The search for Nancy Guthrie, mother of 'Today' host Savannah Guthrie, enters its third week after she vanished from her Arizona home. Authorities found her blood, received ransom notes, and identified a masked suspect in surveillance video as concerns grow for her urgent medical needs.
Nancy Guthrie, 84, mother of 'Today' show host Savannah Guthrie, has been missing from her Tucson, Arizona home since January 31, with the search now in its third week. Authorities found her blood on the front porch, and purported ransom notes were sent to news outlets, though two payment deadlines have passed. Concerns are high for her health, as she requires daily vital medicine for a pacemaker, high blood pressure, and heart issues. The FBI released surveillance video showing a masked person, now identified as a suspect, outside Guthrie's home the night she vanished. The suspect is described as a 5-foot, 9-inch tall man of medium build, carrying an 'Ozark Trail Hiker Pack' backpack. This video was recovered by digital forensics experts from back-end software after initial reports suggested no footage was available. Investigators have collected DNA from Guthrie’s property that does not belong to her or close contacts, and are working to identify its owner. Several gloves found up to 2 miles away have also been sent for lab analysis. The case has garnered thousands of tips (over 13,000 to FBI, 18,000 to sheriff) and involves hundreds of law enforcement agents. Intensive search efforts include sealing off roads, towing vehicles, detaining and releasing a person for questioning, and conducting court-authorized searches in areas like Rio Rico. Savannah Guthrie and her siblings have made multiple public video pleas to their mother's captor and the public, shifting from offers of ransom to desperate calls for help, vowing never to give up. Nancy Guthrie lived alone in an upscale, secluded neighborhood.
