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

[SeattleStew]

Any thoughts about a kidnapper that gives two timelines for meeting demands?

 

[HobnobsNBroomsticks]

it wasn't offline

The timeline mentions a camera going offline prior to movement being detected, so I just presumed it was the same one, but now it’s being said there are multiple cameras, so it makes more sense now

 

[ManicMuggle83]

A quick google search says she actually did not have a dog. The dog from the missing persons flyer photo is a relatives dog.

 

[wyome]

They're narrowing in imo. There won't be another presser until an arrest.

 

[Friday Fan]

I’ve noticed that oftentimes these same people don’t lock the garage door. I’ve had numerous fights with certain family members of a similar age that have stayed with me and would enter the key code just out in the open and walk into the door they left unlocked. I got a new device where they are given their own key code that I can turn off and on as-needed to reduce the risk to my own belongings. Less drama than telling family members they can’t stay or must use a hide-a-key given my other security system’s capabilities.

Edited to remove how it actually works so I don’t post my actual process on a public forum.

My door requires a punched code or remote to open. I then shut it from inside my garage, no code needed. However, every once in a while, someone leaves the garage door open over night. That's why I prefer not to use it as my only entrance.

However, in this case, the garage door closed 2 mins after she came home. So, I don't believe leaving it open is an issue here.

 

[priyaya]

Maybe the fbi or other investigators advised him against it ?
For... reasons unbeknownst to us at this time.



Anyone ask if the dog is ok ?
Omo.

Yeah FBI has taken over this case completely

 

[txsleuth70]

This is a psychological trait.

Older people who are with it need to feel "in control". But it is still hard to get some newer concepts so they take longer to learn, but once they do, they feel very "proud" to use them. (Apps, etc).

At the same time: going to banks or such they'd usually take relatives (to give the message that they are not alone?)

They are conservative with people: if they use Uber, they'd prefer the same driver or a pool of the drivers they know (how many Uber around).

Uber dropping off...many wait till the garage door opens, I know. So the Uber driver's route has to be checked. Maybe someone was waiting next to a garage door.

Basically it makes the Uber driver the last person to see NG.

But not if Annie or TC took her home. Uber was only confirmed with the pick up. Not drop off.

Edited: guess he decided to "go with" family took her home after all. Hmm...def looking at who drove her home MOO

 

[browneyes]

Some of these reporters ask stupid questions and also repeat questions. Very unprofessional.

 

[DS2021]

Nothing to indicate that she was targeted due to her connection to Savannah.


No more press conferences unless new info comes.

Asks people to give law enforcement some space

 

[TMich6811]

9:48. Family member helps Nancy into garage, gets her settled in house. 950 closes door to leave.

Seems reasonable

ETA IMO.

 

[Aquabot13]

I feel for the woman with the legal pad who's in charge of keeping track of who's used their allotted question.

This is the case of a lifetime for most of these officers and support staff, I'm sure. I don't envy them.

MOO

 

[Justice101]

Didn't someone say she had a dog? Maybe she let it out to pee real quick then went inside and closed the door.

Brilliant! Good catch. Probably correct!

 

[NoeticSoul]

Any thoughts about a kidnapper that gives two timelines for meeting demands?

It takes time to move crypto from wallet to wallet? Especially if is on a flash drive like a nanoX. moo

 

[shadowsc]

Just my opinion but it sounds to me per the FBI spokesman, I get the feeling that the family wanted to make that ransom plea video. FBI helped them do that. I don't believe that they feel like this is a ransom case. All just my general feeling watching and listening to them talk.

I feel like the FBI advises them, but is also clear to say that any actions taken are up to the family. Basically the FBI is going to distance themselves and act hands off rather than the FBI convey they are in the business of giving in to kidnapper demands. This way they can say, "oh we leave that up to the family. It's up to them."

 

[Cardgame]

Here's a very hastily typed summary of the Q&A which I typed as they talked. Apologies for typos and things I missed:

