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

[EJB123456]

Sheriff Nanos confirmed they DO have possession of other cameras from NG's house. They are "being analyzed as we speak". He said they sent in the doorbell cam to the company (didn't say who but it's a Nest cam) to try and pull up footage what they could. They are going to send the camera to another company and try again and "hope for the best" with it.

If they have the doorbell camera that changes everything for me. But I do not believe he said that. He’s talking about other cameras is how I interpreted it.

 

[clearskies1]

Certainly seems like it's someone with a lot of info about the house. Could be someone who worked there or someone connected to the family. You never hear about kidnappings in the US. Not sure the FBI would have much recent experience with this. JMO.

 

[GailAnne]

I don't get how they have processed the whole house so fast , it looks to be 5-6,000 sq ft. it's HUGE.

I believe someone posted the Zillow link to her property and the house was listed as 3,000 sf.

 

[EJB123456]

So they are in possession of the doorbell cam?

I Watched the video excitedly hoping for that but alas I don’t think that is what he said. He seems to be talking about other cameras. At one point I thought he might slip up or was hesitant but I listened twice. It would have been nice though because what he said at the presser was ‘we do not have it’ so that would be pedantic (but that is how they do these things!)

 

[HoveringWombats]

However, physical possession of the camera does not necessarily mean footage is lost. In many cases, useful evidence can still exist elsewhere in the system.

Yes, I didn't mean to say that physical possession means the footage is lost. Just that it is unlikely to provide any additional footage that they would not already have via access to the cloud account (either via the account-holder's device, or with cooperation from the service provider). You're right that you might be able to correlate some timestamps and stuff in a way that's helpful. But I don't think they're going to suddenly have video clips of the kidnapper because they have the cameras, if they didn't already have those clips from the cloud service. But yeah, maybe a few frames from a cache or something. I don't know. Anything is possible and it's good that they have them. I just don't have a huge amount of hope for it to be a game changer. Again, hopefully I am wrong.

 

[Wsimm]

there seem to be many here commenting about NG probably not having serious assets. I happen to this she does ...no not because she had a great job but a few things. Her husband died while working as a mining engineer so assume that was a good paying job and there was insurance and other benefits. Over the years she may well have gotten good advice with the help of SG or other family and invested wisely. I think it is likely she could be the target of a robbery in that home too. At this point anything is on the table and as the days go I lose hope.

Savanna’s dad died when she was 16. It’s been reported that she went to college locally and lived at home due to the dorm expenses being unaffordable. I imagine Savanna has been very gracious with her mother over the years.

 

[crcap]

Has there ever been a legitimate kidnapping for ransom where the family paid and the victim was let go alive?

 

[bestill]

Really would like a new thread!!

 

[maskedwoman]

These experts who go on tv and sagely state that the crime was targeted make me a little crazy. No kidding. And it has nothing to do with her house being set back from the street. You don't just pick out a random house and kidnap the resident. Maybe they are broke. Maybe they have no family or friends. Maybe they are a Navy Seal and you will be very very sorry. If you kidnap someone for ransom you make sure to choose a victim who a) you are sure you can control and b) without a doubt, has someone connected to them who is able and willing to pay the ransom. I don't see how you have a kidnapping that isn't targeted.

 

[Vegasgrl]

LE will definitely be telling them not to pay any of the ransom. I just can’t see a way out of this alive for NG which is so sad.
As someone said above, it’s not like whoever took her is just going to let her go once they get their money. That wouldn’t make any sense as then there is a high likelihood they would be caught. IMO

The perps could be long gone. NG could be locked up somewhere remote with a certain amount of food and meds and they are watching her. They could release a lock with a code from anywhere. This has been well thought out so far. It's possible she can not identify anyone.

 

[IQuestion]

Probably unless person went back…

DEEPINTHOUGHT52 OMG!! I just read your post....made on Monday 5:25pm. You are brilliant and providing thoughts that are so important in investigations. The "person" who originally picked up realized an elderly female living alone would be an easy target.... or since she never requested a return ride "the person" might have assumed the residence was vacant. In any case I see opportunity, reasonable explanation for being in the area, and means of transporting the victim away from the property. Predators are always looking for the weakest. Drivers have been known to "share a vehicle"....."Letting a relative drive your car while using your Uber driver account results in immediate, permanent deactivation of your account."

 

[whitelilac]

Wow thanks for this. This is the most information I’ve seen about the note so far. So it’s now seeming that this note is in fact from the person that has her?

I just listened to it now. He believes the origin of the ransom note is Tucson based.....due to particular phrases. Also he says that the same note sent to a Tuscon news station could be telling because someone out of the country or elsewhere in the US wouldn't necessarily know of that particular station.

