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

[Elley Mae]

I’m not questioning you directly, just responding to your comment and asking as a general question to everyone. Sorry if it seemed that way. I thought her car was towed, but have not heard anything more and not a picture anywhere.

I searched and found some articles stating such but there not approved sources, so not sure if true or not.

Jmo

 

[Lauren3432]

I have been following this case and thread pretty closely and am just now chiming in. I’ve been just as baffled as everyone else by this case. I am really curious about why people suspect the BIL or AG more than any other theory right now and am wondering if I’m missing something.

If you suspect the BIL or AG - why? And without the Ashleigh Banfield tip from her LE source, would you still? Is it just the statistics that most murders are done by a family member?

Here’s my take: I think a LE source probably did tell AB that the SIL would maybe be the primary suspect when this case first started. Like Ed Smart mentioned in his interview on CNN, they have to rule out family and the last people to see NG alive first before they can move on. Likewise, the searches at AG and SIL’s house would make sense because it was one of the two last places she was seen. They need probable cause to get a warrant, but it sounds like the search was consented to so they didn’t need it. If I was in the family’s shoes, I’d give them consent to search because they could move on to other suspects faster.

I think the reason why speculation and rumors about the SIL and AG have spread like wildfire is because LE hasn’t officially ruled anyone out. However, they’re not doing daily press conferences anymore and I am not sure if it’s always protocol to publicly rule people out. Should they? Maybe. But it also seems like they are doing things/collecting evidence that should have been done one or two days into this investigation (like asking for DNA from workers, landscapers, etc.) - which is just happening today.

I think this ransom turned out to be a huge distraction, and certain things involving searches/evidence collection weren’t done in a timely matter. I have seen nothing other than AB’s tip that leads me to suspect the SIL. I could change my mind if I hear he was busted in a lie, seen on camera somewhere he wasn’t supposed to be, doesn’t have an alibi - but so far I don’t see anything that would indicate it’s definitely him. Am I missing something? Genuinely asking.

If the ransom is in fact a hoax, I still think this could have been a sexually motivated crime where they removed the body or took her alive and killed her at a different location as to not leave a bunch of DNA evidence behind.

 

[minazoe]

here's what I don't understand..wouldn't "new leads' indicate more activity somewhere beyond the 2 Guthrie homes? instead of leading to increased activity at the two Guthrie homes?

mOO

 

[turaj]

Agreed-

I am feeling like in the second communication sent to the news station, the kidnapers could have used a nickname, or relayed a memory only she would have known as proof of life. Apparently they did not do anything like this. This would have assured a payday, but they didn't do it. My feeling it is because they couldn't.

the KOLD person at the station I think Mary Coleman is her name was clear in talking to media there was more in that communication that she will not be disclosing. She is no TMZ.

 

[K9Enzo]

I’m not questioning you directly, just responding to your comment and asking as a general question to everyone. Sorry if it seemed that way. I thought her car was towed, but have not heard anything more and not a picture anywhere.

Please, no apologies. I put information out there that I should not have without a link. I'm glad you asked about it. There's enough confusion in this case. I don't want to contribute more to it (imo)

 

[SlimPickens]

Theory #2- Someone did this purposely for ransom. Statistically unlikely. The only indication of this is the ransom note but the details in it that seem to indicate the perp was at the crime scene were all available online before the note arrived- pictures of her white apple watch, google images of her home with floodlights, which almost everyone has, news reports showing the home with a damaged floodlight before the ransom note arrived, and finally no actual proof of life. The note could have been produced from publicly available information.

The FBI, at least most of this time and via their actions and behavior, has insinuated that the ransom demand that went to TMZ and other outlets is likely authentic. I'm sure they time stamped the email that was sent and considered publicly available information at the time prior to their orchestrating a public, worldwide broadcast video plea from a grief-stricken family who would almost certainly not want to publicly broadcast their shock and grief just to help them catch an unrelated extortionist.

JMO.

 

[missy1974]

Agreed-

I am feeling like in the second communication sent to the news station, the kidnapers could have used a nickname, or relayed a memory only she would have known as proof of life. Apparently they did not do anything like this. This would have assured a payday, but they didn't do it. My feeling it is because they couldn't.

