Savannah Guthrie's mother Nancy missing in Arizona; Trump directs federal law enforcement to assis

 February 5, 2026

NBC "Today" co-host Savannah Guthrie and her siblings released a heartbreaking video appeal on Wednesday, directly addressing whoever may be holding their 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie. The family confirmed they are aware of reports about a ransom demand and declared they are ready to negotiate—if they can confirm Nancy is alive.

Nancy Guthrie was last seen at her Tucson, Arizona, residence around 9:30 p.m. Saturday. She vanished sometime after her son-in-law dropped her off following a family dinner. By Sunday morning, she had missed church—an absence so unusual that a fellow churchgoer alerted her family. They called 911 around noon.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos confirmed Monday what the evidence suggested:

We do, in fact, have a crime.

A Family's Desperate Appeal

The video released by the Guthrie family carried the weight of four days of anguish. Savannah Guthrie opened by describing her mother, then turned her attention to whoever might have taken her:

Our mom is a kind, faithful, loyal, fiercely loving woman of goodness and light. She's funny, spunky. She has grandchildren that adore her and crowd around her and cover her with kisses. She loves fun and adventure. She is a devoted friend. She is full of kindness and knowledge. Talk to her and you'll see.

The appeal quickly turned urgent. Nancy Guthrie's health is fragile, her daughter explained, and she has been without medication since Saturday night:

Our mom is our heart and our home. Her health, her heart is fragile. She is without any medicine. She needs it to survive. She needs not to suffer. We, too, have heard the reports about a ransom letter in the media. As a family, we are doing everything that we can.

Reports have surfaced of a ransom note demanding a "substantial amount" of money, Fox News reported. The Pima County Sheriff's Department acknowledged awareness of these reports but declined to confirm details. Savannah Guthrie addressed this directly, acknowledging the complications of verifying such communications in the digital age:

We are ready to talk. However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated. We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you, and we are ready to listen. Please reach out to us.

Annie Guthrie, Savannah's sister, spoke through tears:

We are always going to be merely human, just normal human people who need our mom. Momma. Momma, if you're listening, we need you to come home. We miss you.

Trump Mobilizes Federal Law Enforcement

President Donald Trump moved swiftly after speaking directly with Savannah Guthrie on Wednesday night. His response was unequivocal:

I spoke with Savannah Guthrie, and let her know that I am directing ALL Federal Law Enforcement to be at the family's, and Local Law Enforcement's, complete disposal, IMMEDIATELY. We are deploying all resources to get her mother home safely. The prayers of our Nation are with her and her family. GOD BLESS AND PROTECT NANCY!

The White House also issued a public statement urging anyone with information to contact 911 and offering prayers for Nancy's safe return.

This is the kind of decisive federal response that families in crisis need. No bureaucratic delays. No interagency squabbling. The President heard about an American family in distress and deployed every available resource. Full stop.

What Investigators Know

The timeline of Nancy Guthrie's disappearance has been reconstructed through family accounts and official statements. On Saturday evening, she had dinner with her daughter, Annie, and her son-in-law, Tommaso Cioni. Cioni dropped her off at her Tucson home afterward and made sure she made it inside.

That was the last confirmed sighting of the 84-year-old woman.

When Nancy failed to appear at her Sunday church service, a fellow congregant contacted the family. They arrived at her home around 11 a.m. and spent time searching before calling 911 around noon.

A Pima County Sheriff's Office spokesperson laid out the investigative conclusion:

Sheriff [Chris] Nanos has stated that he believes that a crime has been committed. At this point, investigators believe she was taken from the home against her will and that includes possible kidnapping or abduction.

A law enforcement source indicated there were blood drops leading from the entryway outside down the pathway toward the driveway.

Wednesday afternoon—four days after her disappearance—deputies returned to Nancy Guthrie's home. They put up yellow crime scene tape and brought K-9 units. The department offered no explanation beyond stating they were "conducting follow-up." Law enforcement also visited Annie Guthrie's home, located just a few miles away, bringing equipment inside. The purpose of that visit also remains unclear.

Hundreds of Leads, No Answers Yet

At a Tuesday news conference, Sheriff Nanos acknowledged he does not know where Nancy Guthrie is. When asked whether the apparent abduction was targeted or random, his answer reflected the breadth of the investigation:

We're going to assume both sides of that. We'll look at both sides.

He credited public tips for advancing the investigation:

We are following all leads we have. That's all I can tell you. We've got hundreds of leads. And it's from you that produced those leads by telling people we need help.

The sheriff declined to answer questions about the reported ransom demand.

A Mother's Faith, A Family's Strength

Throughout this ordeal, the Guthrie family has leaned publicly on their faith. Savannah Guthrie's Monday Instagram post set the tone:

We believe in prayer. We believe in voices raised in unison, in love, in hope. We believe in goodness. We believe in humanity. Above all, we believe in Him. Thank you for lifting your prayers with ours for our beloved mom, our dearest Nancy, a woman of deep conviction, a good and faithful servant. Raise your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment.

In Wednesday's video, Savannah addressed her mother directly with words of comfort and resolve:

Mommy? If you are hearing this, you are a strong woman. You are God's precious daughter, Nancy. We believe and know that even in this valley, He is with you. Everyone is looking for you, Mommy, everywhere. We will not rest, your children will not rest until we are together again. We speak to you every moment, and we pray without ceasing, and we rejoice in advance for the day that we hold you in our arms again. We love you.

What Comes Next

The investigation now operates on two tracks: local law enforcement is following hundreds of leads, while federal resources are deployed at the President's direction. The family has signaled willingness to engage with anyone holding Nancy Guthrie—but they need proof of life first.

Nancy Guthrie is 84 years old. She has a fragile heart. She has been without medication for days. Every hour matters.

This case transcends politics. It is about an elderly woman taken from her home and a family desperate for her return. But it is also a reminder of what competent federal leadership looks like in a crisis—a President who picks up the phone, hears a family's pain, and acts immediately.

The Guthrie family waits. The nation prays. And somewhere in Arizona, investigators work through hundreds of leads, hoping one of them brings Nancy home.

DON'T WAIT.

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