Savannah Guthrie’s Mother Missing: FBI Increases Reward, Releases Suspect Details

The FBI has intensified its search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today show anchor Savannah Guthrie, nearly two weeks after she went missing from her Tucson, Arizona home. Authorities have increased the reward for information leading to her location and/or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance to $100,000, doubling the previous amount.

Alongside the increased reward, the FBI has released a more detailed description of a suspect identified through forensic analysis of doorbell camera footage. The suspect is described as a male, approximately 5’9” to 5’10” tall with an average build. Crucially, the footage shows the individual wearing a black, 25-liter “Ozark Trail Hiker Pack” backpack, a detail the FBI hopes will jog public memory.

The FBI Phoenix Field Office shared the updated information on social media, stating their hope that the new details will “help concentrate the public tips we are receiving.” As of February 13, 2026, the bureau has already received over 13,000 tips related to the case since Nancy Guthrie was reported missing on February 1, 2026.

The circumstances surrounding Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance are particularly concerning. She was last seen on January 31, 2026, and requires daily medication for a heart condition, which she has been without since her disappearance. The case has garnered national attention, fueled by Savannah Guthrie’s public pleas for her mother’s safe return.

On February 8, 2026, Savannah Guthrie and her siblings issued a direct appeal to their mother’s alleged kidnapper in an Instagram video. “We received your message, and we understand,” Savannah Guthrie said. “We beg you now to return our mother to us so that One can celebrate with her.” The content of the message received by the family remains undisclosed, but Guthrie emphasized the family’s willingness to pay for her mother’s safe return, stating, “Here’s the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us. And we will pay.”

The release of the suspect description followed the Pima County Sheriff’s Department’s release of images on February 9, 2026, taken from Nancy Guthrie’s doorbell camera the morning of her disappearance. The images depict an armed individual wearing a ski mask and appearing to tamper with the camera. Savannah Guthrie subsequently shared the images on her own social media channels, urging anyone with information to come forward. “Someone out there recognizes this person. We believe she is still out there. Bring her home,” she wrote.

The investigation briefly focused on a person of interest detained in southern Tucson on February 10, 2026, by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department in collaboration with the FBI. However, the individual, identified only as Carlos, was later released after stating he was unaware of the search for Nancy Guthrie. “I hope they get the suspect, because I’m not it,” Carlos told ABC News. “They better do their job and find the suspect that did it so that they can clear my name.”

The FBI continues to urge anyone with information regarding Nancy Guthrie’s whereabouts to contact them at 1-800-CALL-FBI or to submit tips through their online portal at tips.fbi.gov. The case remains a high priority for the agency, and the increased reward reflects the urgency of the situation and the commitment to bringing Nancy Guthrie home safely.

The disappearance of Nancy Guthrie has resonated deeply, not only due to her connection to a prominent media figure but also because of her vulnerability as an 84-year-old woman requiring daily medication. The FBI has described her as a “vulnerable adult,” highlighting the critical need for her safe recovery. The ongoing investigation underscores the challenges faced by law enforcement in missing persons cases, particularly when limited evidence is available and the circumstances surrounding the disappearance remain unclear.