Authorities in Tucson, Arizona, persist in their investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of NBC's "Today" show host Savannah Guthrie, with ongoing challenges related to unavailable surveillance footage from her home.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos expressed his disappointment on Friday upon revealing that the doorbell camera at Nancy Guthrie's residence was disconnected early Sunday morning, shortly before her reported disappearance. Although software data suggested movement near the property minutes after the camera was offline, the lack of an active subscription prevented recovery of any visual recordings.
"It is concerning," said Sheriff Nanos in an interview at the department headquarters. "It's actually almost disappointing because you build up hopes of obtaining an image. Then you realize, ‘we do, but we don’t.’" This development complicates an already intricate investigation that entered its sixth day.
The 84-year-old Guthrie was believed to have been abducted from her Tucson-area home during the previous weekend. DNA analysis confirmed that blood found on the front porch belonged to her. Authorities have neither identified suspects nor excluded any potential persons of interest, according to the sheriff's statement at a news briefing on Thursday.
Federal involvement includes the FBI overseeing aspects of the case, particularly concerning alleged ransom communications sent to various media outlets. Tucson television station KOLD recently received an additional email claiming association with the Guthrie case; however, details have not been publicly disclosed. FBI officials confirmed awareness of the message and are assessing its credibility. These messages reportedly contain ransom demands with deadlines, some of which have elapsed.
On the ground, investigative teams continue methodical searches and scene examinations near Nancy Guthrie’s neighborhood. Access to the road outside the residence has been restricted to facilitate law enforcement operations and ensure controlled media presence. The Catalina Foothills Association, representing local residents, issued a statement acknowledging the community's collective concern and appreciation for cooperation with investigative efforts through camera image sharing and property searches.
Health considerations for Nancy Guthrie are particularly grave. The sheriffs disclosed her reliance on daily medication and the presence of a pacemaker, along with a history of high blood pressure and cardiac issues. Sheriff Nanos emphasized the urgency, noting, "Her conditions, I would imagine, are worsening day by day. She requires medication, and I have no way of knowing whether they're getting that medication to her."
Investigators have not publicly divulged the full scope of their findings or strategies, citing standard procedures for maintaining control of sensitive cases. "That's not how we do police investigations," Nanos remarked, underscoring the necessity for discretion even as some details have been gradually released to the public.
The family has made emotional appeals to the unknown captors, with Savannah Guthrie and siblings issuing video messages imploring for proof of their mother’s well-being and readiness to communicate. Sibling Camron Guthrie repeated this appeal in a subsequent public video, urging direct communication as the family continues to seek information.
At the federal level, former President Donald Trump indicated that the investigation was progressing positively, citing presence of "very strong" clues and expressing hope for developments in the near term while traveling to Florida. Meanwhile, Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed continued federal support to Arizona officials, though declined to share further specifics.
The disappearance has gripped national attention, with law enforcement and the community united in their efforts to locate Nancy Guthrie. The situation remains fluid, with technology limitations, health concerns, and the lack of direct contact contributing to the complexity of this ongoing case.