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

[GussiedCanoodler]

Sorry if this has been mentioned before, but I’m starting to wonder if this was a robbery that she witnessed and/or heard voices in her house and then had a medical emergency as a result and then the robbers tried to hide the evidence. It doesn’t change much, but just something I hadn’t considered before. MOO.

I hope that I’m wrong and that she is alive. My heart aches for her and her family.

ETA: the word “celebrate” is very odd to me. I have a feeling it is a direct reference to something said in the second note. I know she just had a birthday and I’m sure there’s SOMEONE in the family with an event coming up (birthday, promotion, who knows). It also could mean celebration of life as others said but I just really, really feel that it’s a direct reference to the second note.

 

[UK Girl]

Yes, in fact a "celebrant" is someone who typically conducts non-religious funerals.

Yes exactly I was just thinking that.

 

[amelia65452]

If they are checking the water storage tank, that may mean they think she is dead and are now looking for her body. That would be very unfortunate but I can think of no reason for checking in a water tank for any sorts of clues about a live person. Of course, it is also possible they have no idea if she is dead or alive and therefore exploring all possibilities. MOO.

They had a metal detector. My theory: looking for a tool that was used. Possibly jewelry stolen or taken off of NG. or, a pacemaker. (Body)

 

[stmichael]

Interesting. The septic tank at my house has manhole sized cap. It's identical to the one in the screenshots shared a bit ago here. It does definitely seem dangerous. In fact, some neighbors had a gardener working at their house last year and the gardener stepped on the septic tank cap which was cracked and fell in. Not fully, but caught himself at the cap so the bottom half of his body was in the tank. He was quickly pulled out by the other gardener, luckily.

Yep. My area actually has ordinances for safety to prevent that. I believe the access cap has to be no greater than a certain diameter by code. I check if my tank is full by pulling off the 12 inch concrete cap and shining a flashlight down the pvc access pipe. I can not imagine me, or my kids or pets falling into that foulness.

 

[Emerald1328]

Can any people familiar with plumbing or house construction determine if this is related to them searching in the tanks today?
View attachment 642691

This looks like a tank that would have chemicals in it for spraying something IMO (fertilizer, weed prevention/removal).

 

[InkyEvie]

Can someone explain how drones are allowed to fly over the property and film LE carrying out investigations?

If they're up high enough, they're in public airspace. Private property doesn't generally go straight up.
IMO

 

[CSIDreamer]

Well someone had to go to a basketball game and do news interviews, you know. Too busy.

What about FBI?

 

[jillybean51]

If they are checking the water storage tank, that may mean they think she is dead and are now looking for her body. That would be very unfortunate but I can think of no reason for checking in a water tank for any sorts of clues about a live person. Of course, it is also possible they have no idea if she is dead or alive and therefore exploring all possibilities. MOO.

Maybe the “ kidnapper” has gotten his money, and disclosed where they can find Nancy’s body.

 

[UK Girl]

ANY AND ALL OF THE ABOVE. JUST ONE OF MY THEORIES WHY SG WAS THE INCIDENTAL INTENDED TARGET. TIMING BEFORE SHE WAS SCHEDULED TO LEAVE FOR THE OLYMPICS WOULD MEAN THE ALLEGED PERPS WANTED HER STATE SIDE AS THEY WERE PLOTTING A KIDNAPPING. Or, they didnt want her at the Olympics because they didnt like her politics.. It could also be a stalker, someone who had been a contractor for the mom....in other words, if the motive was money...SG needed to be in the USA and accessible. If the motive was wanting attention or to be noticed by SG, she would also have to be around to address the ransom notes and pay up. If it is a grudge against the brother or the National Guard , the person with the ability to pay is solely, SG. SG is the central figure in this...she assumedly has the finances. However, It has taken her a week to say we will pay. I think the window of opportunity has closed. MOO..

But she didn't live there so why go to the mothers if they in fact wanted Savannah? I dont think her daughter was a target at all sorry.

 

[birdbox]

no blasting here just think from personal experience that taking it one way is very normal and getting a ride home later at night again very normal. I assume LE has checked her with Uber and bet she has d one this many times. Taking it over it it was light out and later dark.

Understood. Everyone has a different "normal" and why so many small details can be tedious to rummage through. All we need to know is what was normal for them. Thats the baseline for interpreting data

 

[Sakura2Sophia4Lucia]

All feels weird. Like they are either very close to a finish line or nowhere near one.