Q- 1.47 - 2.28 what do you think happened?
A - we know the software, I'm not in the weeds. Think of your doorbell cameras, if I walk up she gets an alert, it's usually something like that. A person's detected.
Q - does that mean 45 mins the suspect was on the property and can you confirm no surveillance footage is available?
A - No footage is available. Those times speak for themselves. Those are approximate.
Q - is there information you are purposefully witholding?
A - this is no different to any investigation..[blah blah]... we are always mindful of what is in front of us and [blah blah] there is strategy too. I'll leave that for you...
Q - Should all have these resources been brought to bear sooner?
A - [sports ref I didn't understand]
Q - has there been any proof of life and has there been any sign of life?
A - I would defer to the FBI, we are still looking for Nancy
Q - asks about the ransom note
A [FBI] - this note is the one that came in with a monetary value
Q - what were some of the facts
A - one talked about an apple watch and one talked about a flood light, we're not going to go into specifics... we don't want to put more facts out
Q - There have been 3 ransom notes so far, one arrest, are they all different?
A - The one that went to the media is the one we are currently investigating. The imposter we believe there's no evidence to connect this to Nancy's case, a total imposter
Q - you started by saying that Nancy is still out there... alive? Or are you fearful?
A - i'm certainly fearful but we operate from a position that until we know, she's out there and we're going to continue that way until we find her
Q - have you ruled out anyone she was with on Saturday night
A - we've talked to so many, I wouldn't say anyone is ruled out yet because what if I rule you out and then later I find something out
Q - how did whoever did this get into her house
A - I would not discuss that
Q - will you be submitting the DNA for geneological investigation?
A - I would say the DNA aspect of this case is being handled by the Sheriff's office but that would be an option
Q - does the ransom note establish any communication protocols
A - no and that's important, there needs to be communication. They are still waiting for communication
Q - do you believe the camera was taken?
A - we do not have it
Q - The challenges of seeing an image and telling that it's real, have they recieved images or videos?
A - we're not goign to go into facts regarding this aspect of the investigation, you can make videos that appear to be real, we won't just take a video as proof of life but we're not going to go into anything the family may or may not have received
Q - are we nearing the timeline of the ransom note?
A - won't go into it
Q - is there any additional physical evidence other than technology?
A - it's technology that will help us, but no we did do a process of that scene for biological evidence we're still hopeful that maybe something will show up there as well
Q - we saw you taking the tripod, how involved were you in the video
A - we use our expertise, but it's ultimately the family's decision as to what they put out
Q - you've said blood was found on the porch/stoop?
A - it's all by the front door
Q - what would her medical condition do if she was bleeding when she left the house
A - we know she is in need of daily medication, this day 4/5 we don't know that she's getting her medication
Q - Have you been in communication who you believe could be the kidnapper?
A - [pause] it goes back to what we talked about, nobody is eliminated but we don't have enough to say this is our guy or our gal, and it's really kind of reckless to report that someone is a suspect when they could very well be a victim. I bring to you, to the media, I plead with you to be careful of what we put out there because we don't have anybody here listed as a suspect and you could be doing some damage to the case but you should be doing some damage to that individual too
Q - how far out have you expanded your search?
A - if we get a lead, we're going, I think the FBI they're now planning to put billboards up in all of our neighboring states. We use you with your national media and them with their national outreach to affect that for us. The home the scene is the primary and we just keep spreading it out as we get more leads
Q - We saw SG and her siblings video, addressing they are ready to talk. Did the FBI help them craft that video?
A - advice, consultation, expertise we provide that but how they put that rests with the suspect
Q - what kind of suspect do we thikn we are dealing with here
A - there is no primary suspect identified so it could run the gammut
Q - are you investigating the SIl?
A - we're activtely looking at everyone we come across in this case, we would be irresponsible if we didn't alk to everybody, the uber driver, the gardeber, the pool person, it's a cliche but that's how we think as cops. The family has been very cooperative, they've done everything we ask of them and we want that relationship to continue and sometimes people can be mean out there and that can harm us and our efforts
Q - did you find blood in the home
A -the only DNA we have back is from the porch, the other items could take 10 days, 20 days
Q - was there any other blood?
A - I don't know that
Q - Have you been collecting doorbell cameras and has anything come up?
A - I can't tell you if things have come up but we are still doing door to door not just in that neighborhood but in other neighborhoods
Q - with regards to the video, to clarify that was not co-ordinated, you hadn't seen that video before it released
A - yes we were there, we can help co-ordinate but it's the family's decision what they put out
Q - do you have a hostage negotiator?
A - it's clear that the family want us to be compacted, they know time is of the essence, the family is ready to talk, give proof of life - there has been no contact since that ransomware note - i mean ransom note - went to the media - [refuses to give specifics]
Q - [unintelligble question]
A - [sports reference something about a monday morning quarterback] We're an open book. When we process a scene and we're done we return that scene to the home owners, we don't just go march back in there, we call the family and get permissions to go back to the home. I probably could have held off on that. [Waffles about forensic analysis] at the start of this thing we weren't sure what we had. It was a search and rescue the first few hours and we transitioned that into a criminal investigation.
Q - We saw the message from the president have you personally received any communication?
A - no and I wouldn't expect that. he too is a busy man. [thanks POTUS] [talks about how well his dept works with FBI hisotrically]
Q - have you had any communication with Mexican authorities
A - we have not. I have worked closely but no I have not heard from them
Q - do you know what medication Nancy uses and have you checked pharmacies to see if those medications have been taken?
A - we do know what medications and we have contacted pharmacies, maybe we contacted them early on, I know we were doing all the hospital checks and that check was continuous every hour, physically in person and asking them to check their logs
Q - are you looking for her across the state boundary? Is there a particular area?
A - we're looking for her area, the FBI just made an arrest on a tip that we thought there could be something here... billboards... where those leads take us we will get there
Q - Do you have any reason to beleive NG might be held outside the country?
A - we haven't ruled anything out, we will follow the facts wherever they take us. But no indication of anything over the MExican border
Q - the ransom notes... are they all the same ransom note do they contain the same details?
A - the ones that I am tracking and aware of are the same
Q - when did the first ransom note arrive? The apple watch has been on the news and social media etc
A - I don't have the specific timeframe, anyone can see a floodlight hanging down, the watch has been talked about, the timeline is tricky but that's why we're taking it serious
Q - were there any signs of clean up or destroy evidence?
A - can't talk about the crime scene
Q - Are both agencies in charge now?
A - we'll take anybody's help, it's not about who's in charge
Q - you guys were actively taking out evidencee yesterday, was there something you missed or did you get new information?
A - we get information, we may go to a crime scene and think we got it all, then something comes back and says did you check this? IN this instance it was the FBI wanting to take a look
Q - are you worried about it being contaminated
A - I'll let the courts decide that, we're very careful
Q - Has the Guthrie family dealt with any trespassers or social media threats?
A - I'm not aware of any of that, we will look at all of the background to the family, or even in the neighbourhood, I don't know of anything that was reported in the last thirty days
Q - can you give any more details on the trespassing incident
A - I don't have them
Q - is the FBI director coming to the investigation
A - Director Patel is being briefed, he has a scheduled trip anyway and is receiving updates, he is not coming today
Q - at what point do you deem the ransom note credible, what's that timeline?
A - we start to look at what the deadlines were, it was 5pm today and it had a second deadline after that in a normal kidnapping case there would be contact by today
Q - Any update on the IP address?
A - nothing I can release
Q - who was the person who drove NG home?
A - We're going to go with family
Q - why is it so hard to track a car or something suspicious that has passed through the area
A - those are challenges we face all the time, we'd love to have all the cameras in a more urban are, but once you get into the community it's not the only part of Tucson that is that way, we still look at ways to find a - for example - ring cameras that might catch a piece of something, we still go out... We have cameras all over and those things are being reviewed
Q - The camera that detected movement at 2.12 was that a different camera
A - we don't know which camera it was, it just told us person detected, I'm not aware of which camera, there were multiple cameras at the home
Q - if not ransom, what else could it be
A - there's a possibility that it's nothing to do with a kidnapping but we cover all angles
Q - is there anything where you can say if this was targeted or not?
A - that's why we have the FBi where there may have been a target, but we don't have anything to rule that out or say it is
Q - [didn't catch this one]
Q - Why don't they think NG was targeted?
A - I mispoke, I've never thought she was or wasn't targeted, that is certainly not a possibility. Somebody disappears in the middle of the night out of their home. i've never believed that she was or was not a target.
Q - can you speak to the motive?
A - it's always going to be a question, right now my guesswork is as good as yours
Q - can we talk about the 5pm deadline today that's a big deal, that's in an hour
FBI checks a piece of paper
A - the ransom note did make a demand for 5pm today, then a second demand was for next Monday. We're not going into those specifics.
Q - given the fact that the FBI participated does that suggest you believe the authors have NG?
A - we're taking it serious and we are following that part of the investigation
Q - does it suggest that she was taken because she is Savannah's Mom?
A - nothing to indicate that

