Investigators in Pima County said Monday they are treating the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie as a likely abduction after finding evidence of a crime at her Tucson-area home. She was last seen Saturday night, and a family member reported her missing Sunday around midday after she did not arrive at church.
The sheriff called the case urgent because Guthrie relies on daily medication and has limited mobility. Detectives said she is “sharp” and not living with dementia, making it unlikely she wandered off. The home, near Skyline Drive and North Campbell Avenue in the Catalina Foothills, is now cordoned off for forensic work as the inquiry shifts from search-and-rescue to a criminal investigation. National attention grew Monday as colleagues on morning television noted that Savannah Guthrie was absent from the anchor desk while supporting the family. Authorities asked the public for tips while they review timelines from relatives, neighbors and any camera systems in the area.
Deputies said Guthrie was last seen at about 9:30 p.m. Saturday inside her residence. On Sunday, relatives became concerned when she missed services and could not be reached. A family member called 911 shortly after noon. Responding deputies noted personal items left behind, including her phone, wallet and vehicle, and began a ground and air search that lasted through the weekend. The search paused Monday morning as investigators secured the property and shifted resources to evidence collection. Sheriff Chris Nanos said the scene and circumstances indicate Guthrie “did not go willingly.” He asked residents in the foothills to check cameras for unusual activity late Saturday night or early Sunday.
Detectives and crime-scene technicians spent Monday photographing rooms, dusting for prints and documenting entry points. The department also requested a statewide SAFE Alert with Guthrie’s description: 5 feet 4 inches tall and about 150 pounds, brown hair and blue eyes. Officials said she needs her daily medication and may become ill without it. Investigators are mapping a timeline based on a Saturday evening visit from family, when she was described as in good spirits. They are canvassing near Skyline and Campbell for witnesses who heard or saw anything unusual, and they are retrieving doorbell footage from blocks surrounding the home. Authorities did not release details about specific evidence found inside, citing the active investigation.
Guthrie has lived for years in the Tucson area, where her daughter grew up and later worked in local television before joining the network morning show. Deputies said the neighborhood, a hillside stretch of the Catalina Foothills north of central Tucson, is typically quiet after dark. Search teams used drones and dogs during the initial sweep of arroyos and desert washes near the home. The pause in field operations, officials said, reflects the need to preserve potential trace evidence and direct resources toward leads that could point beyond the immediate neighborhood. As of Monday afternoon, no suspects had been publicly named, and investigators said they had not determined whether a vehicle was used.
Sheriff Nanos held a morning briefing and later spoke with national outlets, reiterating that detectives believe Guthrie was taken against her will. He declined to characterize the type of evidence that prompted the crime-scene designation. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department said it is coordinating with the Arizona Department of Public Safety on alerts and with partner agencies for specialized forensic support. Investigators are reviewing 911 calls from Saturday night through Sunday morning, scouring license-plate reader hits in the area and checking recent service calls near the residence. Any decision on releasing additional records, including incident reports, will come after key interviews are complete and evidence is processed.
Relatives and friends gathered quietly near the neighborhood Monday, as deputies limited access to the street. Neighbors described patrols circulating overnight and a noticeable increase in daytime law enforcement presence. A church acquaintance said Guthrie never misses Sunday services and called her “spry and social,” remarks that underscored investigators’ concerns. “We need help from anyone who knows anything,” Nanos said in his morning plea. “If you have video or saw something, call us.” Television colleagues read a short family statement thanking the community and law enforcement for their work as the search turned into a wider probe.
By late Monday, the case remained active with the home sealed and lab analysis underway. Officials indicated the next milestone would be an update after detectives review newly obtained video and complete scheduled interviews with family and neighbors this week.
Author note: Last updated February 2, 2026.