Sheriff Emotionally Appeals for Hope in Search for Missing Mother of NBC Journalist
An Arizona sheriff leading the investigation into the disappearance of NBC journalist Savannah Guthrie's mother became visibly emotional during a national television appearance as the search stretched into its sixth agonizing day. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos appeared on NBC's "Today" show on Friday and was briefly at a loss for words when asked if he believes 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie is still alive.
"You have to have hope," Nanos said, his voice cracking with emotion. "You have to have hope. Come on, this is somebody's mom. We're gonna find her."
Timeline of Disappearance and Evidence Points to Foul Play
Nancy Guthrie was reported missing around noon on Sunday after being dropped off at her Tucson-area home following dinner and a game night with relatives. She was last seen at approximately 9:50 p.m. the previous night. Local law enforcement has shared limited details about what might have occurred between her return home and her disappearance.
However, Sheriff Nanos and other officials have confirmed several critical pieces of evidence:
- Blood found on the front porch of the home has been identified as belonging to Nancy Guthrie
- Investigators believe she was taken against her will due to her limited mobility
- The investigation has taken both a search-and-rescue and criminal investigative approach
In a separate interview with NBC News earlier this week, Nanos explained: "From what the family's told us and everything we've learned, she could not walk out of that home, 50 yards. We're never gonna give up on the search-and-rescue aspect, but we can't ignore what's in front of us when it comes to the evidence we see."
Ransom Notes and FBI Involvement Complicate Investigation
The sheriff has also confirmed reports of possible ransom notes sent to Nancy Guthrie's family members, though he noted the FBI is still investigating their legitimacy. During a news conference on Thursday, FBI Phoenix special agent Heith Janke acknowledged that an arrest had been made regarding an "impostor" note, suggesting multiple communications may be involved in the case.
The criminal investigation continues alongside the search efforts, with authorities treating the disappearance as a potential kidnapping given the evidence collected at the scene.
Family Makes Emotional Pleas for Mother's Safe Return
Savannah Guthrie and her siblings have issued multiple emotional appeals to whoever might be holding their mother. On Wednesday, Savannah posted a video to Instagram featuring herself and her siblings, Annie and Camron, directly addressing the kidnapper or kidnappers.
"We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her," Savannah said in the clip. "We want to hear from you and we are ready to listen. Please reach out to us."
On Thursday, Camron Guthrie reiterated these sentiments in a second video shared to Savannah's Instagram account: "Whoever is out there holding our mother, we want to hear from you. We haven't heard anything directly. We need you to reach out and we need a way to communicate with you so we can move forward. But first, we have to know that you have our mom. We want to talk to you and we are waiting for contact."
The Guthrie family's public appeals highlight the emotional toll of the ongoing investigation as law enforcement continues to pursue multiple leads in the case.