 

[UsernameRequired]

Sheriff stated NO planned further press conferences UNLESS they have some real evidence or something to present.

Sheriff Nanos was MUCH better prepared this time and structured than last presser.

 

[LMDlong]

2 minutes is a long time to have a garage door open before closing if you are walking in.

Let's assume this is a rounding error and it is closer to 1 minute 31 seconds to round it up.

Regardless, you raise it and walk to the control near the interior door and that is only like 20 to 30 seconds.

Did the family stay for that minute until she closed the door? Or did they drop her off in the driveway then go on about their business. I doubt that.

All of this is wondering if the perpetrator gained access to the house thru the open garage or if access was much later in the early morning when the other activities happened?

For an 84 year old person to get out of a vehicle, give hugs , say goodnight to me is not a long time.

 

[Alkali13]

Next Monday is the 2nd deadline in the ransom note.

That is exactly what I recall hearing, but it's interesting that they wouldn't confirm it since it was out there at some point.

 

[Mauritius]

Notes from the presser (will continue to update this post)
Note: New developments highlighted in red

Sheriff Chris Nanos

Wants to begin by offering condolences to AZ DPS who lost 2 members in a helicopter crash

Nanos says "we really just want mom back" and says "right now, we believe Nancy is still out there"

Nanos says "you've probably noticed" other LE helping out - says he's called in the Pima Critical Regional Incident Team (P-CRIT) and notes the FBI has sent a "large number" of personnel

Says "we rushed what we thought was the best target for DNA" -- the blood on the porch -- and that it came back to Nancy. There are more items that have been submitted for testing but they are still waiting on results.