So then why did the family even do the videos last week? And seemingly respond to the 2nd one on Thursday night?

 

[Napoli]

I have read about 80% of the comments and I'm still not sure:
1. Was there a crime scene at NG house? Yes I know about the blood on the front porch but it could have happened days before.
2. Is LE convinced she was taken from her home (signs of a struggle?), or could the "abduction/assault" have occurred earlier in the evening-not even at her house, and the garage door opening was the abductor getting a "set up" in order.

WHAT DO YOU think qualifies as a crime scene? A gallon of blood? Blood drops? Why would anyone think the blood was from days ago? NG is missing. They have searched with dogs or people or drones..no signs of her. The pacemaker stopped syncing. Ransom notes were being sent. We can opine the notes were fake but NO ONE KNOWS! Since her body has not been found on or around the premises, she either wandered away and got lost in some brush (unlikely as she had problems with ambulation) Fell first in walkway near door, bled and got up? NO BLOOD TRAIL! What we dont know is why this woman was a target! They wanted to get to SG, to get her attention, is my fixed opinion. The garage door opening was when she was dropped off by SIL. Her pacemaker synced until 228 AM. She was in the home with or without the perps. No other DNA has been reported other than hers which I find extremely odd. Bottom line, IMO, she did not leave voluntarily. She was abducted. Home is a crime scene. MOO

 

[mikeshanty]

This is not intended to be a political statement, but jmo.

I feel the relative restraint of DJT could be a clue that this is known to be someone close to NG.

If we look at DJT's pattern of interventions and social media posts, we might have expected more unfiltered commentary and speculation (e.g. could it be cartels, border risks, justifying ICE). We haven't seen any of that whatsoever; just a slightly overly optimistic comment about resolving the case. He has been if anything, pretty restrained, which I view as atypical and unusual for him.

Again, absolutely not a political statement criticising or endorsing a particular party (I am not US based), but I feel it is a clue.

 

[dotr]

Wondering when SG was expected to leave for work in Italy, did the perp/s purposely kidnap her mother NG, just prior to her leaving?

 

[Cipher Vale]

I may be reading into this too much, but why not all of the hired help, just some? Unless they have a specific reason…?

One primary reason is their DNA is already on file. For example, certain jobs require DNA to be kept on file (LE and military come to mind).

 

[mikeshanty]

Wondering when SG was expected to leave for work in Italy, did the perp/s purposely kidnap her mother NG, just prior to her leaving?

She was due to fly on the Monday; she was called on the Sunday and flew to Tucson later that day.

 

[nerosleuth]

It has been 10 days since Nancy has been reported missing by her family.

I know that when folks go missing, LE has this saying, "Hope for the best, but be prepared for the worst."

I fear that for each day Nancy is still missing, the outcome will not be good at all. I also fear that she likely had an untimely demise.

 

[BrittMontero]

Forgive me if this is pinned somewhere, but is there a diagram of the house & grounds available? Any past real estate listing, etc, with more photos and info?

 

[ilovewings]

There are many possibilities in this very disturbing case. I think the most likely is that she unexpectedly passed and that wasn't part of the original plan. As such, they had the added concern of a murder or manslaughter charge. On the other hand, she could have been deceased as they were removing her from her home. There was enough blood at the scene (at least what was shown to the public to speculate she might have died right there.

At present, they may have been attempting to get money for remains, but may have abandoned the plot altogether. So hard to say. This may be younger perps who don't know what to do if NG has passed.

Truly a heartbreaking situation and a nightmare. I so pray they find these Perps.

Amateur opinion and speculation

I think your scenario makes a lot of sense. She is very very frail and they may not have accounted for this--now they are in real trouble because she passed away- yes it is truly a horror and heart breaking situation and nightmare. I too pray they find the monsters that did this dirty deed.

 

[CrimeDawg123]

I have been following this case and thread pretty closely and am just now chiming in. I’ve been just as baffled by everyone else by this case. I am really curious about why people suspect the BIL or AG more than any other theory right now and am wondering if I’m missing something.

If you suspect the BIL or AG - why? And without the Ashleigh Banfield tip from her LE source, would you still? Is it just the statistics that most murders are done by a family member?

