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

[Navillus923]

this was supposed to be live at 7:00 but I think they bumped it up to 9:00 p.m. for anyone that's local also can be watched on YouTube. True crime Arizona

 

[avalonisland]

The following all pure speculation so JMO, MOO, etc. --

I wonder if perhaps LE received an initial random demand shortly after the abduction but dismissed it as likely illegitimate (as kidnap for ransom is extremely rare in the US and thus highly unlikely) and thus did not disclose it to the family.

Perhaps after not getting a response to the initial demand, the person making the demands got impatient and sent an 'updated' ransom demand to the media which contained specific details that could be verified by LE/the family. Sending it to the media would also increase the likelihood that the demand would garner attention and thus a response.

The fact that the family's statement came almost immediately after LE wrapped up another search at Nancy Guthrie's house today (even after it had previously been released to the family) seems to lend some support to this theory -- perhaps LE wanted to verify (or discredit) information included in the demands to the media before advising the family for or against releasing a statement.

Taking an 84 year old frail women who is in chronic pain and relies on meds and a walker for mobility is not an ideal person to kidnap. I think the random notes are bogus or are from someone close to victim who needs cash

 

[Idreamofgenie]

Are we sure she was actually "dropped off" at her house after being with her daughter and son in law for dinner etc? Maybe she never returned to the house at all?

But remember that her Bluetooth connected heart monitor received a message before she evidently left with the kidnapper and became out of range for Bluetooth

 

[squeaky]

I haven't seen this mentioned yet, but it's a thought I can't shake...

If SIL and/or AG had anything to do with a premeditated disappearance ... and NG is with them all those hours playing games and eating dinner ... wouldn't it make sense for somebody to drug her before returning her home?

 

[avalonisland]

After four days, I feel like they had to respond to the ransom letters whether they are taking them seriously or not. Not doing so is a regret I wouldn't wish on anyone.

I agree. This is not some randsom induced abduction. Sadly, I think victim is deceased as there are so many FBI agents doing grid like search in victim property area and that of Tucson daughter. Bobcats are also a norm in both areas

 

[Vaderman]

I'm starting to lean towards the possibility that this wasn't a targeted, well planned crime, but possibly a crime of opportunity by a relatively amateur perpetrator. That somehow during the initial crime, the perpetrator had an "oh [expletive]" moment and panicked, removing NG from the initial crime scene. The ransom note just a red herring that has nothing to do with those actually involved.

Just my thoughts as of Thursday night, February 5th.

We'll see where I'm leaning in 24 hours.

 

[GailAnne]

So I am fairly sure some of the homes in this have cams to the outside. I haven't seen any news regarding looking at door cams of neighbors etc.

Sheriff said that they were looking for all cameras in the area but the problem is that it is pitch black at night in this area and not much is captured. Also, houses are far off the street with lots of vegetation in the yards that block views.

 

[SUNchips]

St Philips Tucson mass on Sunday is 10AM, so it must have been after mass that church goer contacted family that victim was a no show. Why someone would show up at 2AM to take an 84 year old women out of house to the hostility of causing her to bleed front door steps. This is not some kidnapping situation but rather someone who did not like this Senior in my opinion. I think her removal from house was to conceal evidence of crime

Could be religion related. I just find it a little weird that victim lives 4 miles from daughter and yet victim had to take Uber to meet daughter for dinner and game night. Then son in law drops off victim at home through garage which shut around 9:48pm. Victim is 84 years old with heart condition, requires a walker for mobility, is in pain per daughter, and frail. I find it strange that a church member would break in to house around 1:30am. If this were church related, why not do this after church when the victim would return home?

She supposedly attended St. Andrew’s church, not St. Phillip’s. St. Phillip’s is where the vigil was held for her last night.

 

[acutename]

I haven't seen this mentioned yet, but it's a thought I can't shake...

If SIL and/or AG had anything to do with a premeditated disappearance ... and NG is with them all those hours playing games and eating dinner ... wouldn't it make sense for somebody to drug her before returning her home?

it does not really make any sense for them to return her home at all if they could turn off her devices ... or maybe just return her devices

 

[snoopy100]

would the pacemaker not have alerted on the app that something irregular was going on with nancy's heart if she died before it disconnected at 2am?

 

[Deepinthought52]

I've been reading a lot here, decided to chime in. Weirdly, like SG, I have a journalism degree and am a lawyer (though not criminal).

Based on all the info I've seen so far, including AB'S allegations from her tip, statistics of crimes being a known person or family etc., I am thinking it is SIL in my opinion. Knowing where cameras are and to remove them, seeming to know about a back door, being in the house for about 40 minutes, makes me think it was someone she knew. They didn't rob her during that time, maybe even were speaking to her during that time, and she didn't call 911 during those 40 minutes.

Also motive. I'm thinking maybe there was resentment with caretaking responsibilities because the siblings live far away (and one is off living a glamorous life). Life insurance could have been a big motive too (also explains why the home wasn't robbed, they'd inherit belongings anyway). I hate to say it but AG would be the only alibi for SIL being gone in the middle of the night. Maybe she was in on it? They were the last ones to see her, so they say.