Says "I know there's been a lot out there about suspects" and says LE has not identified a suspect or POI in this case.

Timeline has been developed based on "various electronics that we've gathered" -- currently being displayed on the screen:

• 5:32pm - NG travels to family's home
• 9:48pm - NG was dropped off at home (time determined based on the garage door opening, notes that this is consistent with that the family told LE)
• 9:50pm - garage door closes
• 1:47am - doorbell camera disconnects
• 2:12am - software detects person on a camera but no video is available
• 2:28am - NG's pacemaker app shows it was disconnected
• 11:56am - family checks on NG and discovers her missing
• 12:03pm - 911 is called

Says "we are not confirming that any cameras were smashed" around the house

NG had taken an Uber to the family residence for dinner; LE has spoken with the driver

Pushes back on the reports about forced entry -- says LE has not said whether there was or was not forced entry

SAC FBI agent Heith Janke

Announces a $50,000 reward leaving to the recovery of NG and/or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance

"We are aware of a ransom letter that was sent to the local media and then to national outlets," says any action taken regarding a ransom is ultimately up to the family

FBI announces one arrest has been made in connection with an imposter ransom demand

Q&A

- Nanos says the tech company has "run out of ways to recover any video"

- Says the perp was likely on the property for approximately 45 minutes (1:47-2:28am)

- In response to a question about proof of life, Nanos defers to the FBI

- SAC Janke says the ransom demand "talked about an Apple Watch" and another talked about a flood light

- SAC Janke says the one demand that went to the media is one the FBI is currently working on; says the arrest which has been made was of a "total imposter" with "no connection to Nancy's case"

- Nanos says he "wouldn't say anyone is ruled out yet," notes his investigators might have different feelings about whether people are ruled in or out as suspects

- In response to a question about genetic genealogy, the FBI says the DNA aspect is being handled by PCSO right now but the FBI would assist if needed

- SAC Janke says "there has been no proof of life" and they are still waiting for communication from the sender of the ransom demand

- Nanos says LE does not have the doorbell camera in their possession and have not located it

- SAC Janke says "we are not going to go into anything the family may or may not have received"; declines to go into any more specifics that "could impact any opportunities"

- Nanos says the scene was processed for biological evidence and they are "still hopeful that something will show up there as well"

- SAC Janke says "we were there last night talking with the family" but again emphasizes that any decisions about whether and how to respond are made by the family

- In response to a question about whether LE has ruled out the SIL as a suspect, Nanos says "we're actively looking at everybody we come across in this case. We would be irresponsible if we didn't talk to everybody." He also says the family has been very cooperative.

- Nanos says the only DNA evidence PCSO has gotten back is the blood on the porch

- SAC Janke says "I think it's pretty clear the family wants to be contacted," says there has been no more contact after the ransom demand was sent to the media. Says the FBI has crisis negotiators available but declines to go into further specifics. Urges that if the person who send the demand is watching to reach out to the family because they are ready to talk.

- Nanos says LE visited pharmacies and hospitals to check their logs for the specific prescriptions NG requires

- SAC Janke says the ransom notes received by the media outlets were the same; does not have the time frame the first note was received

- Nanos says the search yesterday was because "the FBI wanted to take a look at it" (does not say what specifically the FBI wanted to "take a look at")

- SAC Janke says Director Kash Patel is "being briefed several times a day" on the case and has a visit to Tucson scheduled

- In response to a question about when the ransom can be deemed not credible, SAC Janke says they start to look at the timeline, the first deadline in the ransom was 5pm today and there was a second deadline after that (did not give specifics). Notes that "in a normal kidnapping case there would be contact by now."

- Nanos says "we don't know which camera" the person was detected on at 2:12am

- In response to a question about whether NG was targeted, Nanos "we don't have anything to rule that out" -- another reporter asks why Nanos said earlier in the investigation that NG was not targeted, Nanos says if he says that he misspoke

- A reporter asks a question about the timing of the first demand (5pm today), SAC Janke steps away from the podium and appears to confer with another agent before stepping back to the mic and declining to provide more information. Says "we are taking the ransom note serious."

End of press conference

Nanos says there are no plans to schedule any further press conferences unless there are new developments.

Fam called 911 minutes after arriving, not an hour later. Big difference and makes a lot more sense.

 

[Chimera]

"Just family drove her home. We're just going to go with that." Hmmm... That leaves a lot of room for interpretation.

Emphasis mine.
So she was picked up to go to the daughters' house via Uber, but dropped off by family ?
That means the last person to see Nancy alive was family, and not the Uber driver; if I'm understanding this correctly ?
Jmo-- What an odd statement in the bolded.
Imo.