Savannah Guthrie’s Mother Missing As Arizona Home Declared Crime Scene

It’s a story that’s gripped viewers across the nation: Savannah Guthrie, the longtime co-anchor of NBC’s “Today” show, has stepped away from her anchor desk as her family faces an unimaginable ordeal. On February 2, 2026, Guthrie was absent from the “Today” broadcast, not for a vacation or a special assignment, but to join local authorities in Arizona in the search for her mother, Nancy Guthrie, who was reported missing just days earlier.

According to Rolling Stone, Nancy Guthrie, 84, was last seen on the evening of January 31, 2026, at her home near East Skyline Drive and North Campbell Avenue, just north of Tucson, Arizona. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department immediately classified her as a “missing vulnerable adult” because of her age and health concerns. Nancy’s disappearance was first flagged when she failed to attend church services, prompting a concerned member of her congregation to reach out to the family. By noon on February 1, a 911 call had been placed, and the search was on.

From the outset, law enforcement treated Nancy’s case with an urgency that went beyond typical missing person reports. Sheriff Chris Nanos of Pima County described the scene at Nancy’s home as “very concerning,” telling reporters at a news conference, “We don’t typically get the sheriff out at a scene like this, but it’s very concerning what we’re learning from the house. Our homicide team is out right now looking at the scene as well.” (Rolling Stone)

By February 2, the investigation had taken a grim turn. Sheriff Nanos addressed the press again, this time confirming, “We do in fact have a crime scene,” and emphasized that there is reason to believe Nancy did not leave her home of her own volition. “She is very limited in her mobility,” Nanos explained, “We know she didn’t just walk out of there.” (USA TODAY)

The sheriff went on to clarify, “There are other things at the scene that indicate she did not leave on her own. We can’t share further details at this time, but we’re asking the community’s help.” The family, including Savannah Guthrie herself, has been in close contact with authorities throughout the ordeal. “Our hearts go out to them, this is their mom,” Nanos said, reflecting the deep empathy felt by everyone involved.

Describing Nancy Guthrie, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department noted she is 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighs 150 pounds, and has brown hair and blue eyes. She is not in good physical health, requires daily medication, and, crucially, “if she doesn’t have [her medication] in 24 hours, it could be fatal,” the sheriff warned. However, Nancy’s family was adamant that this is not a case of cognitive decline. “This is not dementia related. She’s as sharp as a tack. The family wants everyone to know that this isn’t someone who just wandered off,” Nanos reiterated to the press (Associated Press).

As the news broke, Savannah Guthrie issued a heartfelt statement, shared by her “Today” co-anchors Craig Melvin and Sheinelle Jones: “On behalf of our family, I want to thank everyone for the thoughts, prayers, and messages of support. Right now, our focus remains on the safe return of our dear mom. We thank law enforcement for their hard work on this case and encourage anyone with information to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s office at 520-351-4900.” (USA TODAY)

The search for Nancy Guthrie has been nothing short of exhaustive. Authorities deployed helicopters equipped with infrared cameras, drones, and enlisted the help of the Customs and Border Protection, as well as the FBI. Search and rescue teams, volunteers, and even Border Patrol canines scoured the area for any sign of Nancy. “We put all our air assets into this—our drone systems, our aircraft, our helicopters, heat sensors, infrared, everything we’ve had, we’ve thrown at this,” Sheriff Nanos explained. But by February 2, the sheriff announced that the search and rescue mission was being paused: “We no longer see this as a search mission as much as we do a crime scene.”

Technology now plays a pivotal role in the investigation. Authorities are combing through license plate reader data, neighborhood camera systems, and any other digital clues that might provide a break in the case. “We will download all that data we have from the home from different pieces of technology we’ve gotten, and we will use that to our advantage,” Nanos said. He also made a pointed appeal to local leaders for more support and resources, emphasizing the value of technology in solving crimes like this one.

Throughout the ordeal, the Guthrie family has been fully cooperative. There are no other missing caregivers or family members, and Nancy lived alone, though she did have house staff who helped with the yard and other tasks. “The family has been very cooperative with authorities and there are no other missing caregivers or family members,” USA TODAY confirmed. Savannah Guthrie herself has been in Arizona, working closely with investigators, and her absence from the “Today” show has only underscored the seriousness of the situation.

Community involvement has become a central focus of the investigation. Sheriff Nanos pleaded with the public: “I need this community to step up and start giving us some calls. If you’ve seen something, heard something—call us, take a quick picture, send it to us.” He encouraged neighbors to review their security camera footage and not to dismiss anything as insignificant. “Call us. Don’t tell the neighbor to call us. Tell the neighbor to call us, but you call us as well. We’ll put it together. We’ll get it, trust me, we’re, I’m sure we’re gonna get inundated with a lot of calls. We’ll handle that.”

Despite the intense focus on the Guthrie family, authorities made it clear that there is no indication of an active threat to the wider public. “We don’t have any indication that the public is in danger,” Nanos said, though he did not rule out the possibility of a prowler or suspicious activity in the area. The investigation remains active and ongoing, with law enforcement agencies at every level collaborating to bring Nancy Guthrie home.

Savannah Guthrie has often spoken about her close relationship with her mother, even celebrating Nancy’s milestone 80th birthday on air in 2022. “She has met unthinkable challenges in her life with grit, without self-pity, with determination, and always, always with unshakeable faith,” Savannah said at the time. “She loves us, her family, fiercely, and her selflessness and sacrifice for us, her steadfastness and her unmovable confidence is the reason any of us grew up to do anything.”

As the days pass, the Guthrie family, authorities, and a concerned public wait anxiously for any sign of Nancy. With technology, community support, and relentless determination, the hope remains that answers—and a safe return—are still possible.