The frantic hunt for Savannah Guthrie’s missing mother intensified as investigators said the 84-year-old may have been taken from her Arizona home against her will during the night.
Nancy Guthrie disappeared from her residence outside Tucson, where she lived alone, after she failed to show up for church on Sunday, triggering a missing-person report that afternoon.
Family members told authorities she was last seen around 9:45 p.m. Saturday, when relatives dropped her off at the Catalina Foothills home, ending what appeared to be a normal evening.
By midweek, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said the case had escalated into a possible abduction investigation, with local detectives joined by federal agents.
Sheriff Chris Nanos said investigators believe Nancy Guthrie was taken during overnight hours and that the circumstances point to someone removing her from the home involuntarily.
“Is there somebody out there who’s kidnapping elderly people in the middle of the night, every night?” Nanos asked publicly, before adding, “We don’t believe that’s the case. We believe Nancy was taken from her home against her will.”
Authorities said early findings at the property raised serious concerns, including indications of forced entry that suggest the disappearance was not voluntary.
Several of Guthrie’s personal items were left behind at the house, including her cellphone, wallet, and vehicle, according to officials briefed on the case.
Investigators are also examining what appears to be blood discovered outside the residence, though law enforcement has not confirmed whether the substance has been conclusively identified.
DNA samples confirmed to belong to Guthrie were collected from the home, with testing ongoing and no suspect identified through that evidence so far.
Officials said Guthrie’s pacemaker appears to have disconnected from its monitoring application early Sunday, a detail now being analyzed as part of the timeline.
The FBI has joined the search, with roughly 100 detectives from the sheriff’s office assigned to the case as leads continue to pour in.
President Donald Trump publicly weighed in on the case Tuesday, pledging additional federal assistance to support the investigation.
Trump later spoke directly with Savannah Guthrie following a White House interview, offering support as the search for her mother continued.
A White House official confirmed the call took place but declined to share details about the conversation.
NBC News correspondent Tom Llamas said Guthrie told the president her family was seeking prayers above all else while thanking authorities for their efforts.
The sheriff’s office said Wednesday that no suspect or person of interest has been named, despite what officials described as hundreds of tips from the public.
Detectives are continuing to interview anyone who may have crossed paths with Guthrie in the days before she vanished.
Authorities said there is currently no credible evidence showing the incident was targeted, though investigators have not ruled out any possibilities.
The search has been complicated by technical problems with security cameras at Guthrie’s home, limiting video coverage during critical overnight hours.
Nanos said nearby homes may hold usable footage, but landscaping and minimal street lighting in the neighborhood have made that task difficult.
Investigators stressed that Guthrie has limited mobility and requires daily medication, increasing urgency as the days pass.
Nanos described her mental condition as intact, pushing back on any suggestion that dementia played a role and calling her “sharp as a tack.”
Reports of ransom notes sent to news outlets referencing Guthrie surfaced during the investigation, drawing additional scrutiny.
Law enforcement agencies said the claims have not been substantiated but confirmed that all such reports are being examined.
In a statement, the Pima County Sheriff’s Office said it was “aware of reports circulating about possible ransom note(s) regarding the investigation into Nancy Guthrie.”
The department added that every tip is being reviewed and shared with FBI partners assigned to the case.
TMZ and CBS affiliate KOLD News have acknowledged receiving ransom notes tied to the disappearance, though officials stressed the documents remain unverified.
At a Tuesday news conference, Nanos declined to detail specific evidence recovered from the scene, citing the ongoing investigation.
He confirmed that Guthrie’s cellphone and car were found at the home, where she lived independently with part-time staff.
Nanos said he would delay holding another press briefing until Thursday morning unless a major development emerged sooner.
“We have a lot of work in front of us,” he said. “We have a job to do, and we have someone’s life who is in jeopardy.”
In a separate interview, Nanos said it was too early to determine whether the apparent abduction was random or planned.
“We don’t see those kinds of monsters here,” he said, while acknowledging the case stands out from others he has handled.
“The reality is, it’s another crime,” Nanos said later. “We need to focus on the mission. We want to find Nancy, first and foremost. And we want to find her alive.”
He told NBC News investigators are operating on the belief that Guthrie remains alive and that rescue remains possible.
“We have nothing else to go on but the belief that she is here, she’s present, she’s alive, and we want to save her,” he said.
Nanos added that incoming tips remain vital, calling them “critical to us,” as information is shared among agencies.
The disappearance has already rippled into Guthrie’s professional life, forcing a high-profile schedule change.
Savannah Guthrie pulled out of her role as host of the Milan Olympics opening ceremony following her mother’s disappearance.
NBC announced Wednesday that veteran broadcaster and former professional tennis player Mary Carillo will step in as her replacement.
“Our hearts go out to Savannah and the entire Guthrie family. They continue to have our full support,” NBC Olympics executive producer Molly Solomon said.
Solomon praised Carillo as one of the network’s most experienced Olympic commentators while emphasizing support for Guthrie during the ordeal.
