AZ Nancy Guthrie, 84, (mother of TODAY Show host Savannah Guthrie) missing - last seen in the Catalina foothills area on Jan 31, 2026

[clearskies1]

Her pacemaker could possibly provide that info, if the autopsy itself could not.

Yes re the pacemaker (if they find a body of course). Autopsy might not be that helpful re date of death if a lot of time has passed.

 

[Friday Fan]

I agree, IF she took a moment to think "What could I grab onto that will keep me from getting carried off?". No way did she do that. I think she reacted, plain and simple, and that's what she grabbed on to only because it's what was in reach. People don't usually take a moment to stop and ponder what's the best thing to do in a situation like that. They just react. Sometimes it works out for them, sometimes it doesn't.

But the stems aren't torn! They are broken! And leaves aren't strewn about. They appear to be broken, which is the difference.

I have this stuff growing in my front yard too and it's woody. However, it is a ground cover.

I think someone broke or cut the lantana somehow. It doesn't appear to be grabbed.

 

[MassGuy]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2019894322901184522

 

[Hockeyfan158]

I thought i heard she had a daily caretakers or at least landscaping that came around daily or every other day.

 

[bestill]

The ransom letter mentioned something that makes it seem as though they are located in Tucson, local points of reference? Something near her home? Personal information about her that isn’t known widely? He mentions a neighbor reported, allegedly, AG and her family had left her home and it’s quiet there. Would it be due to security concerns? Investigators needing access?

From public records that house that her sister lives in is only 2 bedrooms. I would think that they need more space.

 

[whitelilac]

90% probable that people charge their Apple watch on beside table at night. Broken flood light can be seen from the outside right? maybe seen from news videos or photos in the first day or two when the story broke.
Any other "inside info" in the ransom note?

 

[Bluewing3102]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2019892849437995014

If this is in fact the same author of the first letter this changes everything we know about the case.

 

[Moonchime]

Good work! Thank you!

The plant debris is out place right there at the door and along with the blood like maybe something wide was brought up to the door perhaps to aid in carrying something clipping those plants in the process.

all imo

Perhaps she was put into a wheelbarrow. But how did the abductor know that her cameras weren't being backed up somewhere?

 

[Greenestdays]

I have wondered if she hit her head, bled, and then wandered out dazed and confused. I know that they say she couldn’t walk very far, but who knows? Her body would probably be found not too far away from the house though. What a twist that would be, if this wasn’t a crime at all.

Didn’t they walk back that the doorbells were smashed?

How extensive were the field searches before everyone went down the abduction route? Wouldn’t it be something if she was somewhere near her house but due to the sheriff claiming “taken from her bed” everyone was looking in the wrong direction?

 

[Mauritius]

Just darting in to respond to one issue and won’t catch up until evening, forgive me if already mentioned.

It’s true that Savannah is wealthy and famous, but not among the billionaire set.

I remember looking at houses on Long Island in the 1970s which were then going for about $49,000 and would now be about $800,000. So imo $85,000 was not 40 years ago what it is now.

But the truly truly ridiculous rich likely have security cordons everywhere.

They didn’t kidnap Savannah, they kidnapped her mom. My thinking is if the ridiculously rich had elderly parents who were known to the public, as Nancy was, their vulnerable parents may have ended up as victims as well.

JMO

Many years ago Eva Spanos was kidnapped from her home, taken to a bank and forced to withdraw money, and then was bound and gagged and hidden elsewhere. She was a similar age to Mrs. Guthrie at the time, and was fortunately found (safe) and recovered from the ordeal!

Her son owned (still owns) the San Diego Chargers, and is very wealthy. The criminal was someone who found out/heard this mother of a very wealthy person lived in their town, and could (like anyone) access her residential neighborhood home, and I guess got the idea this would be a great kidnapping/robbery opportunity. This current case immediately reminded me of that one (you can look it up if interested), but it might not be similar at all.

But it’s similar to the scenario you describe so I’m mentioning it.

EDIT: Here’s a cut and paste from archived NYT article:

Eva Spanos, mother of Alex Spanos, the owner of the San Diego Chargers football team, was kidnapped Friday by a woman with a gun and taken to a bank, where she was forced to cash a check.

Mrs. Spanos, who is 84 years old, was found three hours later bound and gagged inside a shed, the Stockton police said. She was taken to a hospital where she is reported in good condition.

The kidnapper, wearing a jogging suit, a scarf over her face and dark glasses, got into the Spanos home late Friday afternoon by pretending to be delivering flowers, the police said.

*A version of this article appears in print on Feb. 18, 1985, Section B, Page 4 of the National edition with the headline: Mother of Chargers' Owner Briefly Kidnapped on Coast.*

 

[Cassie P]

Absolutely. He means well but he comes off too emotional and keystone cowboyish. PR is not his forte. At least the FBI tagged on but so many days after the abduction of an ill elderly woman w/ a pacemaker and not on her meds in such a stressful situation is not good.

He may be the perfect LE PR person for a high profile crime. He makes the citizens and taxpayers in the city and county feel like LE is doing their job. They are earning their pay. Reassures the public with constant verbiage. At the same time the Barney Fife flavor will distract the perpetrator and lull them into a false sense of security?

 

[Bluewing3102]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2019894322901184522

I'm really shocked whether or not this is the same author of the first letter that they're sticking with email as mode of delivery. This criminal (related to the abduction or not) definitely has high confidence in their technical abilities to not instantly be identified by LE. Especially after FBI made an example of the guy who was harassing AG via text.

 

[MassGuy]

Just as I was saying that something big could happen at any moment…

This was not on my list though.

 

[Moonchime]

If this is in fact the same author of the first letter this changes everything we know about the case.

Oh my goodness! This is a huge turn of events. I wasn't expecting this. How about you all?

 

[oviedo]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2019892849437995014

Hmm this is getting weird …
JMO

 

[ab01]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2019892849437995014

Wow, I really didn’t think there would be any further communication.

The original note said there would be no further communication. So that surprises me, if it’s from the same sender.

And if it were a hoax I would have expected no further communication bc of the arrest they have already made. I figured it would deter any further bogus communication.

 

[bestill]

Just as I was saying that something big could happen at any moment…

This was not on my list though.

If this is really from the original source then they are back peddling off of the only one communication. Interesting.

 

[shadowsc]

Oh my. This is all freaking insane. I wonder if it included any proof of life.

 

[SlimPickens]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2019892849437995014

Growing impatient it seems. Or accommodating the family's request for contact. Or it's a fake. But it must've seemed similar enough to the OG suspicious letter for them to publicly report on it, and as a second note at that. Suggests a clear follow up to the first one, and with details that imply authenticity.

The far-fetched motive that won't seem to go away!

JMO.

 

[Friday Fan]

This is an excellent discussion and what I've been wondering since this story broke. All the LE has to do is get a data dump from the car the family said they took Nancy home in and their cell phone data to confirm if their timeline lines up with what they have told LE. And it will show if the car left again to Nancy's house later that night at 2am. LE must know all the info by now.

It depends on the year of the vehicle. I asked the question earler and they believe the model was a 2008.