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

[SeattleStew]

Another thought about NG's blood on the front porch.

Nose bleed can be an effect from strangulation around the neck and carotid artery. Perhaps she opened the door and was immediately strangled/incapacitated, nose bleed commences, NG is carried off.

 

[Trino]

If she had a hearing aid, she likely would have taken the hearing aid off when she went to bed for the night.

If one wears a hearing aid while sleeping, it can cause a loud whistling sound when sleeping next to the pillow.

And if she did take her hearing aid off before going to bed, depending upon the level of her hearing impairment she may not hear a doorbell ringing or loud knocking from the door at all while sleeping.

Nearly all old people get up during the night to use the bathroom. Every night. Maybe she wasn't asleep when she heard something at the door, opened it.

 

[VTHOMM]

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

I completely agree w/FBI agent re: using "USD", but whomever is orchestrating this is very clever and may want to throw the agents off with that idea, too. There are too many senarios and what ifs.

 

[CSIDreamer]

If she had a hearing aid, she likely would have taken the hearing aid off when she went to bed for the night.

If one wears a hearing aid while sleeping, it can cause a loud whistling sound when sleeping next to the pillow.

And if she did take her hearing aid off before going to bed, depending upon the level of her hearing impairment she may not hear a doorbell ringing or loud knocking from the door at all while sleeping.

People could be in and out of my house 20 times and I'd sleep through it. My hearing loss is pretty severe, though.

 

[SaraSmile]

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.

Bingo. My take on exactly where the investigation is right now

 

[jillybean51]

So it appears that there was no big struggle on the front porch??

Yes I think everything happened inside after she was initially hit.

 

[danablue1]

I think the basic initial details of the case tell us a lot....remember that the Sherriff's office brought in the homicide team first thing. I'm guessing their analysis of the scene indicated a murder scene that was cleaned up (significant use of cleaners or some remaining blood found via luminol). Couple that with the fact that they have been seen searching in septic/water tanks as well as towing two vehicles, searching AG's house multiple times, etc. They know NG is not with us but are trying to let everything play out while they solidify their case. Who knows - maybe this whole "ransom" thing is known to them to be fake but it would introduce more charges so they are just waiting. Now - if you add the timeline back in - it wasn't an accident. The camera was removed at least 40 minutes prior to the pacemaker no longer syncing. If it was an accident, it would have been removed *after*.

Awesome post!

 

[Curiousraccoon]

Can someone post a link about the bar visit? It's the first I'm hearing of it too.

I have already asked also..
I don't think there was any real discussion about a bar or especially a link, but it's possible I missed it?

 

[Napoli]

1000% in agreement with you. The two crimes are not related and someone is taking full advantage of the situation to get the money.

The first ransom note was received MONDAY of last week BY TMZ AND A COUPLE OF LOCAL NEWS AFFILLIATES. Another poster said they were following from the beginning and no ransom note was from the beginning....well, There you go...By last Monday, it was all over the news.

 

[Cassie P]

May I pose a question?

From what I saw, and I may be mistaken, the door had a metal gate. Where I am from, we have the metal gate for security reasons, and if we answer the door we usually stand behind it and look around to see who is ringing.

Now, and bear with as I am slow in the mornings (and not much faster the rest of the day), the doorbell camera lets you know who it is, and you go to open IF you recognize the person, ESPECIALLY late at night.

My point, and I do have one if you give me a moment to get to it, is that if NG went to the door, she KNEW who it was. If she didn't and she opened, she did it cautiously (one hopes), and the metal gate would be (again, one hopes) locked. It will, as is the case with storm doors, open out towards the porch, and she would have been behind the door that opens IN towards the house.

This scenario would indicate that, if she indeed opened the front door, she knew the person who rang, and was welcoming them into the house. Forcing their way in would require a key for the gate, and if they have a key for the gate, WHY RING?

Again, my own thoughts, and I meander, but I grew up in a household of old people (raising me as a child) and we had gates and doors, and old people habits (which I now obviously exercise in an age-appropriate manner.)

