Savannah Guthrie Appeals for Information as Federal and Local Teams Intensify Search for Missing Mother

Federal, state and local authorities are expanding resources in the effort to locate Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of television journalist Savannah Guthrie, who is believed to have been taken from her residence outside Tucson, Arizona, in the early hours of Sunday, Feb. 1. Investigators say evidence collected so far suggests an abduction rather than a voluntary disappearance, and the case has been designated a top priority for multiple agencies.

On Wednesday, Savannah Guthrie joined her sister, Annie, and brother, Camron, in a video message posted to social media, urging anyone with information to come forward. The siblings emphasized that their mother’s continued absence places her in immediate medical jeopardy because she lives with chronic pain and relies on daily medication. Family members stressed that she had no medication with her when she vanished.

According to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, Nancy Guthrie was last seen late Saturday evening inside her single-story home near Tucson. Family members discovered her missing around noon on Sunday and notified law enforcement. Investigators believe she was taken while she slept; there were no indications of forced entry, but items out of place inside the residence raised concern. The house is being processed as a crime scene, and detectives have collected DNA, fingerprints and digital evidence.

The sheriff’s department confirmed on Tuesday that biological material recovered inside the home belongs to Nancy Guthrie. Officials have not disclosed whether the material was blood or another substance, but they said none of the samples gathered so far match potential suspects. Investigators remain uncertain whether the incident was targeted or random.

Authorities are analyzing electronic devices owned by the victim, including her mobile phone—which was found inside the home—and computers that may reveal communication or activity leading up to the disappearance. Surveillance cameras installed on the property are also under review; one exterior camera was missing, and detectives are awaiting footage from the security company’s cloud servers. The sheriff said several requests marked “urgent” have been sent to the companies that manage the devices.

Multiple letters purporting to be ransom notes surfaced after the disappearance. Local television station KGUN received one such letter and surrendered it to authorities. Investigators are conducting forensic tests to determine authenticity and trace origin. No suspect or person of interest has been publicly identified, and officials have not confirmed whether any of the letters are genuine.

In their public message, the Guthrie family said they are prepared to open dialogue with whoever might be holding their mother but need incontrovertible proof that she is alive and that the sender possesses her. The siblings asked any potential captor to establish contact through verifiable means.

National attention on the case intensified Wednesday night when President Donald Trump stated on his social media platform that he had spoken with Savannah Guthrie and instructed “all federal law enforcement” to assist local officials. The president said the nation was “deploying all resources” to ensure Nancy Guthrie’s safe return. According to several officials familiar with the coordination, FBI Director Kash Patel is scheduled to travel to Arizona to oversee a task force integrating FBI agents, hostage negotiators, technical specialists and an elite U.S. Border Patrol unit.

The FBI field office in Tucson encouraged the public to submit tips through its hotline and website. Jon Edwards, assistant special agent in charge, told reporters that every lead is being pursued. He noted that analysts, cyber-forensic examiners and behavioral experts have been assigned to cross-check information from tipsters, review cell-tower data and compare any ransom communications.

Imagem: Internet

Nancy Guthrie’s health remains a central concern. Sheriff Chris Nanos said she suffers from limited mobility and a heart condition. Medical professionals advising the investigative team warned that missing more than 24 hours of her prescribed medicines could prove life-threatening, adding urgency to the search. The sheriff described the current phase as “all hands on deck,” with ground teams canvassing neighborhoods, drones scanning nearby desert areas and K-9 units following scent trails until they dissipate.

While details of the forensic findings inside the house have not been released, sources familiar with the examination said detectives noted furnishings displaced in ways suggesting the involvement of “someone with greater strength or agility” than the victim. The sources also said there was no sign of forced entry on exterior doors or windows, reinforcing the theory that the intruder either had access or entered quietly.

Authorities are not ruling out any scenario and have asked residents to review doorbell or security camera footage from late Saturday night through early Sunday morning. Investigators are particularly interested in vehicles or individuals seen near the Guthrie home during that period. In addition, detectives are comparing financial and phone records to establish a precise timeline of the victim’s last known contacts.

For citizens seeking official guidance on how to assist in abduction cases, the FBI provides detailed information on reporting procedures and safety protocols on its violent crime webpage (fbi.gov).

Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department tip line at 520-351-4900. Tips can also be submitted through the FBI’s online portal. Investigators emphasized that even seemingly minor details—such as an unfamiliar vehicle, an overheard conversation or discarded personal items—could help locate Nancy Guthrie or identify a suspect.

Crédito da imagem: Rebecca Noble/Reuters