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

[nightowl2728]

"No suspects". But they got a search warrant for the daughter's house?

I find that interesting. Wouldn't you volunteer for anyone to search your home if police asked, when your Mom is missing? I don't know.

Of course, I refused to get a cat from the shelter, as they had a document that they could search our home. Forget it.

I've been wondering the same thing. Did they search the daughter's house (meaning they went back yesterday for several hours to take photos and it appears as if there were was some forensic evidence collection) because that's the last place that Nancy was? But if so, why is that entirely relevant if the crime didn't happen until NG was at her own house?

It's a head scratcher, for sure.

EDIT: To further expand on my thoughts here, I'm curious how this ties to LE (I can't remember who, apologies) said early on that the scene discovered at NG's house was "disturbing" and that's what triggered this becoming a homicide investigation rather than just a missing person's case. I'm wondering how that relates (or not) to the search of AG's home.

 

[birdbox]

Do you do your job 24/7?

I dont, but if my job

Doesn't have to be a body, but you have to convince a court that the person is more than likely deceased & have them declared dead.

Yes which be easy in a high profile abduction case probably with a lady known to need medicine.

 

[Sakura2Sophia4Lucia]

We do not have any confirmed by LE information that the churchgoer has been identified or talked to or exists

Thanks Curious Raccoon. I didn't think I had missed it but easily could have missed something with this fast-moving case. If this story was true--and even if LE has made multiple mistakes--this story was so specific that this would not likely be something that LE might casually throw out in the first presser unless he had heard this from family. MO

 

[Cassie P]

It would be dumb for them to lie about something that could be so easily verified as false so I wonder why they would.
Couldn't they have just stated they decided to go visit her for lunch?

I am not speaking about this case, but just about crime scene staging in general. This is when a domestic murder is staged as another type of crime committed by someone other than the family. Generally these families are amateurs. They make mistakes in the cover up and hoax. They base their staging on movies and books, not how LE actually works.

To answer your question, the perpetrators may have thought it would look suspicious to be the last person to see the victim alive, and the first person to find her missing. Someone from church making a call might sound like a better story.

Again I am not talking about this case specifically. But exploring the theory of crime scene staging.

 

[mikeshanty]

What exactly has she done other than report on the story? I've listened to her podcasts this week and found nothing objectionable. Her guests offerred good insights. JMO.

She has sensationalized the story, she has not offered a single ounce of empathy or sorrow for someone who was once her former colleague, she has allowed unfounded speculation to run riot. I don't doubt she is "reporting the story" but it is undignified the way she has carried on when most of SG's colleagues are giving her some dignity and space right now.

 

[mikeshanty]

The Pima police chief was so loose with words at that first presser that I don’t entirely take everything he said there literally, including his statement about NG being at church. That being said, I find it very curious that he didn’t include the phone call in the latest timeline.

But could the initial press conference be the most revealing for us? It was early on and maybe it is closer to the truth than subsequent statements / FBI involvement. I am going to go and re-watch it.

 

[su5ie]

I keep thinking though... how very lucky it is for them that she has not been found yet.

They gave the family a week. If they were using it as extortion, they have been VERY lucky that she has not been found. IF the perp (s) are not the same as the note senders... how would the note sender know they would have week? Must be a gambler IMO

Very good point

 

[LRinCA]

Where are they based?

Tucson, AZ

February 1, 1953 (first day on the air)

(wikipedia)

KOLD-TV - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Pharmasgirl]

What if you are SIL and you get away with it and in 10 years move back to Italy where you are from and retire on said bitcoin?

That thought had crossed my mind…and it didn’t take 10 years

 

[shadowsc]

Anybody know if LE had talked to the church person who had contacted the family? I have never heard that LE had talked to the church person but could may have missed it.

The Sheriff in the first Tuesday press conference when asked if he had talked to the people who reported her missing,
The Sheriff started to answer, "that's the family." But the reporter was still asking the question right when he answered that... so the reporter was asking, "have you talked to the people who reported her missing, the church people?" And then the Sheriff caught that part, so his answer was, "Oh, from the church as well. We're doing all kinds of interviews. Yes, I'm sure we have."

But... if you read it back, he's actually not specifically saying the sheriff's office DID in fact speak with anyone at the church. He said, "Yes, I'm sure we have" but in a way like well of course we would. But, it's possible there is some miscommunication here or why wouldn't he be have memory of this conversation.

 

[SMK777]

I've been wondering the same thing. Did they search the daughter's house (meaning they went back yesterday for several hours to take photos and it appears as if there were was some forensic evidence collection) because that's the last place that Nancy was? But if so, why is that entirely relevant if the crime didn't happen until NG was at her own house?

It's a head scratcher, for sure.

