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

[1.618]

Perhaps the ransoms are real. We may be giving the perp too much credit when we point out that that’s not how you conduct a ransom - contacting TMZ and sending it days later. The perp could simply be dumb. Maybe now they’re trying to pretend that they’re not the mastermind but someone who knows where she is. It sounds really stupid but this person may just not be experienced. I guess it could really be kidnap for ransom. Maybe they didn’t have enough time to leave a note at the home or hadn’t thought of how to get in touch with the family, or the way they planned on doing it didn’t work out so they ended up contacting the media. A note could have left DNA so they had another way in mind. We may be making this case way more difficult than it needs to be. They may just not know what they’re doing. And BTW, know about bitcoin doesn’t equal intelligence. Most people under 45 know how it works and tons have used it. Many sites give you the option of paying with it.

I think the ransom messages were sent to news stations local to Tucson first but didn't garner widespread attention so then they started sending them to TMZ, which to me weeds out certain age groups (i.e. those above 50, although I could wrong about this). The first ransom message was received by KOLD news station at 5pm on Monday Feb 2nd (the day after she was reported missing).

Authorities aware of ‘possible’ ransom note linked to ‘Today’ show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie’s mom

Investigators found signs of forced entry at the Arizona home of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie’s mother.

www.kold.com

 

[snarast]

It’s an interesting theory, but IMO it’s doubtful.

Well, let me take that back because who knows what a madman would do?

But I think if the culprit has any sense at all, and feels that he’s never going to get the money, why wouldn’t he instead just relinquish the idea of getting the Bitcoin and then just disappear into his pre-Nancy life?

He may well worry about having to always look over his shoulder if LE succeeds in identifying him, that is true I guess. But killing himself seems extreme to me.

As for disposing of NG in a lake, I think if I were a kidnapper/murderer, that wouldn't be an option because Nancy’s body could eventually surface on the shore.

I would guess it would be much easier to bury her in the desert somewhere. Then LE has to get extremely lucky to find her, rather than in a lake which has defined boundaries and where bodies do tend to emerge.

JMO of course,

So the Tucson desert is one of the best areas to dump a body that I can think of. It’s a scary place and it is vast. It’s > 100F most of the time. In the nonexistent shade.

 

[TheDinks]

Yes, he's been interviewed multiple times. Hence the comment "inserting himself into the situation". He lives 15 minutes (or miles) away. I can't remember which. Name is Jason. Don't have a last name but would love it if someone has it.

He's 20-25 mins away from the immediate area <modsnip>

 

[watson1]

Yes, he's been interviewed multiple times. Hence the comment "inserting himself into the situation". He lives 15 minutes (or miles) away. I can't remember which. Name is Jason. Don't have a last name but would love it if someone has it.

if you watch the video of "j" at entry # 26,253 at one point he pulls his hand out of his pocket and he has quite the ring on his ring finger; which is interesting, in my opinion, fwiw.

 

[Andreee]

dbm

 

[LRinCA]

DBM

 

[Gemmie]

It's going to be wild if the kidnapper is hiding in plain sight and it turns out to be a neighbor. There was a case like that where I grew up. Teen girl went missing, exhaustive search. Turned out she was buried in her next door neighbor's basement the whole time. The guy had been questioned by police several times and never pinged their radar.

It wouldn't surprise me in the least if this ends up the case.

 

[Friday Fan]

So the Tucson desert is one of the best areas to dump a body that I can think of. It’s a scary place and it is vast. It’s > 100F most of the time. In the nonexistent shade.

I really don't think someone took her to Mexico.

 

[agnesgrey]

I really don't think someone took her to Mexico.

Literally my only questions right now are who, why, and where did they put her body

 

[RedHaus]

So the Tucson desert is one of the best areas to dump a body that I can think of. It’s a scary place and it is vast. It’s > 100F most of the time. In the nonexistent shade.

Oh I agree.

