Investigators in Arizona are now treating the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today show anchor Savannah Guthrie, not as a routine missing-persons case — but as a criminal abduction that may have happened while she slept in her own home. Authorities have released startling new information about the scene at her residence that has shifted the focus of the investigation and haunted everyone involved.

Nancy was last seen by family members late on the evening of Saturday, January 31, 2026, at her home in the Catalina Foothills area just north of Tucson. When she did not attend her usual church service the next morning and failed to respond to calls, loved ones became alarmed and ultimately reported her missing around noon on Sunday, February 1.

Shortly after the 911 call, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department responded to Nancy’s home and immediately noted something was amiss. Sheriff Chris Nanos publicly confirmed that investigators found “things at the home that were concerning” and that the residence was being treated as an active crime scene rather than a simple search area for a missing senior.

“We do, in fact, have a crime scene. We do, in fact, have a crime,” Nanos said at a recent press conference. “She did not leave on her own.”

Police have emphasized that Nancy Guthrie has no cognitive issues and was reported to be mentally alert prior to her disappearance. There are no known medical conditions that would have caused her to wander off, and her physical mobility is limited — meaning she could not reasonably have left the home alone. Investigators believe this is not a case of an elderly person getting lost or confused.

Though law enforcement has been cautious about disclosing specific forensic findings, multiple sources — including statements by Sheriff Nanos and coverage by national outlets — indicate the case is being treated as a possible kidnapping from within the home itself, likely while Nancy was asleep.

Officials have not shared every piece of physical evidence, but their shift in language — explicitly rejecting voluntary departure and referring to “suspicious circumstances at the scene” — strongly suggests they found clues inconsistent with an accidental disappearance. For example:

Nancy’s cellphone and essential items were reportedly still in the home, which would be unusual if she planned to leave.

Her required medication was not taken, and authorities have stressed the danger of her being without it, noting it could be fatal if not administered within 24 hours.

There was no clear sign she walked away alone — given her poor mobility, she could not have traveled far on her own.

Though Sheriff Nanos has refrained from elaborating publicly on every detail, the fact that homicide investigators have been brought in alongside search and rescue teams is itself unusual in a case that begins as a missing person report.

Investigators say they are now combing through security camera footage from around the property and neighborhood looking for any clue — particularly anything that might show a vehicle or individual outside the residence during the critical hours overnight. They have also taken possession of Nancy’s cellphone and are analyzing its data for possible leads.

Authorities are urging neighbors to review their own surveillance recordings from the area, even if cameras don’t point directly at the Guthrie property. License plate readers and other public footage are also being checked.

While the sheriff’s department has not publicly confirmed any specific surveillance capture of a suspect vehicle or person, the nationwide appeal for public help implies they are following every possible angle — particularly any sign of “a mysterious car” or stranger near the home during the night.

The case has drawn intense national attention due to Savannah Guthrie’s public profile. The Today show host did not appear on the program while the crisis unfolded, and colleagues shared a statement from her family expressing gratitude for the public support and emphasizing their sole focus is bringing Nancy home safely.

Investigators have made it clear that there is no indication of a threat to the broader community, and they are not ruling out any line of inquiry — from a stranger abduction to a possible connection someone with a motive. However, as of now, there is no evidence of threats against Savannah Guthrie or her family that would suggest this was premeditated because of her public role.

Neighbors in the Catalina Foothills area have described the situation as shocking and unsettling, especially in a relatively quiet residential community. Some residents have installed their own doorbell cameras and surveillance systems in hopes the footage might aid the investigation.

The sheriff’s office has repeatedly stressed that time is of the essence, particularly because of Nancy’s medication needs and limited mobility. Every hour that passes without a confirmed sighting increases concern among investigators and the Guthrie family alike.

Despite the dramatic turn toward a criminal investigation, police caution the public that official detail releases will be controlled to avoid compromising investigative strategy. Still, officers continue to pursue all available leads, from forensic evidence at the home to neighborhood camera footage and license-plate tracking.

For now, the community remains on high alert, with law enforcement and the Guthrie family hoping that even the smallest clue — a recorded image, a key timestamp, a vehicle caught on camera — could lead to the safe return of an elderly woman believed to be taken against her will.