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

[maskedwoman]

Psychiatry calls interesting choices of words such as these "word salad."

A word salad is a "confused or unintelligible mixture of seemingly random words and phrases", most often used to describe a symptom of a neurological or mental disorder. Often, the person is unaware that they did not make sense.

In response, clinicians often maintain a calm, patient demeanor, echoing or validating the person's feelings rather than focusing on the incoherence.

I don't know what the post you were responding to is about, since it's so short, but I don't know why you went that direction in your response. In my experience, word salad is more often used in politics, when politicians are talking out of their you-know-what. It appears to afflict all political parties world wide, and does not necessarily indicate any sort of neurological disorder. Unless you count talking out of someone's you-know-what to be a disorder. In which case a large percentage of the world's population is affected.

 

[SRWCF]

To those who keep posting about how their 90 year old relatives are "totally fine and like a 25 year old!", we are all truly happy for you and wish them many more years of health and no sudden changes unfortunately typical for most elderly people (and which should and can be prevented with realistic lifestyles and safety measures).

That said, legally and logically, the question isn’t ‘can a 90-year-old be out late?’ It’s ‘what’s typical or expected for a person of this age with documented mobility issues, a pacemaker, and reliance on daily medications.’ Anecdotes about healthier individuals aren’t comparable. Courts look at whether something would stand out to a reasonable person given the same facts, not whether exceptions exist.

Source: I'm a lawyer

THANK YOU for this voice of reason! People have been screaming "ageism!" and clutching their pearls. Lol. I know that NG is "sharp as a tack" (according to LE), but that is not the norm for people of her age. My mom is 77 and I recently was awarded emergency guardianship / conservatorship over her after she got lost twice (and hospitalized twice) after driving approximately 1,600 miles. She is now in memory care, thankfully. She has Dementia and I am keenly aware of just how vulnerable and fragile our seniors can be, with or without cognitive decline.

 

[tkcrockett]

Maybe she was knocked conscious? Maybe she was slung over the perp's shoulders and the blood dripped from her nose onto the pavement.

who locked the 4 locks back?

 

[CandyKiss]

Please be kind in your responses. I mean well and do my best to be clear, but this is not my first language and I am getting older every day.

Not many can speak a second language nor write it so beautifully.

 

[jillybean51]

i can almost see this. I just got up and walked to my front door to try it. Doorbell rings. She sees someone she knows at the door. She opens house door. Mine goes inward as does hers. Opens metal door. Mine goes outward as does hers. I step outside near or onto the mat to let the person in. Something happens to cause blood. If she planned to let the person in and steps out of the way to do that, isn't the blood on the wrong side of the mat? Granted, I am making an assumption that she intended to let them in. Otherwise, why step outside at all? Maybe she stepped outside...in the dark of night, in her nightclothes (taken from her bed in first sherif statement) to chat? I am stumped but I think your way is as close as I can get

I think if she were holding the door open she would have been facing the mat and blood drop area?(if she was pulling the door to close it behind her, after the person entered)Just as she was turning to step back inside she was hit.(likely in the nose area)

 

[Barry]

The "cartel" as most people would define it, is a non-starter for me. Too high of a risk and attention for what in their world would be a relatively small amount of money.

 

[txsleuth70]

I think this too, she was attacked and when she was removed from her home, she was no longer living.

Highly possible because the Sheriff said she did not walk out of there on her own. She did not leave the house afoot. Interpreted as she was carried. Understandably, alive or dead wasn't included in the statement because they're trying to catch the ransom author(s) and the perp(s), who may or may not be one and the same.

 

[Inthedetails]

Tricia has invited WSers to the Daily Thread to discuss elder care.

 

[Napoli]

Good morning to everyone!

I just wanted to chime in with some thoughts I've been mulling over:

1) It is tempting to think that this is all hingeing on SG and her work, and I would think -if that is the tack being taken- that it's more a fan of someone she's "grilled" during an interview.
2) The cartel theory is not convincing to me because there is a degree of patient drawing-out of the notes that doesn't match the usual "kidnap, ransom request and here's the body, you took too long."
3) Also, the cartel theory seems to feed into a more political aspect (that immigrants, or foreign bad actors are involved), and this seems personal.
4) The timeline is very suspect; it would be helpful to know the time for the service that NG supposedly (and I say this because the matter hasn't been clarified to satisfaction) missed, the time of the call, and so on and so forth.
5) Everyone's finances have been investigated; it might take time to get everything they need, but the basics are clear to LE by now...it HAS been a week, and there must have been discussions about who and how the ransom would be funded.
6) Speculating about family relationships, I think, is excessively intrusive. The situation is already fraught for them, and I don't doubt there have been copious discussions and arguments about big or small grievances from time immemorial. That part should be left for the investigators to dissect as part of their process, but we sitting on the bleachers can't pretend we know what is going on behind closed doors among these relatives.