First disposal choice would be the desert. But if the perp had some desperate and delusional intent to take his life with NG's to hurt SG, then lake. IMO.

 

[Keep it as a thought]

First time poster so be gentle, and I apologize if someone has already speculated on this or if my speculation isn’t allowed. Re JM or anyone who has publicly inserted themselves into the media conversation by locating themselves near dear NG’s, it occurred to me that this could be to provide an alibi should their DNA be found near the scene. A covering of bases approach. Might also be why some on here have suggested shoes being worn looking similar to those in video - in case a positive match was found it would, again, provide a rationale. “Of course there’s a match, I have been present here trying to help etc, etc”. Still hoping for resolution, this case has left me heartbroken for her beloved family. MOO

 

[RedHaus]

First time poster so be gentle, and I apologize if someone has already speculated on this or if my speculation isn’t allowed. Re JM or anyone who has publicly inserted themselves into the media conversation by locating themselves near dear NG’s, it occurred to me that this could be to provide an alibi should their DNA be found near the scene. A covering of bases approach. Might also be why some on here have suggested shoes being worn looking similar to those in video - in case a positive match was found it would, again, provide a rationale. “Of course there’s a match, I have been present here trying to help etc, etc”. Still hoping for resolution, this case has left me heartbroken for her beloved family. MOO

Welcome to Websleuths, @Keep it as a thought!

 

[Winter67]

First time poster so be gentle, and I apologize if someone has already speculated on this or if my speculation isn’t allowed. Re JM or anyone who has publicly inserted themselves into the media conversation by locating themselves near dear NG’s, it occurred to me that this could be to provide an alibi should their DNA be found near the scene. A covering of bases approach. Might also be why some on here have suggested shoes being worn looking similar to those in video - in case a positive match was found it would, again, provide a rationale. “Of course there’s a match, I have been present here trying to help etc, etc”. Still hoping for resolution, this case has left me heartbroken for her beloved family. MOO

You never know what people here come up with and all good points. That's why I love this forum. Someone from here long ago pointed out the ring. Saw it first and now all over the news. It's a puzzle that's for sure.

 

[FromGermany1]

The Olympics will end on Febr 22nd - will Nancy be given back to her daughter S then?

 

[Bluewing3102]

Anyone who's listening to scanners know what's going on in Tucson right now?

 

[Kemug]

After nearly 3 weeks, as Manuel in "Faulty Towers" used to say, "I know narthing"!

 

[Turkeytrot]

Anyone who's listening to scanners know what's going on in Tucson right now?

View attachment 646540

Hmm. I tried to tune in to the Tucson PD feed and it says online but won't connect for me.

Edit - got it to connect after closing out and loading back in

 

[watson1]

Anyone who's listening to scanners know what's going on in Tucson right now?

View attachment 646540

in my opinion, they may have been keeping an eye on someone's movements. the flight circled around the river road area, then down oracle road, then circled around 2 other areas. altitude stayed mostly between 3000-3700 feet - too high to be doing sniffer checks for NG's pacemaker. fwiw my guess is they were keeping eyes on. MOO. https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/N305PD

 

[snarast]

If the kidnapping is aimed toward S he/they might want to reach out to her somehow.

 

[LRinCA]

Oh I agree.

First disposal choice would be the desert. But if the perp had some desperate and delusional intent to take his life with NG's to hurt SG, then lake. IMO.

He/she would have to drive quite a distance to find a lake. IMO/JMO.

One time my husband and I drove from Las Cruces, NM back to the Phoenix area via a very deserted southern route (backroads) that dropped down from west of Lordsburg (NM) and went through Douglas (AZ), Bisbee (AZ), Tombstone (AZ) and then up to Tucson and back home. The area was so desolate. Miles and miles without seeing another car other than border patrol. So many mountain ranges and nooks/crannies. I actually felt a bit afraid on that route because I realized how alone we were. I keep thinking about that entire area in relation to this case.