Timeline Discrepancy Emerges in Search for Savannah Guthrie’s Mother
A source close to the Guthrie family is pushing back on reports about how Nancy Guthrie was discovered missing on Sunday, February 1, saying key details of the timeline have been reported incorrectly.
Early reporting indicated that Nancy Guthrie had been scheduled to attend an in-person church service in Tucson that morning and was reported missing after she failed to show up. According to the family source, that account is not accurate.
For years—dating back to the COVID pandemic—Nancy and a small group of close friends had a standing Sunday routine that did not involve attending church in person. Instead, the group would gather at one another’s homes to watch a New York–based church service via livestream.
The service was broadcast live from a New York church attended by Savannah Guthrie, the longtime “TODAY” show co-anchor and Nancy Guthrie’s daughter.
On Sunday, February 1, Nancy was expected to be at a friend’s home to watch the livestream, as she had done every week. When she failed to arrive, members of the friend group became concerned.
According to the source, one of the friends contacted Annie—Nancy’s daughter and Savannah Guthrie’s sister—to report that Nancy had not shown up and could not be located.
The source emphasized that Nancy was never scheduled to attend a Tucson church service that day, contrary to some reports and said the misunderstanding has led to confusion about the circumstances surrounding when she was first reported missing.
The search for 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie began after she was reportedly abducted from her home near Tucson, Arizona. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department was alerted at 12:03 p.m. On February 1, after the Guthrie family checked on her and found she was not at home, and subsequently reported her missing.
As the search intensified, Savannah Guthrie made an emotional public plea for help on Monday, February 9, describing the situation as an “hour of desperation” as authorities investigated an alleged ransom note tied to her mother’s disappearance. Savannah urged anyone with information to come forward as investigators worked against a looming deadline outlined in the note, which authorities have not publicly authenticated.
The final deadline outlined in the alleged ransom note passed Monday night without any proof of life or resolution. The alleged kidnappers initially demanded $4 million by Thursday, February 5, and then increased the demand to $6 million by Monday, February 9, threatening Nancy’s life if the funds were not delivered.
Authorities have said that because they have so little else to go on, they have been compelled to take the ransom note seriously. Savannah Guthrie and her siblings publicly stated they were ready to pay the ransom for their mother’s return.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that the investigation remains active and ongoing. A spokesperson stated that thousands of calls have been received across multiple tip lines, and investigators continue to review them.
The sheriff’s department said there are no press briefings scheduled at this time, but noted a press conference would be called if a significant development occurs. An active law enforcement presence will continue at the Guthrie residences through the night and into Tuesday as part of the ongoing investigation, including expanded search efforts and follow-up on new leads.
Authorities emphasized that they are pursuing “new leads” in the case, but have not identified any suspects, persons of interest, or vehicles connected to Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance.
Anyone who believes they have information that may assist investigators is asked to contact 1-800-CALL-FBI, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department non-emergency line at 520-351-4900, or 88-CRIME.
The timeline of Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, as established by authorities, indicates her doorbell camera disconnected at 1:47 a.m. On February 1. At 2:12 a.m., software detected a person on camera, though no video is available. Sixteen minutes later, at 2:28 a.m., Nancy Guthrie’s pacemaker app disconnected from her phone, which was left behind at her house.