Exactly. My opinion and hope is that they are very close to a finish line and that LE knows who the perpetrator(s) are and that LE is dotting every possible i and crossing every possible t in order to have a rock solid case.

We know so little, though, and of course it's quite possible that LE doesn't know that much, either.

But, with their recent activities today, yesterday and on Friday, I'm hoping they are close to an arrest. I had thought we might hear something today but LE may be looking a NG's body and a murder weapon before disclosing anything. MO

 

[MCB1151]

I’m wondering if those blood drops could be from her exiting the home through the front door earlier to get into the Uber, older than the day of disappearance, or planted there after she disappeared.

I haven't seen a good image of the blood at the front, but the image I did see (in my completely amateur and non professional opinion) looks like blood drops with no movement to them. I didn't see spatter, I didn't see casting, it appeared to me (unless I was looking at the wrong thing) that the blood drops may be literally drips from a possible weapon or wound on a person standing still.
How many images of the blood drops are there?

 

[SMK777]

I just got this fear of thinking maybe they know absolutely nothing? Is that even possible in a week not to know anything? Do you think they still don't know if the ransom note is just noise?

Very disturbing. I fluctuate between this, or that they are close to an arrest. Sure hope it's the latter!

 

[LRinCA]

Sorry if this has been mentioned before, but I’m starting to wonder if this was a robbery that she witnessed and/or heard voices in her house and then had a medical emergency as a result and then the robbers tried to hide the evidence. It doesn’t change much, but just something I hadn’t considered before. MOO.

I hope that I’m wrong and that she is alive. My heart aches for her and her family.

ETA: the word “celebrate” is very odd to me. I have a feeling it is a direct reference to something said in the second note. I know she just had a birthday and I’m sure there’s SOMEONE in the family with an event coming up (birthday, promotion, who knows). It also could mean celebration of life as others said but I just really, really feel that it’s a direct reference to the second note.

My husband, who isn't really following the case, mentioned that someone may have been in the house waiting for her.

 

[nycpizzaparty]

They had a metal detector. My theory: looking for a tool that was used. Possibly jewelry stolen or taken off of NG. or, a pacemaker. (Body)

Agree. Looking for components of the crime, not just a body.

 

[Aquabot13]

They were not probing a septic tank with no mask or gloves. It had to be some type of cistern/water tank. I think they are going back and researching the property because they don't want to miss anything.

Yes! Septic tanks are very dangerous. For those who aren't familiar - septic tanks are dangerous because in addition to posing a fall risk (like if they were to collapse or if someone fell through a faulty cover), and a drowning risk, they're full of hazardous gasses. When I was having my septic tank decommissioned (we hooked up to sewer) it was explained to me that someone who falls into a septic tank would likely be rendered unconscious by the gasses, making drowning or suffocation way more likely. For that reason, you're not supposed to go in after someone who's fallen into a septic tank without proper PPE (respirator etc). Better to call 911.

Anyway, I don't know if Nancy's was operational or decommissioned, but IME when you decommission them you either crush them or fill them up with something so they don't collapse later. Or dig them up all the way. So, if they're searching it, I would expect that it's in use and therefore somewhat dangerous.

JME - I was obviously horrified when my septic people were explaining all of this to me, so it's stuck with me. Tragically, it comes up somewhat frequently when kids fall through a faulty cover into an active or improperly retired tank.

MOO

 

[TristanP]

I have had the same experience about something the whole world knows took place except ChatGPT. When I provided evidence from Grok, MSM that proved him wrong, he got mad and started responding in all CAPS saying things like "YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO ME VERY CAREFULLY NOW!" He refused to back down so I did cause his tone was scary! So, if ChatGPT is a little glitchy about big things, I can only imagine what else he's sure about that isn't accurate.

Did you just say…you backed down from Grok because his tone was scary?

 

[IzzyBlanche]

IANAL but although technically no warrant is required if the homeowner gives consent to search, in a case like this I would imagine LE would obtain a warrant to avoid evidentiary issues in the event of a prosecution (i.e., the homeowner revoking consent, claiming coercion, etc). JMO.

True--just look at Stephan Sterns. He gave police permission to search his phone, then his lawyers tried to claim he didn't and they should have gotten a warrant to search it.

 

[InkyEvie]

Can someone explain how drones are allowed to fly over the property and film LE carrying out investigations?

FAA Recreational Flyers

 

[birdbox]

Question: has any evidence been reported regarding any tire tracks? At the home, behind the home, over the hills and through the woods??