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

[UsernameRequired]

Wasn’t her car still in her garage when Brian Entin was filming when LE came back the second time? I swear it was shown with LE standing near it talking in the garage.

Yes, Nancy's car was in the garage. Even though the question from the reporter was about impounding a vehicle for evidence, I think the Sheriff took it as Nancy's car and not the sisters (AG's). What I took from his comments was that they were doing forensics on Nancy's car. I couldn't tell if the Sheriff didn't understand the question or he intentionally avoided speaking about AG's vehicle.

 

[Vegasgrl]

So if this wasn't a 2 or more person job, the suspect would have to be quite large/strong or fit.

Knowing they'd have a combative victim. Even though she's older with mobility issues - I bet she's quite strong when fighting back or if was carried.

I have been to the dementia/alzheimers unit, some people are frail looking but quite strong in a fight or flight situation or if scared.

Seems like she was hit to shock her or temporarily immobilize. But the droplets stopped at the door, so she must've been lifted or carried?

or covered

 

[Sadi]

The writer of the letter "knows something about NG" and seems to be local to Tucson. This makes me wonder if maybe they know something about her personal habits, like a certain healthcare provider she sees or a store she frequents at a certain time/day regularly, that sort of thing. Something not so easily found on Google.

IMO

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?

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Agreed.

It's also possible the bad guys were ready for this to go "live". IMO

I had similar thoughts. The perp/perps knew that NG would most likely be missed sometime during the day on Sunday, so he/she/they decided to contact LE and report her missing.

 

[Sadi]

Yes, Nancy's car was in the garage. Even though the question from the reporter was about impounding a vehicle for evidence, I think the Sheriff took it as Nancy's car and not the sisters (AG's). What I took from his comments was that they were doing forensics on Nancy's car. I couldn't tell if the Sheriff didn't understand the question or he intentionally avoided speaking about AG's vehicle.

Thank you, I thought I was losing it

 

[Friday Fan]

Yeah, I'm not so sure about that after looking at the blood on the porch. It looks like she exited the house, perhaps on foot, but didn't leave the property on foot (IMO). It just looks to me that she likely got punched in the face while standing on the porch. She likely hit the ground at that point, and likely grabbed at those vines left behind which ripped them off from where they were growing. At that point I'm thinking she was carried off. Either conscience or unconscious.

That's what it looks like to me.


Except I don't think she grabbed the lantana. I woulld never consider lantana to be a lifeline of sorts. It wouldn't have occured to her since it's basically a groundcover. I can see her grabbing it if she was pushed into it.

Also lantana stems have clean breaks as if someone broke them off, but didn't tear them. If they were grabbed the stems would have been torn and leaves would have been strewn. Also lantana stems are woody. The stems wouldn't tear easily, although they will snap if you purposely break them.

 

[RatFace]

Regarding the two separate deadlines for the TMZ/media ransom note, while I think it's odd, could it be they might have different requirements for Nancy's status? Thursday could be 'proof of life' and Monday could be 'ultimatum', for example.

Pure speculation, can't claim to know how this kidnapper thinks, or if the ransom is even real. Hoping sheriff/FBI have a direction they're going in, I know they always keep these things close to the chest. Makes me a little nervous we don't even have any sort of vehicle they're looking for, even considering the conditions out there at night.

I got the impression from listening to Harvey Levin that the first deadline may have had a lower ransom amount and if they missed that, the ransom goes up. If they missed the Monday deadline, then NG would be killed.
Originally I felt like the ransom notes were probably fake but after hearing his description, it seems more possible they are real.

 

[Moonchime]

I thought it was clever. TMZ is known for fast, wide exposure, more sensational reporting, which pretty much guarantees attention almost immediately. IMO

True. TMZ has come into the spotlight even more so since they've been covering the Rob and Michelle Reiner murders.

 

[nycpizzaparty]

He is acting more like a media spokesperson than a sheriff. Needs to stop doing interviews.

His press conferences are a vehicle to move the investigation forward in ways not understood by the general public?

 

[Wsimm]

It just seems that she is of little benefit to anyone if missing, so the more time that goes by, if she isn't found, does it seem more likely that it was a burglary gone wrong?

I’m doubting a robbery gone wrong only because her wallet, phone and Apple Watch were left behind. Maybe that’s strategic because both the watch and phone become a footprint for the robber, but the wallet also left behind and no other valuables reported missing in a burglary seems suspicious to me.

 

[wyome]

A family member or close friend could find much easier ways to obtain money from her, and maybe they have in the past. It merits an examination of who might have money problems. Nonetheless, my speculation is based on someone who is frequents the property and is aware of her circumstances and wealth. Someone who doesn’t have wealth and wants to hit the lottery.

Elderly are so vulnerable to financial predators. A cautionary tale to all. A good fiduciary is essential to elder years.

Amateur opinion and speculation only

So true that the elderly are so vulnerable to financial predators. My parents both had histories of falling for scams in their 80s. I got wind of one of them during their months of communication to my father, and I couldn't even convince him that it was a scam. Even the bank couldn't stop him (and THEY tried) from sending thousands of dollars out. After my mom died and my father started to decline further, we took control of all bill-paying, umbrellaed all accounts under one managed fiduciary, got rid of his computer (never really used it but it did contain a ton of financial information), cancelled all credit cards but one and took it, froze his credit with all bureaus, changed his address to mine and took his cell phone away and replaced it with a landline connected to his facility so he would only be receiving calls from family and friends. It was a lengthy process, but the peace of mind was worth it. I even tried to go after one of "recipients" with help from local police who spent months tracking the money pickup to a particular bank in CA. Unfortunately, CA declined to take the case because they don't take directives from Florida detectives or judges.

