Tucson, Arizona – Authorities continue to investigate the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Savannah Guthrie, co-anchor of NBC’s “Today” show. The case, which began , has evolved from a missing person inquiry into a suspected kidnapping, with law enforcement now believing Guthrie was taken from her home in the early hours of .
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has released a timeline of events, piecing together the last known movements of Nancy Guthrie. According to investigators, she was dropped off at her home by family members at approximately on , with the garage door closing two minutes later. The following morning, she was discovered missing, having failed to attend a scheduled church service.
A key element in the investigation centers around anomalies detected in the home’s security systems. At on , the doorbell camera disconnected. Further analysis revealed that at , the camera software detected a person on the property, but due to a lack of a subscription, the footage was overwritten. Sheriff Chris Nanos explained that the system’s looping function erased the recording. Simultaneously, at , Nancy Guthrie’s pacemaker app disconnected from her phone, raising further concerns about her well-being given her age and potential health issues.
The case took a more alarming turn with the receipt of potential ransom demands by a local television station, KOLD-TV. One message reportedly demanded money in exchange for Guthrie’s return and contained specific details about her property, including her Apple watch and floodlights. Authorities have not confirmed the authenticity of the note, but are treating it as credible. The Guthrie family, through their daughter Savannah, has released multiple video appeals, pleading for information and offering to pay for their mother’s safe return. In a statement released on , Savannah Guthrie stated, “We will pay.”
Law enforcement’s investigation has included a thorough search of the area surrounding Guthrie’s home. On , an SUV was towed from the property as deputies expanded the search perimeter and marked potential evidence locations. The FBI has also joined the investigation, offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to Nancy Guthrie’s recovery or the arrest of those involved in her disappearance.
Experts in hostage negotiation emphasize that cases like this are relatively rare in the United States. Scott Tillema, a retired SWAT hostage negotiator, categorizes hostage situations into three types, with ransom-motivated abductions being the least common. According to Tillema, these types of kidnappings are typically carefully planned, with a designated location for the hostage and a specific point of contact for negotiations. Scott Walker, author of “Order Out of Chaos: A Kidnap Negotiator’s Guide to Influence and Persuasion,” notes that successful kidnappings often involve targeting individuals who are not randomly selected, suggesting a degree of pre-planning and knowledge of the victim.
The involvement of the family in the negotiation process is a delicate matter. Negotiators caution that prolonged silence from the abductors is often a tactic to increase pressure on the family. Calvin Chrustie, a senior partner at the private security firm Critical Risk Team, points out the significant psychological stress placed on both the family and law enforcement during these investigations and warns that intense media scrutiny can further complicate the situation and potentially endanger the victim. Chrustie suggests that ransom notes sent to the press may be an attempt to increase leverage or mislead investigators.
Authorities have stated that Nancy Guthrie is in poor health and requires daily medication. This underscores the urgency of the situation and the potential risks to her well-being. As the investigation enters its second week, law enforcement continues to pursue all leads, hoping to secure her safe return. The case remains active, with investigators working to determine whether the abduction was targeted and, if so, the motive behind it.
The investigation is ongoing, and further updates will be provided as they become available.