 

[Van Helsing]

I was leaning towards letter being illegitimate until I saw what Harvey had to say about the ransom. He definitely is a for releasing details of this letter but that's another dragon to slay. As much as I hate TMZ, if what he said is true I can see why LE are pursuing this lead. I mean look how quickly they shutdown the fake ransom.

And although historically ransoms are delivered or executed differently- it is 2025. There is so much technology in LE toolbox. I can see how a sophisticated criminal can anticipate this and prey on family's fear that a ransom would be paid out even without contact. Unfortunately though, if this person is both the author and abductor I don't see them returning NG if they are this fearful of being caught be LE.

If they plan to do this again and get a ransom next time they would want to leave her somewhere unharmed if they receive the ransom this time (IMO). If they don't get the ransom this time, the opposite.

 

[scoodyboo]

i watched Harvey Levin and he understands the stakes here and thankfully is not releasing that info on location of Apple watch. Based on his experience with lots of crazy things he seems to think this is credible.

He must be making the rounds. I saw a CNN interview where he said much of the same (or didn't say the same things) but he did mention the note started with 'Nancy is OK. Nancy knows about the ransom letter." Or words to that effect.

I started looking around and the video of Savannah's voice surgery from just a couple weeks ago popped up. I remember seeing headlines when that story came out but hadn't read or watched it. Is it possible somebody close to her at one point got jealous seeing how happy and successful she seemed in that video? An old high school friend.
(Ever since the Ohio murders allegedly by the wife's ex, I'm thinking lots about people who hold grudges and seek revenge.)

 

[Diddian]

i watched Harvey Levin and he understands the stakes here and thankfully is not releasing that info on location of Apple watch. Based on his experience with lots of crazy things he seems to think this is credible.

But is it credible in the sense that this was an intentional kidnapping for ransom, OR that something happened between NG and another person(s) that the person(s) could not allow to be discovered without bearing serious consequences, so the person(s) took NG from her home so that she would be reported missing and then the person(s) sent a ransom note as misdirection?

The fact that the ransom note was not sent until over a day after NG went missing lends credibility to the second scenario, as does the "pay by Thursday at 5 pm or if you don't do it by then, then by Monday" (as that could be a delaying tactic which buys several more days time to figure out next steps).

At some point in these threads, a member posted a graph which showed an upsurge in online searches for the name Nancy Guthrie some number of days before she was taken. IF that graph reflects true information, then I'd be more inclined toward the first scenario.

 

[acutename]

This "pay ransom by Thursday at 5 pm unless you don't do it by then and then no later than Monday" provision of the ransom note is REALLY weird. Note that NG was also taken in the late night/early morning hours of Saturday/Sunday but the ransom notes were not sent until Monday (if I understand correctly). Also, proof of life has not been provided despite being asked for yesterday.

Is there some place that a supposed abductor could secret an 84 year old woman (whether alive or not) that is safely accessible to a supposed abductor on Thursday night, but not through the weekend, and then accessible again on Monday?

Is there anything that makes crossing the border on Friday/Saturday/Sunday more difficult than other days of the week? Is the border busier on weekend days?

Could the supposed abductor have two plane tickets, one for late Thursday and another for Monday (either from the local area OR from just south of the border)?

abductor could be in Mexico and she could be in a locked trailer with a few water bottles and a video feed IMO. that would be safer for everyone actually.

 

[turaj]

If this truly is a kidnaping and the FBI is in charge, would they allow the Sheriff to be interviewed on talk shows? Is he out of the loop and doing his own thing?

that is what I am wondering...this. morning said he did not know they were going on instagram with a message? Making non stop rounds of talk shows. I just don't get it.

 

[MesquiteO21]

Why does everyone keep bringing up the two minute garage? As someone with an 88 year old parent...2 minutes is NOTHING. It takes me that long to pause, open car door, get walker out, help parent out of car, grab the delivery from door or mail from mailbox, hug goodbye, walk parent to door, etc. Let alone if it's recycle day or garbage day the next morning...then I'm pausing longer to bring stuff to the curb or bring bins back in.

We don’t know the circumstances. We do not know the garage door opened, THEN they helped her out of the car hugged etc. maybe they did all that before ever opening the garage door. Maybe with her limited mobility two minutes was perfectly normal for her to make her way into the house. So without any other context, it is curious.

moo

 

[Diddian]

Really would like a new thread!!

Threads are now continuous.

 

[simlyme]

I just hate to break it to anyone that thinks Nancy would be able to harm anyone , she could not ! The only way she could harm anyone is if she shot them. I'm 70 and in good shape and health, but there comes a time in life where your muscles and limbs don't move like a 40-50 year old. Nancy had a few old age ailments , mostly all debilitating in some way, not anything that would help her fend off anyone. This poor Mom was stalked because she couldn't fight back . I'm so worried they will not be able to find her. I hope I'm so wrong!!