Family addresses alleged ransom note after 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie vanished from her Tucson home.
TUCSON, AZ — “Today” show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie and her siblings released an emotional video late Wednesday pleading for the return of their mother, Nancy Guthrie, 84, who disappeared from her Tucson home over the weekend. Addressing an alleged ransom note, the family said they are ready to communicate and negotiate but need clear proof that Nancy is alive.
The case has drawn national attention as investigators say evidence at the scene points to an abduction and the FBI has joined Pima County deputies in the search. Authorities say Nancy’s age, health needs and limited mobility heighten the urgency. While officials have acknowledged at least one alleged ransom message surfaced through media outlets, they say no “proof of life” has been provided. As of Thursday morning, no suspects or persons of interest had been publicly identified, and an FBI reward has been offered as the investigation moves on several fronts.
In their appeal, filmed in Arizona, Savannah Guthrie sat with her brother, Camron, and sister, Annie, and spoke directly to whoever may be holding their mother. “We are ready to talk,” she said, adding that the family needs to know “without a doubt that she is alive.” The video was posted four days after Nancy was last seen Saturday night at her home, relatives said. She did not appear at church Sunday, prompting concern and a check on her residence. Detectives later cordoned off the property and began canvassing neighbors, reviewing area security footage and preparing targeted searches in the desert and within Tucson’s north side neighborhoods.
Investigators said physical evidence collected at the residence includes blood on or near the front entry that matched Nancy’s DNA. The sheriff’s office has described the scene as consistent with someone taken against their will. Deputies said the home’s doorbell camera stopped working overnight, and family members reported a medical monitoring app associated with Nancy’s pacemaker went offline around the same period. Officials said they have seen at least one fraudulent ransom message amid the public attention and arrested one individual in connection with an impostor demand. Separately, a note sent to media outlets referenced deadlines but did not include proof of life, according to law enforcement and journalists who received it. The FBI has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to Nancy’s recovery or an arrest.
Authorities outlined a timeline that begins with Nancy spending Saturday evening at home and failing to make it to church on Sunday morning. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said this week that investigators believe Nancy “was taken,” citing blood evidence and her limited mobility. He said search teams have expanded grid sweeps and are coordinating with federal agents to analyze digital data from neighborhood cameras and devices. A law enforcement official said one alleged note referenced a 5 p.m. Thursday deadline and a second date on Monday, without specifying a time zone. Officials emphasized that, as of Thursday, there had been no verifiable contact from a captor and no confirmation of Nancy’s condition.
The family’s video plea came as national outlets aired new images of the home’s front steps and a missing floodlight, details that fed public speculation as detectives urged patience. “We just want our mom home,” Savannah said in the video, her voice breaking as she thanked viewers for prayers. Neighbors described Nancy as a devoted grandmother who walked slowly with assistance and largely stayed close to family. A parishioner at her church said members became worried when she missed services, which one friend called “unthinkable.” In a briefing, Nanos said investigators were “hopeful” Nancy is still out there and asked anyone with credible information to contact authorities rather than media.
Officials said the investigation remains active, with daily briefings expected as leads are processed. The sheriff’s office and FBI are pursuing forensic testing, mapping cell traffic and reviewing tips tied to the alleged ransom communications. The White House signaled federal support for the search effort. If substantiated, the deadlines referenced in the alleged note could shape investigators’ operational tempo into the weekend. Detectives said they will continue targeted searches in and around Tucson and follow digital trails associated with the home’s devices and any communications tied to the note. No formal charges have been filed in the abduction; a separate complaint tied to an alleged impostor ransom demand is pending before a federal magistrate.
As of Thursday afternoon, Nancy Guthrie’s whereabouts were still unknown. Investigators said the next updates would come as lab results return and any credible communications are verified, with attention on a deadline mentioned for 5 p.m. Thursday and a second date on Monday. The search continues with expanded resources across Pima County.
Author note: Last updated February 5, 2026.