Oh, and we have solar powered security cameras that announce people on the driveway, the walkway to our door, our porch, our side gate and our back door...unless we are expecting someone, or recognize who is on our property, we do not open.

My own opinions and thoughts and it's time for a second cup of coffee so forgive me if I've been nonsensical.

So if NG opened both the front door and the metal gate door, she must have known the person who rang the door bell or felt safe with them. Felt no threat?

 

[tkcrockett]

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 a

If i open the door to let someone step in, i need to be out of their way. I would standing over by the I below the picture. They couldn't get in if I stood in the middle or by the missing nest cam. They would need to go ahead of me then turn and do something to harm me while I am still outside. Ok...I am with you so far. I am standing on the porch bleeding now. I need to stand there kinda still for a minute to make the position of the blood work. I can see that too. Now to account for the sputum in the blood and the spray....If I am punched in the nose in that spot and I continue to stand there wouldn't there be way more blood? Maybe I am just a heavy bleeder. A simple cut/scrape doesn't work because of the sputum, right?

 

[SaraSmile]

I completely agree w/FBI agent re: using "USD", but whomever is orchestrating this is very clever and may want to throw the agents off with that idea, too. There are too many senarios and what ifs.

Good idea! Maybe to throw off investigators.
USD is usually $ in US
€ for Euros

 

[Inthedetails]

OR they were already in her home and she was trying to get out!

Another good idea.

Instead of winnowing theories down, I have MORE theories this morning.

 

[jillybean51]

I live here and can’t imagine stepping outside in the dark. There are javelinas and coyotes all around. I have only opened the door, backed up, and let people inside.

She would have only been a couple of feet out of the house, if she were holding the door open, and she had someone she knew entering.

 

[K.jill]

gotta remember that there was sputum in the blood. cough/sneeze.spit? why?

This combined with no footprints in the blood. How?

Wow! First time hearing about a bar visit. If that’s the case is it usual for SIL to visit bars at 10pm? I understand he’s in a band so this may be a usual thing….checking out other local bands? If he’s involved it’s my feeling he’d have to be pretty sober to pull this off, even if his role in the abduction was a smaller one in the bigger scheme of things.

Have we seen confirmation about the bar visit or is this rumor?

 

[Sadi]

Can someone post a link about the bar visit? It's the first I'm hearing of it too.

Yes, please. It would help to read the details.

 

[Inthedetails]

If i open the door to let someone step in, i need to be out of their way. I would standing over by the I below the picture. They couldn't get in if I stood in the middle or by the missing nest cam. They would need to go ahead of me then turn and do something to harm me while I am still outside. Ok...I am with you so far. I am standing on the porch bleeding now. I need to stand there kinda still for a minute to make the position of the blood work. I can see that too. Now to account for the sputum in the blood and the spray....If I am punched in the nose in that spot and I continue to stand there wouldn't there be way more blood? Maybe I am just a heavy bleeder. A simple cut/scrape doesn't work because of the sputum, right?

If there is a package at my front door, I immediately step out a little bit and bend down. Could that have happened? Idk.

jmo

 

[Trino]

The blood found on the walkway and front porch of Nancy Guthrie's home was processed for DNA.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed the following details regarding the forensic analysis:

• DNA Match: A rushed DNA analysis confirmed that the blood found at the scene matched Nancy Guthrie.
• Suspect Information: As of February 2026, the DNA testing from the blood and other evidence at the home has produced no hits indicating a suspect or any third party

If NG was abducted, there had to be a vehicle involved. No vehicle confirmed yet. Seems weird there is no evidence of vehicle or a third party inside the home.

 

[missy1974]

Can someone post a link about the bar visit? It's the first I'm hearing of it too.

There isn't one.

The thread got shut down a few times yesterday.

REALLY important to put IMO/JMO/MOO if it's an opinion and not something that can be backed up with a link. This thread has been fast moving and the amount of unneccessary posts has made it hard on mods to clean up.

Of course.. the above is JMO

 

[SaraSmile]

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.

Agreed. I believe the same. Arrests “soon”, so they have advised SG not to pay ransom. LE is onto something now.