Abduction Probe: Nancy Guthrie Arizona Ransom Note

The 84-year-old mother of NBC News anchor Savannah Guthrie was abducted from her Arizona home over the weekend, according to Pima County law enforcement officials, who are treating the case as a criminal investigation with FBI assistance.

Nancy Guthrie was last seen at her residence in the Catalina Foothills area north of Tucson on the evening of Saturday, February 22. After family members dropped her off following an outing, she failed to appear at a scheduled church service the next morning. A friend’s concern prompted relatives to check her home on Sunday, where they found her personal belongings, including her cell phone, wallet, and vehicle, but no sign of her. A 911 call was placed around noon.

Sheriff Chris Nanos stated investigators believe Ms. Guthrie was taken against her will from her home at night. “She didn’t walk from there. She didn’t go willingly,” Nanos said, confirming the incident is being probed as an abduction, not a standard missing-person case. The home has been declared a crime scene. Authorities highlighted that the elderly woman has limited mobility and requires daily medication, increasing the urgency of the search.

A critical piece of evidence is a note delivered to a local news station on Monday. While the note contained specific, non-public details about the home and Ms. Guthrie’s attire that night, officials have not verified the note’s authenticity or its claims. “You give it to us, you give us a lead, we’re going to look at every aspect of that lead,” Nanos noted, emphasizing that all tips are being treated as potential evidence.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has joined the investigation, providing resources for evidence analysis and conducting interviews. Authorities have publicly appealed for any information, requesting surveillance footage, photos, or tips from the community to help locate Nancy Guthrie.

Savannah Guthrie has temporarily stepped away from her co-hosting duties on the Today show. The case has attracted high-level attention, with U.S. President Donald Trump describing the circumstances as unusual and indicating he would consider offering additional federal support.

The investigation continues as detectives work to piece together the events of the weekend. Law enforcement urges anyone with information to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department or the FBI.