These are all my own opinions on the subject, and I apologize if they seem silly or naive. I fear that there are two separate narratives here, and one of them (the ransom demands and the "wild goose chases" being triggered by messages we are unaware of) will be what brings the whole thing to a head for the real perpetrator(s).

I just pray that NG is found even though I seriously doubt that, at this point and with all the emotional, psychological and physical trauma she's endured, she is still alive.

Please be kind in your responses. I mean well and do my best to be clear, but this is not my first language and I am getting older every day.

If you object to the term cartel because you are feeling an ethnic connotation, might i suggest organized crime group? Cartel, mafia, syndicate, ..all can be synonyms for some consortium of people that are known to be nefarious. I agree that the whole family thing is not only intrusive but is getting waaayyyyy off the subject. POA, family debt, the non existent trip to a bar, what they did for 45 minutes at the home once the mysterious unnamed church lady informed them Mom wasnt seen at the church service etc etc. Why are some family members more suspect in posters minds than others? NO ONE HAS BEEN CLEARED ..NOT EVEN SG. imo, THIS IS EITHER A GRUDGE, REAL OR PERCEIVED, against SG, A FORMER OR CURRENT CONTRACTOR WHO IS CONNECTED TO A LARGER MORE EXPERIENCE GANG, CARTEL, (PICK YOUR NOUN) AND EVERYONE HAS LONG SINCE DISAPPEARED FROM ARIZONA. I do not believe she will be found alive and may not even be found period. Why are billboards going up in Texas? According to the map the TMZ guy put up last week she could be in Nevada, Idaho, Colorado etc etc.. Why does anyone think this will even be solved? Anyone remember the Deorr Kunz case? Basically, totally unsophisticated bunch and baby and perp was never found. JMO. I agree with most of your post.btw. Good post. MOO

 

[Starkville]

I just don't think it's the sister's husband. Your sister-in-law is a major public news journalist and you're going to orchestrate a kidnapping, or a coverup to look like a kidnapping, and you are truly going to send, or have other people send, ransom notes to TMZ while the FBI is literally surveilling you? Most kidnappings for ransom are kept quiet, out of the media, try to steer away from authorities being called, and the culprits just want their money. This way would be awfully bold and risky and reckless.

But, we could go in circles. Nothing would really surprise me anymore in this case.

Some thoughts about the ransom and the videos of the family… when I see the odd wording of the videos made by the Guthrie family, I think that the “ransomer” is enjoying making them dance to his/her tune. I think this person likes making Savannah beg and grovel and obey. JMO. This crime forced Savannah to leave her job and husband and children and now they are making her suffer and possibly come up with a LOT of money. This goes beyond money, IMO. I think there’s an element of sadism in the ransom portion of this crime. JMO.

I go back and forth on whether there’s family involved in this.

 

[Trino]

Found this interesting. Think this points to the ransom being written by someone outside the country.


“But some experts remain wary of the ransom note, which specified that the payment be made in the equivalent of US dollars, which some said could indicate the sender was not in America — and could be someone trying to scam the Guthries out of millions as they search for their mother.”

“If you’re domestic, why would you ever put ‘USD?’ You put 6 million,” former FBI agent Michael Harrigan told The Post.”

The tiny detail in the Nancy Guthrie ransom note that makes FBI experts think the writers aren’t even in US

NY Post: No proof that Nancy is alive or that the authors have her has been provided, but details from inside her house were included in the note. If the "details" are true, perhaps this is why the family is paying the ransom. They must feel this is legit. Don't see how the SIL can be solely involved. He's not going to be sending ransom notes with LE all over him.

 

[LAborn]

Found this interesting. Think this points to the ransom being written by someone outside the country.


“But some experts remain wary of the ransom note, which specified that the payment be made in the equivalent of US dollars, which some said could indicate the sender was not in America — and could be someone trying to scam the Guthries out of millions as they search for their mother.”

“If you’re domestic, why would you ever put ‘USD?’ You put 6 million,” former FBI agent Michael Harrigan told The Post.”

The tiny detail in the Nancy Guthrie ransom note that makes FBI experts think the writers aren’t even in US

Because bitcoin isn't necessarily in USD amount because it's global "currency". This only proves the person asking understands cryptocurrency. They want the value to be specific because other places have lower currency value.

 

[tkcrockett]

Must take into consideration also that there are no footprints in the blood which falls within the walking path...

and "floral fluff" are on top of the blood

 

[jillybean51]

Have they released the description of the vehicle they were looking for the other day?
Or why they were at Circle K looking at footage?

Maybe checking out an alibi?

