Investigators searching for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC's Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, say they presume the elderly woman is still alive, even as her family has publicly reached out to whoever is holding her — urging them to make contact and offering assurances they want to talk, according to multiple reports published Thursday.
Sheriff: Nancy Guthrie Presumed to Be 'Still Out There'
Arizona's Pima County Sheriff's Department has told reporters that investigators believe Nancy Guthrie is presumed to still be alive and "out there," according to Reuters and the BBC. The statement offers a cautious note of hope in a case that has gripped the nation since Guthrie, 84, was abducted from her home in Tucson's Catalina Foothills neighborhood on the evening of February 1, 2026.
Authorities have not publicly identified any suspects in the case, and as of Day 5, investigators continue to process evidence and pursue leads. The Pima County Sheriff's Department and the FBI are jointly working the investigation, according to reporting from multiple outlets including ABC News and the Tucson.com.
Family Issues Plea: 'We Want to Talk to You'
The Guthrie family has issued a direct message to whoever is responsible for Nancy's disappearance, making clear they are willing to engage in communication. According to ABC News, the family stated: "We want to talk to you." The appeal was paired with a request for proof that Nancy is alive before any further steps could be taken.
As of Thursday, PBS reported there had been no sign of a response to Savannah Guthrie's public plea, which was delivered in a recorded video posted to social media earlier in the week. In that video, Savannah expressed that the family is ready to communicate with the kidnapper or kidnappers, but that they are asking for confirmation that her mother is safe before proceeding.
The appeal underscores the desperate uncertainty the family is navigating — reaching out publicly when private channels have yet to yield any contact from those responsible.
FBI and Former Agents Weigh In
Former FBI agents have been analyzing the circumstances of the abduction as the case draws intense national scrutiny. According to ABC News, former agents describe the kidnapping as unusual and are examining the behavioral patterns and evidence to develop a clearer picture of who may be responsible and what their motivations might be.
The FBI has been involved in the investigation from early on, given the federal nature of kidnapping cases. Authorities have released at least one doorbell camera image of a suspect in connection with the case, though they have not yet publicly named anyone as a person of interest.
Background: What We Know
Nancy Guthrie was last seen on the evening of Saturday, February 1, 2026, according to the Tucson Arizona Daily Star. She was abducted from her home in Tucson's Catalina Foothills, a residential neighborhood near the Santa Catalina Mountains. Her daughter, Savannah Guthrie, is one of the most recognizable faces in American television news as co-anchor of NBC's Today show.
The case has generated an extraordinary volume of tips. The Pima County Sheriff's Department has previously reported receiving tens of thousands of calls and tips since the abduction, reflecting the public's intense interest in the case. Authorities have repeatedly asked members of the public to refrain from calling in theories or opinions, and to only contact investigators with actionable, firsthand information.
A Community on Edge
The search for Nancy Guthrie has affected not just her family but the broader Tucson community, where residents have rallied around the case. The Catalina Foothills neighborhood, a quiet and well-established part of Tucson, has seen continued law enforcement activity as investigators work to determine exactly what happened and where Nancy may have been taken.
The combination of the victim's age, the brazenness of the abduction from a private residence, and the high-profile nature of her family has made this one of the most closely watched missing persons and kidnapping cases in recent memory.
What to Watch For Next
With investigators maintaining that Nancy Guthrie is presumed to be alive, the coming days will be critical. Authorities and the family are clearly hoping that the public plea and any behind-the-scenes communication channels will prompt a response from whoever is responsible. Key developments to monitor include any confirmation of contact between the family or authorities and the suspect or suspects, the release of additional investigative details from the Pima County Sheriff's Department or FBI, and whether the substantial tip volume leads investigators to a concrete lead. As the case moves into its second week, the pressure on law enforcement to produce results — and on the kidnapper to respond — will only intensify.