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

[judithannegg]

I'm still on my theory. Nancy had dinner with Annie and her husband. SIL took her home. Asked for money. She said no. He went home. Upset and it just festered with him WHY she won't give money to them. He went by himself in middle of night. Coerced her out of bed with story about family emergency. He left back door wide open so it would like she wandered off. Small scuffle at front door as she kept insisting she needed to put on real clothes and he got impatient with her and she got hurt, therefor small blood, but not a lot. He got her in his car. She was easy to overpower then and bag over her head. A lot less messy. Took her to dessert and put her under a tree or bush like she "stumbled" there. He wants her to be found, but not too quickly. Enough that her body is exposed to elements. His whole theory was she just wandered away confused in the middle of night. Would be out of the norm for her, but as she is 84, people will think that something just happened to her. Her body would be found. Assume that she died of exposure or health deteriorated. Inheritance. What he didn't count on was the media and the unsubstantiated reports of ransom that he had nothing to do with. Media quickly said she couldn't walk far, and jumped on the sensational story of kidnapping, then other people faked ransom notes. Her blood could be in passenger seat. Luminol last night.

 

[flp]

^^^THIS^^^

I'm not convinced. I can't figure a motive where he'd remove the body. Why not just wait for her to pass if you're looking for $. It'd take years for her to be declared dead. And if he's the ransomer, how's he gonna explain his cash infusion?

Your assuming it was a premeditated murder. I'm thinking it was a manslaughter/2nd degree murder type situation.

 

[Wsimm]

Agree and also those two suspects could theoretically be working together.

I also wonder if there is more than 1-2 persons involved?

 

[CandyKiss]

But nothing indicates it was recent blood. Could have been old and there were no footprints in it either

From Google: Fresh blood at a crime scene appears bright red, wet, and glossy, whereas old blood turns dark reddish-brown, dry, and eventually grey, with texture changing from liquid to brittle flakes. Forensic analysts distinguish them to estimate the time of death (time since deposition), as blood oxidation (hemoglobin degradation) acts as a "crime clock"

Fresh Blood (Minutes to Days)

• Appearance: Bright red, wet, and glossy.
• Texture: Liquid, sticky, or forming soft, pliable clots.
• Analysis: Easy to identify; DNA extraction is straightforward. Often indicates recent, active events.
• Detection: Can be identified with visual inspection or simple chemical tests.

 

[amelia65452]

I’ll be blunt this morning. In my opinion, NG demise originated from AG’s home. The what and the how, I don’t know. Investigators returning to her home again last night documenting, mapping, and collecting evidence was the final event that moved me in that direction. IMO

And now I do believe we have somewhat of a real reason to speculate that the BIL is involved. Even if a podcaster never mentioned his name, I think at this point, we would all be thinking it.

 

[girlhasnoname]

I think of Kelsey Bereth's mother appealing to the public for help in her disappearance, how strong and courageous she was before the camera, and later finding out she knew all along Kelsey was no longer alive, but she played along so the truth could come out. Total respect for her and anyone who can do that.

Truly hoping for a better outcome here, for everyone.

Yes, you could see she was struggling I felt so very sorry for her. I also mentioned that case just now before reading your post.

 

[wibbleflea]

Perhaps they are searching for NG's cane in that garage, that nobody's made mention of at all so far in this whole investigation! js/moo

https://twitter.com/x/status/2019966533733380349

 

[KMouse]

I'm not convinced. I can't figure a motive where he'd remove the body. Why not just wait for her to pass if you're looking for $. It'd take years for her to be declared dead. And if he's the ransomer, how's he gonna explain his cash infusion?

People who are desperate or mentally ill or have a personality disorder aren't logical or linear.
Bitcoin is probably because they think it can't be traced and also a ruse to cover up something more incideous.

 

[AFTF]

One of the biggest misconceptions in cases like this is the belief that Bitcoin equals invisibility. It does not. Bitcoin was never designed to be anonymous. It is pseudonymous, and every single transaction is permanently recorded on a public ledger that anyone in the world can analyze.

Law enforcement does not need to “break” Bitcoin. They follow the money. Every transfer creates a traceable chain of movement, and once investigators identify even one real world connection to a wallet, the entire transaction history becomes visible.

Even when people attempt to hide funds using mixers, tumblers, or layered transfers, those methods do not guarantee anonymity. Blockchain activity creates patterns, and patterns can be analyzed over time. In many past cases, funds believed to be hidden were eventually traced once a single mistake, exposure point, or real-world interaction revealed a link.

Another critical factor is that digital currency eventually has to intersect with the real world. When funds touch an exchange, a service, a device, or a person, investigators often gain a foothold. Most cases are not solved because encryption fails, but because human behavior, timing, or one small connection ties digital activity to a real identity.

It is also worth noting that while more privacy focused cryptocurrencies exist, using any digital currency in a truly untraceable way is far more difficult than people assume. Long term anonymity is rarely sustained. In real investigations, what usually happens is simple: the trail stays cold until one verifiable link appears, and once it does, the rest of the chain often falls into place.

