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

[KellySleuth]

Good point, Sheriff wasn’t sure how to respond when asked at the press conference if there was a threat to the public since no one has been arrested. Add to that, no more requests for tips from the public and any descriptions of anything people should be looking for etc.? It’s too quiet. Do they have a suspect in their sight?

It has been very quiet today. Even the podcasters/journalists staked out at the homes have seen nothing. If they do have a suspect who they're closing in on, maybe SG's video today was to keep that suspect in the dark.

 

[DizzyB]

Maybe the “kidnapers” stated that Nancy would immediately be released upon payment, and they paid some time ago. So they did not stay true to their terms, rules have changed now.

 

[MCB1151]

Early on it was said by the FBI that any decisions on handling the ransom would be up to the family, though the FBI would obviously offer their thoughts.

According to Janke, while the FBI is in contact with Guthrie’s family and does make recommendations when a ransom is made, “any action taken on any ransom is ultimately decided by the family.”

“If someone has Nancy and is demanding the ransom, then there is communication with the family,” Janke added. But he noted that “there has been no proof of life, and there was no other demands within that letter.” WGN - FBI statements

So with that said, I feel like if the family tells the FBI they want to assume the ransom letters ARE connected to the disappearance, the FBI will make recommendations on addressing the ransom demanders. I know SG is media savvy and an attorney, but I doubt she would do anything publicly that the FBI highly discouraged. The linguists with the FBI can find and hide messages in words far beyond what many would see. Behavior, appearance, who is in the video, everything can be very carefully constructed. If SG appearing alone makes someone think "ooooh AG isn't there so she must have split from the siblings because she doesn't believe them anymore" it proves how every little decision matters. Perp thinks heat is on SIL, they may slip up. SIL thinks SG has split off from him, there may be another dynamic come forward.

 

[MadCowWisco]

All of them staying together, if true, is either a sign that one (or two) of those folks that some suspect are involved aren't involved at all, or they are rabidly malignant human beings. Odds are the former.

JMO.

"involved" is a very broad term - you can be involved in something in alot of different ways.

 

[K.jill]

The billboards go Texas, all the way to Houston. Posted yesterday with link/ source. Btw, could someone tell me how to search within a thread?

On the tight right hand of your screen, there is a search icon once you enter what you want to search make sure you click on this thread or you’ll get results from other cases.

 

[LRinCA]

Why drop her off anywhere? Why not leave her where she is and then use the email tip line to give the location coordinates. Some seem to think this person is a local and is in the Tucson area and if so, no one has located them yet so just drive away while everyone else waits the mythical 10 hours for them to "return" to Tuscon.
moo

All guesses/speculation are possibilities.

I would think they wouldn't leave her where she is because of fingerprints, evidence, etc.; but who knows.

 

[RayVon]

They'd also probably be unable to work if they're holding her, so they would have to have a means to sustain themselves. They would have gone "all in" on getting $$ from the abduction because their livelihood is gone/diminished. Even losing one client (NG) would be a substantial loss in income, no matter how slight that income. In neighborhoods like this, I bet 90-100% of households have people helping with their households, and the neighborhood would typically be filled with workers throughout the day. I know mine is.

I guess my point - the local hired help would be losing everything -- and not even demand a ransom for multiple days?

But it could be an acquaintance of the hired workers who may just get a wild idea to pull this off after hearing about this rich lady living by herself-- alone at night? People talk, gossip and share stories about their workplace all the time.

 

[turaj]

That’s certainly possible. What struck me is that I had heard a former LE officer or FBI agent being interviewed and he mentioned the importance of getting exactly the kinds of tips that SG just mentioned. Ex. People acting differently, change of routines etc. I wondered why I hadn’t heard LE making those specific appeals. But SG just did. Smart move.

If you take a look at many recent murder cases they were solved thanks to tips from the public. Good for SG for getting the message out. I don't understand why LE did. not do more.

 

[MassGuy]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2020983915406819488

 

[Absoluterubbish]

Alas, it seems the "ransomers" wanted this public disclosure and pain.

As one detective said "they sent the ransom note first to freakin' TMZ". They wanted this to play out in the public, still could be an opportunistic sicko/stalker and unrelated to the real disappearance of NG.

I agree they want it public but TMZ wasn't the first to receive a ransom note. It was a local Tuscan news station and then TMZ received it the following day.

 

[mikeshanty]

Something about SG’s latest Instagram appeal is odd. This is not designed as a criticism of her personally, but from a purely practical, “what would be the most effective appeal?” perspective.

If the goal is to generate new information, I’m not convinced Instagram is the strongest channel:

1. Her audience likely skews toward major urban areas and national media markets (e.g. New York, California), rather than the specific local area where relevant sightings or information are most likely to come from.

2. There is risk with a mass-audience appeal that it produces a large volume of speculative responses, thereby diluting useful tips and make triage harder for law enforcement.

3. The appeal does not seem to be directed at specific groups who are statistically more likely to have seen something. For example local residents, drivers, delivery workers, neighbours, or people travelling through the immediate area at relevant times.

4. Instagram’s algorithm prioritises engagement. So posts end up circulating more widely based on likes and shares but not necessarily geographic relevance.

5. It seems well intentioned but kind of pointless in a way - as has been pointed out, we haven't even been told what NG was wearing on the day she was abducted and SG hasn't elaborated - so how is anyone meant to spot her without basic details?

Would a more effective approach be to do outreach through regional news outlets, if this is a genuine appeal for information?

