Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of beloved NBC Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie, vanished from her home in the upscale Catalina Foothills neighborhood near Tucson, Arizona, on the night of January 31, 2026. What started as a quiet evening—after a family member dropped her off around 9:45 p.m.—quickly turned into a nightmare when she failed to appear at church the following morning, February 1. Deputies responding to the welfare check discovered clear signs of foul play: evidence of forced entry, signs of a struggle, disturbed furnishings, and trace amounts of blood at the scene. Authorities swiftly classified the disappearance as an abduction, believing Nancy was taken against her will in what appears to be a targeted operation rather than a random crime.
Now, as of February 23, 2026—marking Day 23—the search enters its fourth week with no major breakthroughs, no named suspect or person of interest, and growing anxiety over Nancy’s survival. At her advanced age, she relies on daily medications for chronic health issues and has a pacemaker; experts and family alike stress that every passing day heightens the medical risks. The Pima County Sheriff’s Office, leading the probe alongside the FBI and other federal and state partners, continues to describe the case as active and urgent, though Sheriff Chris Nanos has acknowledged that without fresh leads, resource intensity could eventually scale back.
The investigation’s cornerstone remains chilling doorbell camera footage released early in the case. It shows a masked individual—described as male, roughly 5’9″ to 5’10” with an average build—approaching Nancy’s front door in the early morning hours of February 1. The person wore gloves, a ski mask, and carried a distinctive black 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack (a Walmart-exclusive model). What appears to be a holstered handgun is visible at the waist. Additional frames suggest the suspect may have tampered with or disabled the camera. The FBI has worked with Walmart to trace potential purchases of the backpack and related gear, but no public matches have been announced. Officials have not ruled out the involvement of multiple perpetrators, pointing to the premeditated nature of the entry and the lack of typical burglary indicators like theft of valuables.
Forensic evidence has presented both promise and significant hurdles. Mixed and partial DNA samples were recovered from the home, along with biological traces including blood. A glove found discarded about two miles away in the desert yielded DNA that was tested but returned no hits in the national CODIS database, nor did it match samples from the residence. Sheriff Nanos, in recent interviews (including with NBC News), described “challenges” in processing the home’s mixed DNA profiles—common in cases with multiple contributors—which could delay usable results for weeks or even months. While investigators remain hopeful about advancing to investigative genetic genealogy (using public databases to build family trees) or eventual CODIS entry, they stress “we’re not there yet.” A private lab has assisted to bypass some federal backlogs.
The case has generated an extraordinary volume of public interest and tips—tens of thousands reported to the FBI and local authorities—leading to countless follow-ups, including traffic stops, home searches in nearby subdivisions, and scrutiny of suspicious vehicles. Early unverified ransom claims (including one forwarded via media outlets like TMZ) were investigated but did not yield results. Theories about a cross-border abduction to Mexico have circulated, prompting volunteers to distribute flyers south of the border and authorities to share info with Mexican counterparts, though no concrete evidence supports this direction.
Savannah Guthrie and her family have been pillars of cooperation. The Today show anchor has largely stepped back from broadcasting to devote herself to the search, sharing heartfelt social media pleas. In a mid-February video, she expressed raw desperation, saying it was “never too late” for information and urging tips to the dedicated hotlines (1-800-CALL-FBI, local sheriff lines, or 88-CRIME). Around February 15, Sheriff Nanos publicly cleared the entire Guthrie family—including Savannah, her siblings, and spouses—as suspects, eliminating early online speculation and allowing focus to remain on external leads.
Volunteer efforts have surged, fueled by true crime communities, “mom detectives” on social media analyzing timelines and footage, and informal search groups scouring the rugged desert terrain around Catalina Foothills. While praised for their passion, authorities have repeatedly cautioned against uncoordinated involvement to avoid contaminating potential evidence or compromising the investigation.
A notable development occurred on February 22—Day 22—when a volunteer group gathered in a Hobby Lobby parking lot for an independent sweep of nearby washes and roadsides. During their search, they located a backpack in the area and immediately turned it over to Pima County deputies for forensic examination. A backpack was discovered by volunteer searchers near the area on February 22 and turned over to deputies for examination. It’s unclear if it’s connected. Early assessments, including reviews of photos and descriptions shared online, indicate it does not match the specific Ozark Trail model seen in the suspect’s surveillance footage (some reports noted differences, such as brand or style resembling a Swiss Army variant). Sheriff’s spokespeople have stated that after initial inspection of the bag and its contents, it has not emerged as a viable lead in the case. Nevertheless, the discovery highlights the persistent public determination and the challenges of sifting through myriad items in a sprawling search area.
A substantial reward—escalating to reports of $202,500 for credible information leading to Nancy’s safe return or the arrest and conviction of those responsible—remains in place, funded by private contributions and possibly media-related boosts.
The emotional and communal impact cannot be overstated. The case has drawn wall-to-wall coverage from major outlets (NYT, NBC, Fox News, AZ Central, CNN), sparked online discussions, and drawn parallels to other high-profile missing-persons resolutions that eventually cracked via persistent forensics or tips. Yet frustration mounts over the slow pace of DNA processing and the absence of a breakthrough. Sheriff Nanos reiterated in late February interviews that the department will pursue every lead “as long as we have the ability,” refusing to label it cold.
This investigation underscores vulnerabilities faced by elderly residents living alone, the double-edged sword of home surveillance technology (capturing clues but not always clear identities), and the painstaking reality of modern forensics where partial evidence demands time and expertise. Until Nancy is found—alive or otherwise—the nation’s eyes remain on Tucson, with prayers, vigils, and hope persisting for a resolution that brings her home.