So the real question is not whether Bitcoin can be tracked — it can — but whether investigators have already identified the one connection that will expose whoever is behind this.

Just something to think about.

 

[LAborn]

Statistics say that someone close, like a family member is most likely involved. Why do you think it’s far fetched?

Right, but those stats usually apply to murder, not kidnapping. There's no reason to believe there was animus between them, the BIL has been a teacher for nearly 20 years (throw away your life? Why?). It's too convoluted a "plan" for them to pull off especially while LE is all around them and watching their movements and tracking their electronics (that would mean they would have to send two notes while under surveillance). Also, they would surely be caught, so if money was the motivation, they'd never succeed, again because of the microscope on them.

 

[missy1974]

I'm not convinced. I can't figure a motive where he'd remove the body. Why not just wait for her to pass if you're looking for $. It'd take years for her to be declared dead. And if he's the ransomer, how's he gonna explain his cash infusion?

I'm with you. I am just not convinced and can't get on that bandwagon.

Even the search last night, did not seem to be an extensive search. It was 3 deputies, doing their job. I didn't even see them leave with a ton of brown bags or possible evidence.

I also assume they got a warrant for legal purposes, but wouldn't we expect an attorney for AG/TC to be there? even if just outside?

It just didn't seem like anything I've ever seen before watching the livestreaming of it last night. It didn't feel like it was being treated as a 'crime scene'.

 

[waldojabba]

Apologies if this has already been posted

https://twitter.com/x/status/2020479807348461618

 

[Jade]

I’m glad people are speaking of the capability of their elderly relatives. It is a good counter to all the infantalising and insulting people are doing of Nancy - saying she could barely walk, saying people “made her” get an Uber, etc as if she could do nothing and decide nothing for herself.

What’s insulting is to think that those who show concern and assistance are not taking great measures, expense, and thought to retain the dignity and all possible independence for the elder.

I reckon that angry attitude lacking grace for the elderly is why I get asked for help so much by my elderly single friends from garden club and the neighborhood association.

They say they don’t want to bother their kids, the kids are busy, kids won’t do it for them anyway, are afraid if they don’t seem independent the kids will put them in a care home so they don’t have to deal with their increasing needs, and why then I’m their loyal visitor, because the kids say they are fine and go on with their life.

I had thought that the families were too close to see the changes add up none of us want to see our parents change get old and dependent but guess they have that attitude.


All imo

 

[LAborn]

Your assuming it was a premeditated murder. I'm thinking it was a manslaughter/2nd degree murder type situation.

Still begs the question, why? Also, they would still have to be criminal masterminds to concoct this kidnapping scheme and not be traceable by LE. Super unlikely, dare I say impossible.

 

[Napoli]

I have a similar question. Why is the family making public videos if they are going to pay the ransom? Why not keep it a private transaction?

They are making public videos because it's the only way they can communicate with the kidnappers. The family (TC) is NOT, I repeat IS NOT involved, in the kidnapping IMO. Expand your horizons..Someone didnt want SG, perhaps, at the Olympics...the timing is suspect. If they just wanted to rob the mother, that could have been accomplished easily. This is about SG in some twisted form. Not that i think she is involved with the perps, but someone wanted to grab her attention. JMO. Second guess is a grudge something or other against the brother, Cameron and the military. Who's with me? MOO

 

[Emerald1328]

When I heard Trump's words about solving it (or whatever he said) I took it with a grain of salt as I do with every other announcement he makes!

I mean, I am not in US and this isn't political, but he just says what he needs to say at any given time, often economical with the truth.

And I can imagine that if he were asking his people for updates, they would keep it all very positive. “We’re getting really close sir”, “We have our best on the case and have full confidence in their abilities.”, “We’re analyzing evidence and it should come back soon, which will tell us a lot.” And then hearing that, he made his own conclusions.

 

[ivylambs]

I was so sure this would be a family matter, which is how I feel in almost every case, but now I’m starting to lean the other way. If it’s a family thing, it’s probably financial, and at this rate no one is getting NG’s money any time soon.

 

[Starkville]

Are you able to name any such freelance journalist just say as an example

I’m able. Am I allowed? Her initials are MK and she is doing lots of podcast work with AB.

 

[wibbleflea]

Law enforcement does not need to “break” Bitcoin. They follow the money. Every transfer creates a traceable chain of movement, and once investigators identify even one real world connection to a wallet, the entire transaction history becomes visible.

Exactly this. Every single transaction is recorded. That record is public, and it can’t be modified or deleted. For there to be a conversion to regular cash in a bank account by the person who received it, a crypto exchange has to be involved. If that exchange (like Coinbase, for example) is in the US, it’s game over for the person receiving the funds.

The ways around it all involve other people – someone in a country where there are fewer rules, or someone accepting the crypto payment and providing cash, goods or services from a location where he or she isn’t traceable.

 

[mikeshanty]

It isn't looking good for AG and SIL. Mainstream news orgs reporting on the house searches. I would assume they would need to be careful in their reporting to avoid defaming individuals not suspected of a crime. The media must know something big is coming.