I also think if it was a real kidnapping for ransom originally, the ransom note would have come much sooner, as soon as the story became public. Maybe once they realized how big this story became in the media they decided after the fact to throw that ransom note in as a distraction or just a stupid, scared move. I have middle schoolers and they know more about bitcoin and computers than me just through watching YouTube. I'm sure a 6th grade teacher and parent of a teen/pre-teen would pick up knowledge like that, and science teachers these days need to be pretty tech-savvy. Or maybe the ransom notes are hoaxes that are not from the perp. Again, all just my opinion.

My other thought would be a worker very familiar with the house, who discovered who she is/who her daughter is and who decided to kidnap her to get money out of SG.

Agree with possibility of this… but in order to get life insurance and collect early, don’t you have to have a body? I could be wrong.

 

[Luna20]

Court Tv starts in 10 minutes. Central standard time 7:00pm

 

[knla]

Sheriff said that they were looking for all cameras in the area but the problem is that it is pitch black at night in this area and not much is captured. Also, houses are far off the street with lots of vegetation in the yards that block views.

It's so dark at there at night, a vehicle would have had to have their lights on to travel, and that would have shown up on any camera.

 

[Izzylizzy]

Individual Arrested for 'Imposter Ransom Demand' Relating to Savannah Guthrie's Mom Nancy​

snip

A ransom note currently being investigated by authorities is one that was sent to members of the media earlier this week. The false ransom note had not been seen by the media, according to the FBI.


“We believe there's no evidence to connect this to Nancy's case,” Janke said. “It was someone that was trying to profit from it, a total imposter.”


In a criminal complaint obtained by PEOPLE, it named Derrick Callella as the defendant, citing two violations. One violation related to the intent to "transit a demand for ransom" and the second was for using a telecommunications device "without disclosing his identity and with intent to abuse, threaten, or harass any specific person."


The complaint stated that Callella sent text messages to Nancy's daughter Annie and Annie's husband. The text allegedly said: "Did you get the bitcoin were [sic] waiting on our end for the transaction."

Callella admitted to sending the texts, the complaint states. He also said he pulled the family's information from a "cyber site" and admitted that he "had been following along and watching TV." Records showed he also called a family member of Nancy's which lasted for nine seconds.'

https://people.com/individual-arrested-imposter-ransom-demand-savannah-guthrie-mom-nancy-11899709

 

[Deepinthought52]

I know this isn't funny, but I'm laughing over the stupidity of this person. His name is right in his email and everything was easily traceable. Good grief.

Thank goodness some criminals are flat out stupid jmo

 

[avalonisland]

I'm starting to lean towards the possibility that this wasn't a targeted, well planned crime, but possibly a crime of opportunity by a relatively amateur perpetrator. That somehow during the initial crime, the perpetrator had an "oh [expletive]" moment and panicked, removing NG from the initial crime scene. The ransom note just a red herring that has nothing to do with those actually involved.

Just my thoughts as of Thursday night, February 5th.

We'll see where I'm leaning in 24 hours.

If victim in bed at like what 1:30am, this would be perfect opp for amateur to like rob house. Victim probably in deep sleep and also requiring a walker for mobility, it's not like a robber or whatever would have a hard time getting away if victim awoke. I think some tragic thing happened, maybe altercation, and victim got hurt and this turned into a bizarre kidnapping type scenario to conceal what person did. I do think it's strange victim's children are only speaking with like script from FBI. If this was my Mom who is 85 years old with health issues, I would be like Ed Smart and out in public searching for family member all day

 

[Izzylizzy]

Live now

 

[MollyHarps]

You remove them if you’re close to the victim (want to conceal a crime), or if there’s evidence of SA.

A couple of us have been discussing a particular case where some guy who had painted this woman’s house returned weeks later, broke in, sexually assaulted and murdered her, and dumped her body in a remote area.

Geofencing gave them his name, and dna nailed him. He eventually led them to the body.

Here, it makes sense if it’s that particular person.

If it’s not that person, then I’ve got to believe the most likely option is the latter (sexually motivated crime).

I agree with you @MassGuy -

I actually think sexual assault is the likely cause here - I think the sexual assault aspect would explain why there was significant gap between the doorbell camera and the other camera / her pacemaker disconnecting from Bluetooth.

Ugh it makes me sick to type but I think this is likely scenario

 

[justbeachy]

I keep wondering if this has more to do with Savannah Guthrie than her mom. Did Savannah have any stalkers? Was someone so obsessed with her that, in their deranged mind, they thought they could get to her (or get attention from her) by kidnapping her mom? I'm sure Savannah would be much more difficult to get close to due to security precautions from being in the public eye, but her mom, on the other hand, would be much easier to access. There have been plenty of pictures of them over the years showing their close relationship so if you were obsessed with Savannah, you would probably know that. Just trying to figure out why on earth this 84 year old woman was targeted. I probably have watched way too many Lifetime Original movies. LOL IMO

 

[Lamima]

I thought the sheriff confirmed the car was towed as a part of standard operating procedure….during today’s press conference.

I assumed he meant AG car that was used to drive NG home.