gloved individual. 2:12 a.m. Motion was detected. On February 10, the FBI released footage recovered from Google Nest backend systems showing an armed individual tampering with the device. 2:28 a.m. Guthrie's bedside pacemaker monitor misses its scheduled transmission. ~11:00 a.m. A churchgoer calls Guthrie's family to report that Guthrie did not attend church. 11:56 a.m. Relatives arrive at Guthrie's home and discover that she is missing. 12:03 p.m. Guthrie's family calls 9-1-1 to report that she is missing. 12:15 p.m. Deputies from the Pima County Sheriff's Department arrive.
Investigations
Initial probes Local, state and federal authorities launched an extensive search following Guthrie's disappearance. PCSD deployed search‑and‑rescue teams, including police dogs, drones and aerial resources, with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Despite these efforts, no trace of Guthrie was found, and on February2, authorities announced that the case had shifted from a search operation to a criminal investigation.
Pima County sheriff Chris Nanos stated that evidence recovered from Guthrie's residence indicated that a crime had taken place within the house, leading investigators to treat the home as a crime scene and to involve homicide investigators. He expressed disbelief that Guthrie had left the residence voluntarily, stating: "At this point, investigators believe she was taken from her home against her will, possibly in the middle of the night. Taken against her will includes possible kidnapping or abduction. She couldn't walk 50 yards by herself." Nanos told CBS News that he believed she has been abducted.
Because of the suspicious nature of the case, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) joined the investigation to provide additional resources. Authorities described Guthrie as a vulnerable adult due to her age, mobility limitations and reliance on daily medication, while noting that she had no known cognitive impairments.
Investigators reviewed surveillance footage, digital evidence and neighborhood camera systems, and canvassed nearby residences and surrounding areas. Investigators confirmed that bloodstains were found at or near the entrance of Guthrie's home, and forensic testing later determined that DNA from the blood belonged to Guthrie. Video footage captured by media outlets at the scene appeared to show a trail of blood near the front door. Officials declined to comment on the extent of any injuries or the amount of blood. Law enforcement also reported that personal items had been left behind and that a doorbell security camera had been removed, factors that contributed to the assessment that Guthrie was taken from her home against her will. Officials stated that the residence had been processed and that forensic analysis remained ongoing.
Law enforcement later stated that search activity was paused at times to allow personnel to rest while the investigation continued. Officials reported that, based on the information available, there was no indication of a threat to the general public. Savannah Guthrie stepped away from her broadcasting duties at NBC News, which were to include co-hosting the opening ceremonies of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, to assist in the search for her mother. In a statement, she thanked law enforcement and members of the public for their support and urged anyone with information about her mother's whereabouts to contact authorities.
During the evening of February 10, a person of interest was detained for questioning following a traffic stop in Rio Rico, Arizona, about sixty miles south of Tucson. Shortly afterward, PCSD and FBI executed a search warrant on a property and vehicle in the same area. By February11, the searches had concluded and the individual was released without charges. According to Nanos, it was determined that the individual was not involved in the disappearance.
PCSD began an operation on February 13 at a residence two miles from Guthrie's house. Two people were removed from the residence, and roads in the surrounding area were closed to the public for about four hours. One of the people removed from the residence was taken in for questioning and released by the following day. Around the same time, law enforcement investigated a gray Range Rover in the parking lot of a nearby Culver's restaurant. The vehicle was seized and towed away. Gloves which appeared to match those worn by the suspect were found by the FBI, but the DNA on them was eventually traced to a local restaurant worker whom PCSD said was "not considered part of this investigation". The department did note that "other DNA evidence" was being analyzed.
Subsequent developments In June 2026, People magazine reported that a tip received by Mexican volunteer search group Buscando Corazones claimed that Guthrie was deceased and buried in a stream near the Mexican municipality of Nogales, along the US-Mexico border, which sparked several unsuccessful searches of the area. Later that month, on June 22, NBC News reported that one of the notes received by media outlets in February contained a claim that Guthrie had died. No ransom demand was included in this note.
The investigation continued through subsequent months. Savannah eventually returned to co-hosting Today. However, NBC News producers have reportedly implemented strict procedures on dealing with any news on the investigation that might break during the program. This includes sequestering Savannah from the set and discussing the developments privately while another anchor handles the breaking story on air.
In an interview in July 2026, Nanos expressed confidence that physical evidence gathered to date would lead to solving the case. He stated on Today that "we have so much DNA to sort through. We have so much in terms of video evidence to look at," and as a result of this "I'm still positive that we're going to resolve this case." In a separate interview that month he said that testing of hair found at the Guthrie home was complete and did not point to a suspect.
In August 2026, human remains found in the desert north of the Guthrie's home sparked speculation that they might belong to her. However, authorities did not believe that they were connected to the disappearance.
Doorbell camera footage
On February 10, FBI Director Kash Patel released four black-and-white images on X showing a masked and armed intruder, wearing gloves and a backpack, outside Guthrie's home. PCSD shared the same information. Investigators reported that the intruder attempted to tamper with the video doorbell by attempting to knock it off with light taps and, when unable to, covered the lens with foliage from a potted plant. Despite the individual's attempts, Patel stated that data from the device had been successfully recovered. He also stated that the intruder was armed with what appeared to be a gun, which was placed improperly in a holster located over his crotch. Later that same day, the FBI released two videos captured by the doorbell camera.
On February 12, based on the footage, authorities released additional details about the suspected kidnapper's appearance, including an estimated height of , an average build, a black mustache, and the 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack he was carrying.
On February 18, Google announced that it was trying to extract additional footage from the various home cameras.
Ransom notes
Early ransom note reports