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

[rosesfromangels]

I have seen quite a few posts through this thread commenting on Nancy’s personality - she was sharp as a tack, she is a feisty lady, nobody’s fool type comments and what a wonderful, lovely person she is. We don’t actually know what she is like as a person, I just find it a bit odd a whole personality is being made up.

This is to keep the public empathetic and engaged. To keep looking for her. Maybe even to attempt to humanize her to the Perps as well. I hope guilt is eating them alive, but I wouldn't count on it.

Amateur opinion and speculation

 

[VegasGirl35]

Yep. Money talks, and so does a lesser sentence in lieu of information. It will come down to that, and soon.

Amateur opinion and speculation only

100% and first one in the door gets the deal. The paranoia has to be in overdrive right now.

 

[barth00]

Nancy does seem that way here:

Ugh every time I watch new clips of her, my heart breaks a little bit more.

 

[SouthAussie]

" .... former FBI hostage negotiator, Chip Massey, said he believed Nancy Guthrie's kidnappers would soon be caught.

Referring to the video images of a masked man on her doorstep shortly before she disappeared, he said somebody somewhere would recognise the suspect based either on their behaviour or their body language.

"The attention this case has generated is unprecedented," he said, "and while a mask can conceal a face it can't conceal a person."

"So many people now seem to be engaged with this search that it is going to very hard for this individual to function. That sort of scrutiny makes it impossible for a suspect to move, and creates a sense of the world 'closing in' on them. That's when they start to make mistakes," Massey said. "

An abduction, a Bitcoin demand and a TV icon - why Nancy Guthrie's case has gripped the US

 

[Skigh]

I truly hope that Sheriff Nanos’ despairing talk is just some kind of ploy.

In my experience it is unheard of for an LE officer in charge to publicly voice his exhaustion and his doubts about finding a missing victim.

If it’s to blindside the criminals then maybe, but IMO it would have to be run by the Guthries first, lest they lose all confidence in Tucson LE.

I have a brother-in-law who’s an NYPD captain, and a cousin who is a Federal detective. I cannot imagine either of them EVER telling the public that they’re so tired and so pessimistic, even if they are.

Particularly in a case that has drawn endless publicity. You don’t show your cards, you don’t make it about you, you don’t cause the family to become hopeless.

I sadly do believe at this point that NG has likely not survived, and his “could take years” comment referenced finding her body. But don’t say that out loud!

Again hoping this is just some wily police tactic and not a “cri de coeur” of futility.

JMO

You are more charitable than me. I saw the comments as a mirror into the soul of the person who made them. The only thoughts he has is about himself. How dare he say he is exhausted,what about all the officers working for hours in the heat What about Nancy's family. I bet they haven't slept much .He did not look exhausted at the game he had time to attend.
How very unaware can someone be to say a missing 84 year old woman might not be found for months or years. Even if that could be the case, how absolutely callous to say that in public. Where is the hope and strength and message that he and his officers are doing everything they can do to bring Nancy back to her family as soon as they can.

 

[TheDinks]

I wonder if it will all come down to who's willing to snitch? Every group always has a weak link.

This. Think Luis Rivera... first to co-operate gets the deal.

 

[aafromaa]

Who does Nano report to? Who is his boss? I live in a very large city where we don't really have a strong presence of sheriffs, state police or county police. Our police commissioner reports directly to the mayor.

A county sheriff is elected - he does not report to a city official - not even to a county judge - he reports only to the voters.

 

[Emerald1328]

That’s just weird. Who thinks of getting their pool cleaned in the midst of a horrific crime at the location of the crime scene? I’m thinking something else was going on with this.

Life goes on, even when we want the world to stop if we’re in pain. I’m assuming the pool cleaners are on contract and come out on a pre-set, recurring basis. Pools take a lot of work to maintain and can get overrun and unmanageable in a short period of time. We wouldn’t expect loved ones of people missing to not cut their grass and let it get 2’ tall, and the pool is basically the same situation, IMO. Plus, when untreated water becomes stagnant, it grows bacteria. Any domestic animals or wildlife that come into contact with it at that point can face a serious threat to their lives.

 

[GMG1999]

Yes. Absolutely. We’ve seen the type before, how many times now in true crime?

What anre your thoughts about the messages to TMZ about the tip? This doesn’t make sense to me at all. If you’re going to be kidnapping a famous person‘s mother, you’re going to keep the operation small. Surely, a need to know basis!

But we’re led to believe that there’s this guy, an underling, perhaps with a grudge against the kidnapper(s); unable to fund his own protection, but has up-to-date insider knowledge of this abduction. Is this operation so massive that they could have people that can’t be tracked down and killed if they start talking to TMZ about fingering the suspect or suspects?

And it’s this underling character that points the finger at Mexico. He gives a two hour radius and claims it’s an international operation. On the Venn diagram of those two things, Mexico is in the middle.

And he says there are multiple suspects, which leads me to believe there is only one suspect. And that suspect is also sending the secondary tip money messages. So, he’s local. IMO

I think I have concluded in my mind that the original plan was to try a kidnapping for money, but she died before they could get proof of life and the money. At this point, all we can do is trust that the Police have the resources they need to find out who committed the crime.

 

[acutename]

There are gangs along the border and many come from Mexico. It is what it is and doesn't have to imply anything else.

physical anthropology says unlikely:

The long and short of height preferences in Mexico​

Mexico News Daily
https://mexiconewsdaily.com › Mexico Living




Jul 8, 2023 — Height plays an important part in dating in many cultures, but that's not the case in Mexico, where men average under 5 feet, 7 inches tall.

 

[K.jill]

Assuming the abductor and ransom writer are the same person.
What type of criminal has communicated with LE or media? I assume it is rare but idk.

