Sheriff believes Savannah Guthrie’s mom, Nancy, is alive: 'We want to save her'

Law enforcement officials in Arizona say they remain hopeful that Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, is still alive nearly three days after she was reported missing from her home in the Tucson area.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has expressed optimism about Nancy’s well-being, saying investigators are pursuing every lead in the case and that “we want to find her and bring her back safe.”

“We really do hope it’s a search and rescue mission, and we find her and she’s safe and sound,” Nanos said, adding that authorities are treating the situation with the urgency it deserves. “We need her back. We need to find her, and time is very critical.”

Nancy was reported missing after she did not show up for a church service the morning after she was last seen at her home, and family members notified police when they couldn’t locate her.

Though no suspects have been identified, investigators have classified the residence as a crime scene due to evidence suggesting foul play. Sheriff Nanos has said there are “things at the home that were concerning to us,” and added that Nancy — who is described as mentally sharp but with limited mobility — “did not leave on her own.”

Nancy’s doctors and loved ones are especially concerned because she requires daily medication for serious health conditions, including high blood pressure and heart issues, which she has now been without for several days.

During the ongoing investigation, the FBI has joined local law enforcement, and a tip line has been established to gather information from the public.

Savannah Guthrie, who canceled her duties covering the 2026 Winter Olympics to be with her family in Arizona, has pleaded with the public for support and prayers. In a statement, she thanked people for their messages and urged continued assistance in locating her mother.

“We believe in prayer. We believe in voices raised in unison, in love, in hope. We believe in goodness,” she wrote, adding, “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.”

Authorities continue to comb through evidence, review neighborhood surveillance footage, and work with federal partners in hopes of finding Nancy Guthrie and bringing her safely home.