Here’s my take: I think a LE source probably did tell AB that the SIL would maybe be the primary suspect when this case first started. Like Ed Smart mentioned in his interview on CNN, they have to rule out family and the last people to see NG alive first before they can move on. Likewise, the searches at AG and SIL’s house would make sense because it was one of the two last places she was seen. They need probable cause to get a warrant, but it sounds like the search was consented to so they didn’t need it. If I was in the family’s shoes, I’d give them consent to search because they could move on to other suspects faster.

I think the reason why speculation and rumors about the SIL and AG have spread like wildfire is because LE hasn’t officially ruled anyone out. However, they’re not doing daily press conferences anymore and I am not sure if it’s always protocol to publicly rule people out. Should they? Maybe. But it also seems like they are doing things/collecting evidence that should have been done one or two days into this investigation (like asking for DNA from workers, landscapers, etc.) - which is just happening today.

I think this ransom turned out to be a huge distraction, and certain things involving searches/evidence collection weren’t done in a timely matter. I have seen nothing other than AB’s tip that leads me to suspect the SIL. I could change my mind if I hear he was busted in a lie, seen on camera somewhere he wasn’t supposed to be, doesn’t have an alibi - but so far I don’t see anything that would indicate it’s definitely him. Am I missing something? Genuinely asking.

If the ransom is in fact a hoax, I still think this could have been a sexually motivated crime where they removed the body or took her alive and killed her at a different location as to not leave a bunch of DNA evidence behind.

I totally agree with you 100%. Every day that goes by without SIL being at the police station, without any warrants and their house being torn inside out, without even any obvious motive he would have to do it - all leads me to believe he has absolutely nothing to do with it. I think AB had a genuine tip but that was last week, and it seems pretty clear to me that LE has moved on.

It's really awful that SIL is being dragged through the mud IMO when he is a victim too. I wish WS would move on from the AB video.

 

[VTHOMM]

RE: SIL. Motive, means, opportunity just don't fit. I have to do brain acrobatics to think that he would do this. He would have to have had help and not care about what this would do to his wife and son, and he stood to benefit from an inheritance in the not-to-distant future, being AG's husband. Not likely that he has harbored a dislike for Nancy for twenty years and he and AG, at least, on the surface seem to be content with their chosen lifestyles. JMO JMO

I have no opinion who may have taken her, however, keep in mind that family members have been known to kill other family members all the time - even ones that they have "loved" for years. I would also go back to the ransom notes! Either it was from an imposter, or it was not from an imposter. BUT who knew about the phone and light? Whoever wrote the ransom knew these things & writes intellectually. I think law enforcement will figure it all out in time.

 

[SaraSmile]

Eh. The thing with a search warrant is you have to have probable cause to get one. It’s one thing if the house the crime was committed in was the same one the suspect lived at - you have probable cause for days to secure a warrant in that case. Wanting to search a family member’s house for thoroughness does not meet the threshold. They have to use consent searches initially, unless they have specific reason to believe there is a likely chance they’ll find evidence of the crime at that location.

Consent to searches hold up in court just fine. Is it better to have a warrant? Sure. Is a consent search better than no search? Also yes.

JMO

I take it, the homeowner still has to sign a form that they agree to search. That’s probably why evidence is ok in court.
Is this how it works?

 

[turaj]

This whole story is getting more and more convoluted . Take the church call. Sheriff verbally mentions it in presser.....then it is on timeline....then taken off. All this time most are thinking she was not seen in her local church...friend calls family. Ok...then the DM story that she goes online which now seems to be true...except no wait now the story goes to NG going to a friends and they watch a NY service together. Boy did that evolve. With LE giving so few pressers or updates speculation runs wild. I imagine the actual people involved and events are something we have not even thought of yet. The only thing that seems clear to me is I don't think NG will be found alive.

 

[raja]

The fact is that we don’t know if the correspondence received on Monday was in fact the exact same email TMZ received on Wednesday. The bitcoin account could be a completely different account than the one mentioned to TMZ and it could have been a ruse. The Wednesday email could have been a “hey take my first correspondence seriously”. To me it is obvious that they wanted the supposed kidnapping to be made public. Why would they double down with Wednesday email?