 

[Sadi]

I definitely think there was a call. Whether it actually came from someone from NG’s church or someone involved in her abduction has yet to be revealed. I’m guessing LE hasn’t been able to verify the caller? I have no idea how burner phones work and if the call came from one, would this be the difficulty in verifying?

It’s my feeling if SIL is involved he’d have to had help from someone other than just AG. In that case the call could’ve been from that “someone else” involved. Maybe the call stated that they’ve completed their portion of the abduction. If the phone number is unverifiable it could be explained away as someone calling from NG’s church.

If SIL and AG are not involved, the call could have come from the abductors masquerading as a fellow church member who’s concerned NG was absent from Sunday services.

I know it’s been mentioned the SIL went to a bar after dropping N off at her house. Where is the bar located? How long was he there? Did he meet anyone? Was he drinking (no judgement, just thinking it might escalate anger/boldness). When did he arrive home? Hopefully the bar, DOT and neighborhood cameras will show something. LE is awfully quiet and no longer asking for help/tips from the public, makes me think an arrest will happen in the next few days.

 

[NoseyRecluse]

Good evening to all. I have been following the thread since it started and find many interesting points being made. As an older person (who lives with husband and youngest son) we are very safety conscious, and this story is very alarming, but not just because the victim is the mother of a celebrity.

I would just like to offer some thoughts I've been mulling over in the time I've been reading the thread:

1) No one can guarantee 100% that Ms. Guthrie, regardless of her high-profile career, has the ability to disburse the sort of money being demanded as ransom. The family has probably been advised to NOT pay too quickly, but time has become of the essence.
2) Reading too much into body language from any of the siblings is a tricky proposition. Not only are they under duress, but they also are probably dealing with the confusing feelings that stem from thorough searches of one of their homes.
3) It seems that local law enforcement (and I believe it is their jurisdiction and the FBI wouldn't take over the investigation completely, only in an advisory capacity...please feel free to correct me on this point) is far from experienced in this sort of scenario.
4) Perhaps there are several sources demanding ransom money, or claiming to have information. I don't think that a Mexican drug cartel would involve itself in this sort of operation within the US so I would, personally, discount that theory.
5) If there is a family member (or several) involved in perpetrating this crime, the likelihood that there is a much more delicate touch in terms of moving the process forward (for fear of what more could happen to other family members, perhaps?) is called for.
6) While "civilian journalists" (is that what one would call the people who conduct YouTube investigative incursions?) might move the needle forward, and while Ms. Banfield and Ms. Kelly, etc. might discuss the matter based on "sources" they have gathered in their meanderings, all that should be considered speculation and, it would seem to me, disruptive to the process. Go to LE first and THEN publish, is what I would say makes more sense, but I'm just a grandma who reads and observes through the sensibilities of my generation, not this new one.

I apologize if I come across as a terrible fuddy-duddy, but I think a lot of the speculative information is causing more harm than good at this moment. That it's done for "clicks", "ratings", "views" -to me, at least- feels like monetizing the distress these poor people are experiencing.

These are all my personal opinions, and I have absolutely no knowledge of any details. I am sorry if I have said anything silly or worthy of mockery. I'm new here...not in the world, but here...

You make some great points - and I love your profile pic!

 

[CandyKiss]

So no warrant required?

No, not when "The search was consented to," two of the three officials briefed on the search said.

 

[J-Kat]

Why are so many people quick to criticize when older people are living alone? She was of sound mind and the house appeared to be well cared for. Nancy was “aging in place”, quite comfortably it seems, with paid caretakers for the house and property, devices that can summon help if needed and a daughter that lived a few minutes away. She remained able to drive her car, participate in church and social activities, travel to NYC to visit her daughter there, etc. I can’t think of anything worse than having someone follow me around all day in my own home.

 

[danablue1]

I am really trying hard to wrap my head around the blood. Bear with me, please. If she was hurt in the house and walked out to a waiting car, why is there only one area of blood? No trail. If she and "bad guy/s" walk out the front door, who locked the door behind them? Wasn't it said that her keys were found in the house along with wallet and phone?

Yes the apple watch, keys and wallet were shown on a nightstand. If i remember correctly the front door was left unlocked and the back door was left wide open

 

[LAborn]

I don't know what the post you were responding to is about, since it's so short, but I don't know why you went that direction in your response. In my experience, word salad is more often used in politics, when politicians are talking out of their you-know-what. It appears to afflict all political parties world wide, and does not necessarily indicate any sort of neurological disorder. Unless you count talking out of someone's you-know-what to be a disorder. In which case a large percentage of the world's population is affected.

Click the up arrow to see who they are referring to. Nonsensical, meaningless, word salad definitely applies, and neurological disorder could also.