Maybe they have different theories they are testing, and need to see if evidence supports them? Such as she never went home, and home was staged? MOO

 

[Sakura2Sophia4Lucia]

I've been wondering the same thing. Did they search the daughter's house because that's the last place that Nancy was? But if so, why is that entirely relevant if the crime didn't happen until she was at her house?

It's a head scratcher, for sure.

"No suspects" doesn't mean anything except that LE doesn't want to show their hand or make a suspect aware that they are a person of interest. They are still gathering data and evidence.

LE may now be thinking that the crime may have happened at the last place where Nancy was reported to be.

But, since we are not privy to so much of what is going on behind-the-scenes with LE, I agree that this leaves us with a lot of questions. Definitely a head scratcher. MO

 

[Beans]

Is it interesting that family didn't request the same presence at AG's house, for the same reasons, given that also has a significant media presence? I don't know.

Requesting similar would be an indication they believe AG's house is also a crime scene, I suppose.

 

[redflag71]

KOLD is the local CBS affiliate in Tucson, AZ. They are owned by Gray Media, based in Atlanta, GA. Am I misunderstanding your question?

I am a Tucson resident and KOLD is my go to for local news.

 

[tricia]

Considering a million or so people are suspecting or outright accusing him of murdering his mother in law for money, he’s smart to maintain privacy.

Everything he did would be discussed incessantly online, as this thread demonstrates.

It’s not the norm for Websleuths to allow it.

Let me address this.
There is nothing normal about this case. The son-in-law may have been the last person to see Nancy alive. The sheriff has not cleared anyone, and he has also stated there are no “prime suspects” at this time.

Because no one has been cleared, discussion is allowed. However, it must be done using initials only.

The reason is simple. If someone is discussed as a possible suspect and their full name is repeated over and over, it follows them forever. Google does not forget. Using initials helps protect innocent people from long-term harm if they are ultimately not involved.

This situation is unprecedented for Websleuths. We are dealing with a kidnapping in which a family member was reportedly the last person to see Nancy. Shutting down the discussion of the people closest to Nancy and those who last saw her would effectively end the thread.

We are doing the best we can to balance open discussion with protecting innocent people. It is not a perfect system, but ultimately, we are a true-crime discussion forum, and when law enforcement has not cleared anyone and has not named a prime suspect, discussion must be allowed—carefully and responsibly.

Tricia

 

[CrimeDawg123]

She has sensationalized the story, she has not offered a single ounce of empathy or sorrow for someone who was once her former colleague, she has allowed unfounded speculation to run riot. I don't doubt she is "reporting the story" but it is undignified the way she has carried on when most of SG's colleagues are giving her some dignity and space right now.

And exploiting being friends with SG to somehow give her the excuse to throw SG's brother in law under the bus.

 

[Sakura2Sophia4Lucia]

The Sheriff in the first Tuesday press conference when asked if he had talked to the people who reported her missing,
The Sheriff started to answer, "that's the family." But the reporter was still asking the question right when he answered that... so the reporter was asking, "have you talked to the people who reported her missing, the church people?" And then the Sheriff caught that part, so his answer was, "Oh, from the church as well. We're doing all kinds of interviews. Yes, I'm sure we have."

But... if you read it back, he's actually not specifically saying the sheriff's office DID in fact speak with anyone at the church. He said, "Yes, I'm sure we have" but in a way like well of course we would. But, it's possible there is some miscommunication here or why wouldn't he be have memory of this conversation.

Exactly. Thanks, Shadows, for going back over the transcript and clarifying this.

LE did talk with the pastor, but that's a whole different interview than talking with a church member who reported to the family that she wasn't in church. MO

 

[SMK777]

The Sheriff in the first Tuesday press conference when asked if he had talked to the people who reported her missing,
The Sheriff started to answer, "that's the family." But the reporter was still asking the question right when he answered that... so the reporter was asking, "have you talked to the people who reported her missing, the church people?" And then the Sheriff caught that part, so his answer was, "Oh, from the church as well. We're doing all kinds of interviews. Yes, I'm sure we have."

But... if you read it back, he's actually not specifically saying the sheriff's office DID in fact speak with anyone at the church. He said, "Yes, I'm sure we have" but in a way like well of course we would. But, it's possible there is some miscommunication here or why wouldn't he be have memory of this conversation.

Just as Richard Allen was not interviewed in the Delphi case.

The church phone call was removed from the timeline for a reason.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

We do not have any confirmed by LE information that the churchgoer has been identified or talked to or exists

oh wow... I certainly thought otherwise. tnx

 

[MommaV]

Im smelling exactly what u r stepping in...Great question.

I assumed it was not confirmed since it was not added to the timeline of events that’s been broadcasted and shown on this thread. It’s been left out.