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By Amanda Greenwood
Associate News Editor
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As authorities and federal investigators in Arizona continue to search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84‑year‑old mother of Today show co‑anchor Savannah Guthrie, more than a month after she vanished from her home near Tucson, Arizona, Newsweek has pulled together the latest information on how the case has evolved and where the investigation now stands.
Why It Matters
Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance drew national attention due to her age, medical needs, and connection to a high‑profile journalist. Investigators said evidence suggested she had been taken against her will, increasing urgency around tips, forensic results, and interagency cooperation.
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The Case To Date
Timeline and scene: Nancy Guthrie was last seen on the evening of January 31 and was reported missing from her Catalina Foothills home on February 1. Authorities said drops of blood were found on her front porch, and that they believed she had been kidnapped.
Doorbell suspect: The FBI later released video from Nancy Guthrie’s doorbell camera and described a suspect as a man about 5 feet 9 to 10 inches tall with an average build, seen carrying a black 25‑liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack.
DNA and gloves: Investigators recovered several pairs of gloves within miles of Nancy Guthrie’s home, but the DNA profiles did not match any entries in CODIS, the FBI’s national database. Detectives then turned to investigative genetic genealogy while also working to eliminate associates through comparison sampling.
Video leads beyond the home: Footage from a neighboring Ring doorbell camera captured about a dozen vehicles traveling along a potential route between midnight and 6 a.m. on February 1—the morning of Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance.
Public tips and rewards: The FBI said it had reviewed more than 13,000 tips and announced a $100,000 reward. Tucson Crime Stoppers offered $102,500, while the Guthrie family offered up to $1 million for information that could lead to finding her.
Agency roles: Reuters reported that the Pima County Sheriff’s Office limited FBI laboratory access by sending evidence to a Florida lab, a claim Sheriff Chris Nanos denied. Federal and county prosecutors later said they were actively supporting the investigation.
Community impact: Local security businesses reported a spike in inquiries about fortified doors and safe rooms amid concerns stemming from the case, according to coverage citing The Daily Mail and statements from county authorities about sustained patrol presence.
What People Are Saying
Savannah Guthrie, in an Instagram video two weeks after the abduction: “It's been two weeks since our mom was taken, and I just wanted to come on and say that we still have hope and we still believe." Speaking to the potential kidnapper, she said: "You're not lost or alone, and it is never too late to do the right thing. We are here. And we believe. And we believe in the essential goodness of every human being.”
Retired FBI special agent Jennifer Coffindaffer told Newsweek, “It makes no sense to me that this wasn't completely targeted. The individual who approached that door, if you look at the three-second clip... They knew exactly where that camera was.”
U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine said in a statement: “The United States Attorney’s Office, together with the FBI and every other law enforcement agency involved in finding Nancy, will go anywhere, do anything, and persevere always to find her.”
What Happens Next
Investigators said the probe would remain active until Nancy Guthrie is found or all leads are exhausted, with resources refocused on dedicated detectives and continued neighborhood patrols.
Anyone with information can contact 1‑800‑CALL‑FBI, 520‑351‑4900, 88‑CRIME, or submit a tip at tips.fbi.gov.
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