 

[UsernameRequired]

AOL says family considering taking action against Banfield

Savannah Guthrie's Family 'Exploring Taking Legal Action' Against TV Host Ashleigh Banfield for Claiming Missing Nancy's Son-in-Law is a 'Prime Suspect' in Case

Savannah Guthrie's family is considering "exploring taking legal action" against TV host Ashleigh Banfield, RadarOnline. comcan reveal.

www.aol.com

Uh, did anyone actually read the "source" of this? Not that it wouldn't surprise me but this "source" is fictitious at best.

Sources tell "Naughty But Nice" that the family of Savannah Guthrie is actively exploring possible legal action against TV host Ashleigh Banfield following explosive claims made on her podcast.

 

[shonyakay]

Yeah, I'm not so sure about that after looking at the blood on the porch. It looks like she exited the house, perhaps on foot, but didn't leave the property on foot (IMO). It just looks to me that she likely got punched in the face while standing on the porch. She likely hit the ground at that point, and likely grabbed at those vines left behind which ripped them off from where they were growing. At that point I'm thinking she was carried off. Either conscience or unconscious.

There is passive blood drops on the front porch where she appears to have been bleeding while standing. The spatter just to the right of the mat looks like impact spatter - like a force came in contact with a person already bleeding. It appears that she may have already been bleeding i.e. the passive drops and then was hit again i.e. the impact spatter. Jmo.

 

[Izzylizzy]

AOL says family considering taking action against Banfield

Savannah Guthrie's Family 'Exploring Taking Legal Action' Against TV Host Ashleigh Banfield for Claiming Missing Nancy's Son-in-Law is a 'Prime Suspect' in Case

Savannah Guthrie's family is considering "exploring taking legal action" against TV host Ashleigh Banfield, RadarOnline. comcan reveal.

www.aol.com

Ashleigh is not backing down and making the rounds.

Video Message from Guthrie Family to Mom's Captor Had Line from "The Silence of the Lambs"​

 

[Trino]

He absolutely can’t be confident ! I don’t mind saying if someone showed up at my house in the middle of the night, I would most likely have a heart attack right then, out of my mind scared and that wouldn’t change being taken out of the house. With Nancy’s health issues I don’t think her medication is an issue anymore, sadly.
Also we’ve heard it before when someone if afraid they will pee themselves……(yeah that would be me too) I think that’s most likely the biological evidence being examined.

Most seniors are on like meds. Blood thinner (aspirin, etc.), beta blocker (metaprolol) as primary with a few extras. Without them It doesn't mean the person will immediately drop over, but as time passes, meds become more important. She's been off meds for a week. If she's still alive, she has undoubtedly told her captors. Whoever took her probably didn't know about her meds or did not care.

 

[stmichael]

He is acting more like a media spokesperson than a sheriff. Needs to stop doing interviews.

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.

 

[Alkali13]

If NG was not related to famous daughter SG; and if LE rules out family...
Then the most probable explanation is that someone local broke into her house, assaulted her, she died unexpectedly and the assailant removed her body from the home in a panic. (The blood droplets on the porch could have fallen earlier in the day as she walked to the mailbox with a surprise bloody nose.)
This person may not know her celebrity connections. They may be attracted to elderly women. They may have seen NG in her front yard gardening or out in public and targeted her.
It seems unlikely that this was a late night random home invasion gone wrong. There are houses in that neighborhood with similar appearances so why choose hers.
And FWIW the ransom note seems like a red herring.
All moo

This is exactly the sort of scenario I am imagining.

 

[Irish1]

That's what it looks like to me.


Except I don't think she grabbed the lantana. I woulld never consider lantana to be a lifeline of sorts. It wouldn't have occured to her since it's basically a groundcover. I can see her grabbing it if she was pushed into it.

Some really good observations. One more. Could the drops of blood been planted as a diversion? Really careless on abductors part to hit her and leave it untouched IMO.

 

[jillybean51]

I'm popping in and out of this thread as it's moving insanely fast and impossible to keep up for slow pokes like me!

I'm veering on the side of a long stewing grudge possibly personal or acquaintance/someone known to her. I can't see it being anything else after I review it all.

I don't believe there is an actual ransom note was there? It's dragged on too long for that in my opinion.

I don't think it's familial/insurance/inheritance related as there's 50 million other ways (well not literally but YKWIM) to have someone 'pass away' to get insurance.

Taking a possible living, fighting, immobile senior is not the way to get rid of someone for insurance motives MOO.. So that leaves a grudge of some sorts for me. Or did she stumble on some info? Fraud or embezzling of funds from somewhere?

Any important dates coming up? I always find timelines interesting - why did this crime HAVE to happen on that day and time? Was it random or connected?

She could also have been killed in the home..if she were strangled,DNA might not have been left behind.

 

[stmichael]

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?

According to TMZ who has the letter, they said they would return her within a certain time frame (a few hours by car) so they extrapolated a "radius zone", It can all be BS though.