Nancy Guthrie (Savannah Guthrie’s mother) - what’s known so far

At first it looked like the kind of missing-person call that law enforcement gets every day. An elderly woman doesn’t show up, family panics, patrol units do a quick check, neighbors get asked the usual questions. But the Nancy Guthrie case didn’t stay “usual” for long - and that’s why it’s now being handled as a criminal investigation with the FBI offering a reward of up to $50,000.

Nancy Guthrie is 84 and is the mother of NBC “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie. Authorities say she was last known to be at her home in the Catalina Foothills area of Tucson, Arizona, after being dropped off the evening of January 31. She was reported missing the next day when she didn’t show up as expected, and the situation quickly escalated once investigators focused on what was (and wasn’t) left behind.

Why investigators believe this wasn’t voluntary

Law enforcement has described the scene and the circumstances as consistent with an abduction rather than someone simply wandering off. Public reporting and official statements point to several red flags: blood evidence tied to Nancy, her phone left behind, and concerns about her vulnerability and mobility.

One of the most chilling details out there is the tech timeline: surveillance footage reportedly shows Nancy arriving home that night, then later her doorbell camera system appears to have been disabled/compromised during the overnight hours. Around the same window, her pacemaker app reportedly disconnected from phone connectivity - which matters because the phone was still at the house. That combo makes investigators take the “she left on her own” theory and toss it in the trash.

And about the blood: officials have indicated blood at/near the home was tested and linked to Nancy. That’s not automatically proof of the worst outcome - but it’s a big reason the case shifted from a search operation to a crime investigation.

The FBI reward - what it actually covers

The FBI’s “Wanted” bulletin for Nancy Guthrie states a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to her recovery and/or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance.

That wording is important. It’s not just “tips welcome.” It’s a federal-level signal that investigators believe a crime occurred, and that they’re trying to shake loose actionable information: sightings, vehicle details, digital evidence, suspicious communications, anything that can be verified.

The “ransom note” noise - and the fake demand twist

Public reporting says investigators have been aware of chatter about ransom communications. At least one outlet reports an arrest tied not to the abduction itself, but to an “imposter ransom demand” - basically someone allegedly trying to exploit the case by faking a ransom-related message. That doesn’t confirm a real ransom note is authentic; it confirms people are already trying to take advantage of the chaos.

Why these cases get so hard, so fast

Here’s the brutal reality: when an older adult disappears and there’s evidence of foul play, time becomes a weapon. With a typical missing-person case, investigators can lean on routine patterns - friends, errands, medical appointments, wandering risk. With an apparent abduction, you’re dealing with someone actively trying to erase tracks: disabled cameras, dumped phones, stolen time.

That’s also why you’re seeing heavy emphasis on digital breadcrumbs (cameras, apps, connectivity) and forensic work. A “little bit” of physical evidence can be huge if it pins down the exact window when the situation changed from normal life to crime scene.

Where things stand publicly

As of the latest official bulletins and reporting, Nancy Guthrie has not been recovered, and authorities continue to treat the disappearance as criminal. The FBI remains involved and the reward is active.