This is one of those stories that stops you cold for a second, because it starts as a missing person case and then, almost immediately, takes a much darker turn. Authorities in Arizona are now confirming they are actively searching for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC Today co-host Savannah Guthrie, and they are saying flat out that a crime has been committed. That alone tells you how serious this situation has become.
Nancy Guthrie was last seen Saturday night around 9:30 at her home near East Skyline Drive and North Campbell Avenue, just north of Tucson. By Sunday afternoon, relatives had contacted the Pima County Sheriff’s Department to report her missing after she failed to show up for church, which apparently was very unlike her. Family members went to the house, spent some time looking for her themselves, and when they couldn’t find her, they called 911.
Now here’s where the tone shifts. Sheriff Chris Nanos told reporters that the condition of the house immediately raised red flags. This wasn’t just an elderly woman wandering off or getting confused. Investigators say Nancy Guthrie did not leave on her own. Her home is officially considered a crime scene, and the sheriff confirmed the department’s homicide unit is now involved. That’s not something law enforcement does lightly, especially in missing person cases.
Nanos made it clear that Nancy Guthrie is of sound mind but has physical ailments that limit her mobility. In other words, she’s not someone who could easily disappear without assistance. That detail matters, and it adds to the growing concern surrounding the case. The sheriff even said the department is no longer treating this as a search and rescue mission. Instead, it’s being handled as a criminal investigation.
“We do in fact have a crime scene… we do in fact have a crime.”
Sheriff Chris Nanos of Pima County, AZ gives update on disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of TODAY Show co-host Savannah Guthrie. @livenowfox pic.twitter.com/nbxZGxlB8b
— Josh Breslow (@JoshBreslowTV) February 2, 2026
Authorities initially deployed helicopters, infrared cameras, and drones, and even enlisted help from Customs and Border Protection. But after processing the scene, investigators shifted their focus. According to Nanos, what they found inside the house confirmed that something criminal occurred. While foul play has not been officially detailed, it has certainly not been ruled out.
As news spread, the public reaction was swift, especially given Savannah Guthrie’s high-profile role on national television. Savannah released a statement through NBC’s Today show, thanking people for their prayers, messages, and support. She said the family’s focus remains on the safe return of her mother and expressed gratitude toward law enforcement for their work.
What makes this especially unsettling is the combination of factors: an elderly woman with limited mobility, a home that investigators say tells a troubling story, and a sheriff openly stating that this is no longer a missing persons search but a crime scene investigation. Those are words that carry weight.
Law enforcement is urging anyone with information, no matter how small it may seem, to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. At this point, investigators are clearly working against the clock, and the hope is that answers come quickly and lead to Nancy Guthrie’s safe return.