I'm not trying to suggest there is some strategy happening with this post, or that the appeal is fake. It just strikes me as not particularly effective and to be honest - a bit bizarre - a nationwide anchor asking millions of followers if they saw something strange to report it?

Just my personal observation, trying to look at this logically rather than emotionally.

 

[Nikynoo]

Google the bold terms + "movie" - the results will shock you

Abandoned Nevada mining town? Stephen Kings Desperation?

 

[Absoluterubbish]

You can just see that a deposit or withdrawal has been made and people can send money to it, but they cant take it out. Kind of like at your bank i could go deposit 1000 to your account if I knew your bank account number but I can't take it out. The only difference in crypto you can see balances in the wallets, but not owner. And then it has to be moved around to other currencies to hide it and then to cash it out, etc and some countries have very sketchy laws. Its quite bizarre and why its a fan favorite of all things illegal now including how terrorist cells move money.

Thanks. Yea seems way too complicated for me haha.

 

[Cipher Vale]

@ArabianLover brings up alot of simple but great questions. I have one to add:

5 - Why are there no specifics when asking the public for help? Usually the FBI or LE will do a presser and say things like "We are asking anyone who saw a Blue Sedan, like the one pictured, in the vicinity of Main and 1st St on Saturday night to give us a call." Instead the pleas to the public are very broad: "if you know anything." A week later and no specific request for public help is either troubling or a sign they don't need the public's help.

Also want to touch on the meds issue. I've seen plenty of times in my local news of missing people who "needed" medication or something bad happens, only to be found days later and nothing bad happened. I wonder if that's just a tactic?

 

[shonyakay]

This seems like the JonBenet Ramsey case all over again except without the body.

 

[TheDinks]

I fear this case has been botched from the get go.

The State Police should have been brought in IMMEDIATELY to help with this case. This tiny agency is not equipped.

Both Nancy’s AND Annie’s properties should have been sealed off as crime scenes. NO MATTER WHAT. Those were the last supposed places Nancy was seen alive. All vehicles should have been seized.

Then ALL the family members should have been dragged down to the police station and DRILLED. Questioned. Proved their timeline by providing corroborating evidence. Taken polygraphs, etc.

All electronic devices should have been seized.

All vehicles should have been seized.

And should have been done for purposes of elimination. Eliminate the family first. Then work out.

This is LE 101

These “statements” about driving Nancy home, at what time, by whom, and what exactly happened at the drop off don’t make any sense. Was it just the SIL? Was it Annie & the SIL? How does an 85yo woman with SERIOUS physical limitations get into her garage in 2 minutes? There should be history on that remote opener to show the average time it takes her. 2 minutes just seems way too short.

Crime scene experts should have gone over BOTH properties with a fine toothed comb. As well as all vehicles. These were places that Nancy was confirmed to be.

That first critical 48hr window has been lost here because of sloppy police work. And the delay of reporting Nancy’s disappearance.

We are now into the 2nd week and they are just now checking Annie’s house with Luminol. After the family has continued living there? And possibly doing a clean up??

They just discovered there was a camera on the roof of Nancy’s house. What else did they miss?

We have a supposed ransom demand that has not been confirmed legitimate.

My questions are these:

1. Why haven’t the family members been eliminated as suspects?

2. Why can’t they confirm the legitimacy of this ransom demand?

3. Why do they keep going back and doing basic things that should have been done on day 1 or day 2?

4. And WHY would the Sheriff go to a basketball game with a case like this going on so early in an investigation? Normally a case is worked by all involved without sleep for days. They’re not going to events. This is a very bad look.

This is heading for a catastrophic conclusion. In more ways than one.

Often when information isn't forthcoming the public think the cops have nothing BUT this time I do see a lot of red flags.

Along with what you've outlined, I can't for the life of me understand why full scale searches of the area weren't carried out for DAYS following the abduction. I don't get it.

There were searches but I didn't see full on grid searches that occur in most missing cases.

 

[turaj]

Quite contrary, IMHO. Something has changed. Seems to me, she has gotten information that the ransom appears to be proven a scam and not related to her mother's disappearance or just as she was about to hit the button on sending $6 million to someone--LE had to let her in on where they are at in the investigation and it's pointing elsewhere like many here have said. She's now in the loop with LE, so to speak.

Ok, so I'm going down this rabbit hole and now LE approaches and says hey wait a minute--here we have x,y,z. After the initial shock, your like ok. I'm composed I know what to to expect next. We need your help finding mom. Yes, I do believe that she's come to terms that this is a recovery effort based on what LE told her. Now, she's appealing to the public to find mom's body. As morbid as that is to write.
That's how I'm reading this latest video.

i feel just the same. I got the message that. ransom off the table and no point in paying it.

 

[birdbox]

I’m hearing some of these talking heads, former LE guys say it might have been a robbery and something went wrong.

Why would the robbers take NG from the house? That seems odd. If it’s a murder for the sake of inheritance, why take NG out of the house to do something that they could have done inside the house and leave her in the home?

If she knew the robber robber would be my only guess for this scenario. "Hey aren't you that kid who works at the Mexican Restaurant?"

 

[ChicagoSleuth]

The billboards go Texas, all the way to Houston. Posted yesterday with link/ source. Btw, could someone tell me how to search within a thread?

Re: searching within threads, there is a 'Search' button in the very upper right corner of the site. Once you click on it, there is an option to search within the thread. I just learned this myself yesterday

 

[tbgo]

GenLookups.com - Arizona - Pima County Brides - Page 16

I apologize if someone has already answered this, but they did get a marriage license in 2006.

Thank you for the confirmation!