Homicide investigators and the FBI have joined the urgent search for Savannah Guthrie’s mother after she vanished from her Arizona home under troubling circumstances.
Nancy Guthrie, 84, disappeared Saturday night between 9:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. from her residence in the Catalina Foothills, an upscale area just outside Tucson. Authorities say she is being treated as a vulnerable adult due to her age, though she is not known to have cognitive impairments.
On Sunday, Pima County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that foul play has not been ruled out. Sheriff Chris Nanos said drones, aircraft, and dog teams — including resources loaned from Customs and Border Protection — are now involved in the search.
NBC News correspondent Tom Winter confirmed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation has also joined the investigation after what officials described as “concerning evidence” was discovered at the scene.
“This one stood out because of what was described to us at the scene and what we found and located just in looking at the scene,” Nanos said during a press conference, declining to elaborate. “We hope we find her safe and sound, but we are very concerned.”
The gravity of the situation was underscored Monday morning when Today confirmed that Savannah Guthrie would not appear on the broadcast. Co-host Jenna Bush Hager told viewers that Guthrie’s mother is without medication “that she needs for survival,” heightening fears as time passes.
In a brief statement, the Guthrie family said they are working closely with law enforcement and asked for privacy as the search continues. Savannah Guthrie has two siblings — Annie, her older sister, and Camron, a pilot with the Air National Guard.
Nancy Guthrie is described as 5 feet 5 inches tall, approximately 150 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Office at 520-351-4900.
The disappearance has struck a deeply personal chord for viewers familiar with Guthrie’s long career and her frequent tributes to her mother. Nancy Guthrie has appeared on Today several times over the years, including a segment last November promoting tourism in Tucson and a lighthearted appearance in 2013 demonstrating how to properly make a bed.
Savannah Guthrie has often credited her mother with shaping her life and career, especially after the death of her father, Charles Guthrie, when Savannah was a high school senior.
“She loves us fiercely,” Guthrie said on Today in 2022 while celebrating her mother’s 80th birthday. “Her selflessness, her sacrifice, her steadfastness — that’s the reason any of us grew up to do anything.”
