Law enforcement in Pima County, Arizona, have escalated their inquiry into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, aged 84, to a criminal investigation based on evidence noticed at her residence, according to statements from Sheriff Chris Nanos on Monday.
During a press briefing, Sheriff Nanos conveyed that the conditions discovered at Nancy Guthrie's Tucson-area home suggest she did not voluntarily vacate the premises. While he declined to disclose specific details, Nanos emphasized the seriousness of the scene, confirming it had officially been classified as a crime scene.
"I need this community to step up and start communicating with us," the sheriff implored, underscoring the importance of public assistance in the ongoing investigation.
Investigators find it relevant that Nancy Guthrie, who lives independently, has limited mobility and maintains full cognitive faculties, with no indicators of dementia. "This is not dementia related," Nanos stated, describing her as "sharp as a tack." The sheriff noted that Guthrie requires daily medication, a factor complicating the urgency of the case, and addressed the family's concern, who wish to clarify that this situation is not a result of someone simply wandering away.
Sheriff Nanos recounted that Nancy Guthrie was last seen at her home around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, with her family initiating a missing person report approximately midday Sunday after a church member informed a relative of her unexplained absence from services.
Subsequent to this alert, family members searched her home and subsequently contacted 911 to report her missing. Search operations have included deployment of drones and tracking dogs, with support from volunteers, the U.S. Border Patrol, and specialized homicide investigative personnel—a team usually not engaged in missing person cases but brought in due to the atypical circumstances presented by this situation, the sheriff said.
"This one stood out because of what was described to us at the scene and what we located just looking at the scene," the sheriff remarked, noting that no possibility of foul play has been ruled out.
By Monday morning, search teams had curtailed their active field presence, shifting focus toward treating the residence as a crime scene rather than continuing as a traditional search mission, according to Nanos.
In response to the situation, Savannah Guthrie issued a message expressing gratitude for public support and reinforcing her family's hope for the safe return of her mother.
The “Today” program, of which Savannah Guthrie is a co-anchor, began its Monday broadcast acknowledging her mother’s disappearance, although Savannah was not present on air. The sheriff confirmed she remains in Arizona during the ongoing investigation.
Background information includes Savannah Guthrie’s upbringing in Tucson and her academic history at the University of Arizona. Nancy Guthrie previously appeared in a November 2025 piece by her daughter featuring reflections on their Tucson home, in which she praised the area's air quality, lifestyle, and serene environment—a place she described as "laid back and gentle," with a fondness for observing local wildlife such as javelina.