 

[stmichael]

Maybe the perp was stalking SG for sometime. He may even have had a job he purposely took to get inside NG's house. Hell, he could have even worked for a security company. Perp wanted to know everything about SG.. He was focused on everything SG, NBC, Instagram, every TV appearance. imo. Might have even installed cameras that he then knew how to evade and dismantle.. He forgot about the Nest or that it was no longer operable. IMO, the perp was not stupid. He has confounded the authorities and captured his prey. NOW, he has not received the ransom nor sufficient begging from SG and he is boxed in. IMO, he never really wanted the ransom. He is taunting SG.. In his mind, she has spurned him. JMO

I agree this could be a scenario in a case, but this is not consistent with the actions of the masked man at the front door of the Nest cam footage. He seemed unprepared totally for an anticipated doorbell cam and went about in a very awkward way disarming it. Anyone dealing with neutralizing cameras would have spray paint or something else prepared. Even the reported "smashing" of things at the scene seems off. Very bumbling, rough disabling of things that could be handled much easier, even by a novice.

Regarding the "he's confounded authorities" -"it's better to be lucky than good'. It took almost two months to arrest Kohberger a rank amateur who drove his own car to the scene and left a freakin' porous leather sheath there that matched the murder weapon.

NG's house was an ideal blind spot of a scene (dark, low security, set-back and secluded, no street cams) and she was an easy mark (84 year old w/ pacemaker and hearing aides living alone)

Regarding taunting SG. I don't see that anymore. We really just had 1 ransom note emailed, a follow up that was never confirmed. (then 3 tipster/snitch reward requests). We've seen cases even before the internet where serial killers etc. have taunted more in the press. There's really none of that here. Unless there's more going on behind the scenes and suppressed in the media. I just don't see that here and it would be too easy to get their agenda out, through socials, podcasters, other postings etc.. I see this as an opportunistic play gone wrong by someone in over their head or not as good as they thought they were.

 

[LRinCA]

That’s just weird. Who thinks of getting their pool cleaned in the midst of a horrific crime at the location of the crime scene? I’m thinking something else was going on with this.

I don't find it strange at all. A pool is a big investment and it doesn't take long for them to deteriorate. Proper chemicals are absolutely necessary so you don't end up with a big algae pond.

 

[Napoli]

If the FBI helped author the INSTAGRAM pleas as many have suggested, why oh why, did SG say "we will pay" then not pay? What was the point in doing that? That would only enrage a narcissistic, attention , perp, IMO. That was all not just confusing but frankly disappointing. Saying you are going to pay then not doing that is another misstep. IMO People are highly underestimating this perp. MOO

 

[scaredtopost]

The pictures of SG's husband at the airport were too much for me. Why is this newsworthy? Please give this grieving family some peace! As much as all of us here are hanging on every crumb of this nothing burger, I believe we would all prefer a media blackout if it means the perpetrator would be caught and brought to justice and NG returned to her family. LE needs to be able to work without worrying if the media will be following them and broadcasting their every move. Yes, I want to know what's going on because I want this case to be solved. But, not at the expense of jeopardizing the investigation or more importantly, invading the privacy of a family experiencing an unthinkable tragedy. Sorry, just needed to vent. JMO, MOO, etc.

 

[avalonisland]

At one time my in-laws had a mind-boggling amount of cash in their at-home safe. Worse yet, it was in a cabinet in the garage. It was bolted in, but it made me even more nervous when my MIL was living there by herself.

84 year old woman with mobility and health issues getting dropped off 120 seconds from time garage door opened by family members is a red flag. I truly believe something happened to Nancy by someone super close to her that she recently interacted with on 1/31/26. Based on all presented in media, it just appears to me the suspect at house tampering with the cameras is an aftermath to coverup what happened to Nancy prior to 2/1/26.

 

[Cindizzi]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2022838368409694336

 

[SlimPickens]

Yes, they absolutely can under the Investigative Assistance for Violent Crimes Act. It’s literally the entire premise of Safe Streets Task Forces.

For a WS-centric example, the FBI obtained search warrants to search the house and property of RL in the Delphi case, which was a state case the FBI was providing assistance on. There were never federal charges pending or investigated in that case.

JMO

The warrants the FBI assisted with in the Delphi case were state warrants issued by state judges.

RL Warrant

JMO

 

[Derdew]

84 year old woman with mobility and health issues getting dropped off 120 seconds from time garage door opened by family members is a red flag. I truly believe something happened to Nancy by someone super close to her that she recently interacted with on 1/31/26. Based on all presented in media, it just appears to me the suspect at house tampering with the cameras is an aftermath to coverup what happened to Nancy prior to 2/1/26.

But if she opened the garage herself by a keypad, all she had to do is walk in and then push a button to close it.

 

[rosesfromangels]

" .... former FBI hostage negotiator, Chip Massey, said he believed Nancy Guthrie's kidnappers would soon be caught.

Referring to the video images of a masked man on her doorstep shortly before she disappeared, he said somebody somewhere would recognise the suspect based either on their behaviour or their body language.

"The attention this case has generated is unprecedented," he said, "and while a mask can conceal a face it can't conceal a person."

"So many people now seem to be engaged with this search that it is going to very hard for this individual to function. That sort of scrutiny makes it impossible for a suspect to move, and creates a sense of the world 'closing in' on them. That's when they start to make mistakes," Massey said. "

An abduction, a Bitcoin demand and a TV icon - why Nancy Guthrie's case has gripped the US

BBM. Agree completely. The one thing Chip didn't mention is that I believe the masked Door Cam Guy is just the henchman. I believe the "boss" is sitting comfy in his den watching Harvey Levin talk about him and enjoying of second of his new found "fame".

Amateur opinion and speculation only