The missing persons case for 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, mother of Today Show host Savannah Guthrie, is being investigated as a crime, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said at a news conference Monday.
"We know she just didn't walk out of there," Nanos said Monday morning, noting Guthrie's mobility issues. "She couldn't walk 50 yards by herself," he said.
Nanos pleaded Monday for tips in finding Nancy Guthrie who was reported missing about noon Sunday.
He would not elaborate, but said again on Monday that the scene at her home is concerning to investigators.
"We hope we find her safe and sound, but we are very concerned," Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said during a separate news briefing Sunday night in Nancy Guthrie's Catalina Foothills neighborhood.
The evidence was "enough of a concern to us that we called out a criminal investigation team as well," including homicide detectives, which is "not standard" in a missing person case, Nanos said Sunday.
"We're pretty much throwing everything at this," he said.
Nancy Guthrie, mother of NBC Today host Savannah Guthrie, is shown in this undated photo provided by the Pima County Sheriff's Department. Deputies and volunteers have been searching for her since about noon Sunday.
Nancy Guthrie was last seen between 9:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. Saturday by family members who left her at her home.
She failed to show up for church service on Sunday, and someone reached out to the family, Nanos said.
Guthrie was reported missing by family members about noon Sunday after family members had spent about an hour searching for her before calling 911, Nanos said Monday.
Nanos said the department doesn't know if Guthrie was targeted. He said her home has cameras, and the department is looking through footage. Guthrie lives alone and the department has her cell phone, he said.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said at a news conference Monday that the missing persons case for Nancy Guthrie, the mother of Today Show host Savannah Guthrie is being investigated as a crime.
Since Sunday, ground crews, dog teams, drones and the Sheriff's Department's airplane were searching the neighborhood, south of East Skyline Drive and west of North Campbell Avenue. A map at Monday's news conference showed a much wider search area.
Deputies also have checked with hospitals and medical transport teams, among other investigative steps, Nanos said Sunday.
Search crews wearing headlamps could be seen in the neighborhood Sunday night, along with neighbors who were calling out the missing woman's name. The department's plane was overhead, using infrared to search, Nanos said.
Guthrie is considered a "vulnerable adult" by the department, mostly due to her age and physical mobility issues. She has no cognitive issues, Nanos said Sunday. On Monday Nanos said Guthrie is "sharp as a tack."
Savannah Guthrie on NBC's Today Show in 2022.
Nancy Guthrie is about 5-feet, 5-inches tall and weighs about 150 pounds. She has brown hair and blue eyes. It is unknown what clothing she might be wearing.
Anyone with information regarding where she might be is asked to call 9-1-1 or the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.
Savannah Guthrie was raised in Tucson and is a University of Arizona graduate. She was in Tucson late last year and filmed segments introducing Today Show viewers to her hometown.
In a tribute to her mother on her 80th birthday in 2022, Savannah Guthrie said, "She’s lived a life of integrity and loyalty. She is a consistent doer of the right thing and the hard thing."
Guthrie was not on air Monday and the investigation was the lead news story on Monday's Today Show. The network also broke into programming Monday for an update on the case based on the news conference here.
The popular TV host issued a statement Monday.
“On behalf of our family, I want to thank everyone for the thoughts, prayers and messages of support,” Guthrie said. “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 Department at (520) 351-4900.”
Nanos said the department is anxious to find Guthrie for her family, and noted there need for her daily medications.
"Our hearts go out to them. This is their mom," Nanos said. "She is just a great lady from what I’ve heard, and I feel for the family. We just want to find her and bring her back safe.”
