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

[MollyHarps]

Thinking out loud...

When a body is taken, common motives (at a high level) include:

1. Delay discovery / buy time (to flee, establish an alibi, or avoid an immediate manhunt).
2. Prevent identification of the offender (e.g., the victim knew them or could tie them to the crime).
3. Control the narrative (staging it as a missing person instead of a murder).
4. Secondary-location crime (the main event wasn’t the burglary—it was the abduction/assault, and the house was just the first scene).
5. Panic/irrational decision-making after violence (offenders sometimes do illogical things under adrenaline and fear).

To me this suggests something more targeted than opportunistic theft, such as:

• the victim may have recognized the offender
• the offender may have had a prior connection to the home/victim
• or the intent may have been abduction from the start.

Very good post @Curiousobserver

I’d add one other motive is to try and hide what you did to the victim IE sexual assault (like the Dee Martin case) the longer the body isn’t found for the harder it is to be able to prove sexual assault.

I do worry that this will be the case here - LE must have something to suggest a time frame of around 1am-4am - that is a pretty long time frame just for a simple abduction

 

[Chimera]

Its reported now that her son in law was the last to see her and “checked in on her”

Savannah's sister's (Anna ?) spouse ?
I didn't see that anywhere, must have missed it.

 

[justtrish]

I agree. I now think that “50 yards” comment was said to indicate that this isn’t someone who would go off on a night hike out into the desert. Obviously “50 yards” or 50 feet or whatever was said is just an estimate, to explain she didn’t just walk off so far she can’t be found.

I also have wondered if what was meant by that 50-yard comment was 50 yards without her cane or walker. If all of her walking aides were found in the house, then it's reasonable to think she didn't go outside for some reason to "walk" weather it was getting fresh air, walking a pet, or getting mail, etc and not bring one of her canes or a walker. IMO

 

[Chimera]

@Knitpicker where did you see this??

Ita.
Have been looking around and didn't read about it yet.
Imo.

 

[Strangeworld]

New info on blood found at the scene and Nancy Guthrie's Pacemaker, from a law enforcement source

The Pacemaker last synced with her Apple devices around 2 a.m. Sunday, according to the source.Her Apple watch was still on the charger. Phone left at home

As for the blood, according to the source, a light trail was seen outside. It was described as a "drip" — more like a bloody nose than substantial bleeding. The trail ended where the walkway from her door meets the driveway.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2018701944433377313

https://twitter.com/x/status/2018702344939016564

Aah, so this has helped them with timeframe. After 2am she is likely too far away from her phone to sync?

 

[Knitpicker]

Ita.
Have been looking around and didn't read about it yet.
Imo.

Exclusive: Savannah Guthrie's Brother-in-Law Said to Have Been Last Person to See Her Alive, Phone and Handbag Left Behind - Showbiz411

I’m getting word from Tuscon, Arizona sources about Nancy Guthrie, 84, mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie. According to insiders, there are at least 15 PCSD deputies now working on the case with the FBI in Pima County. Sources say the last person who saw Nancy alive on Saturday night was...

www.showbiz411.com

 

[Vaderman]

New info on blood found at the scene and Nancy Guthrie's Pacemaker, from a law enforcement source

The Pacemaker last synced with her Apple devices around 2 a.m. Sunday, according to the source.Her Apple watch was still on the charger. Phone left at home

As for the blood, according to the source, a light trail was seen outside. It was described as a "drip" — more like a bloody nose than substantial bleeding. The trail ended where the walkway from her door meets the driveway.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2018701944433377313

https://twitter.com/x/status/2018702344939016564

Well, this definitely makes it sound more like an abduction than an outright murder at the house.

 

[justtrish]

New info on blood found at the scene and Nancy Guthrie's Pacemaker, from a law enforcement source

The Pacemaker last synced with her Apple devices around 2 a.m. Sunday, according to the source.Her Apple watch was still on the charger. Phone left at home

As for the blood, according to the source, a light trail was seen outside. It was described as a "drip" — more like a bloody nose than substantial bleeding. The trail ended where the walkway from her door meets the driveway.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2018701944433377313

https://twitter.com/x/status/2018702344939016564

This makes so much sense on how they narrowed it down to a specific time. I am guessing her pacemaker won't sync without her watch or phone being near the pacemaker. It also is comforting to know it was a small amount of blood. It's still alarming that she was abducted and bleeding, but it doesn't sound like they have an amount of blood or info to say she is deceased. I will remain hopeful that they can find her alive.

 

[Strangeworld]

I really think they know who did this now, they are drip feeding information, we've seen this before. How sad that someone she knew is likely to have done this. I hope it's not someone in her inner circle that the family trusted

Maybe it is someone who was associated in a paid capacity providing services and something either happened or changed in this relationship. Don't want to point the finger this way though because they may have nothing to do with it, just pondering

 

[Inthedetails]

This is really scary, considering the area, and how many elderly single wealthy women live in the area.

When I lived in Miami, there were a lot of home invasions, and they tied them all to having had a specific business doing maintenance. Unfortunately, there were never any arrests made.

When Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped, I remember an article where the FBI had listed how many people had access to the Smarts home, it was staggering, with friends, relatives, household workers (one of which, was her kidnapper, Brian David Mitchell, who Mrs. Smart met on a street corner and offered him a job at her home!)

We are extremely careful now with who comes to our home. Making sure to use licensed businesses, or recommendations from friends.

We've had waves of break-ins or package thefts in my neighborhood and they seem to end with the arrest of one perp - it's not a chronic problem but periodic waves committed with one person responsible (or so I like to think, I suppose). That's why I'm wondering if there have been recent break-ins in Nancy's neighborhood recently.

Having said that, my main theory at the moment is the perp is someone who knew of Nancy, probably not directly but perhaps through others or just from being a resident in the area. That's my current theory, subject to change at any time.


jmopinion

 

[jillybean51]

Aah, so this has helped them with timeframe. After 2am she is likely too far away from her phone to sync?

Too far… or worse.

 

[Lebowski]

is it public info what medications she is on and why?

 

[Lebowski]

Too far… or worse.

just getting to the driveway might have been too far for a sync, and we know she was bleeding (and therefore alive) at that point.

 

[DizzyB]

Don’t knock long term care, it can keep people in their homes instead of paying a facility an ungodly amount of money, to be attended to by underpaid employees who have too many people to assist. Just make sure to purchase Inflation Guard.

The information coming out is getting more detailed, and it feels like maybe we should go back and take a look at exactly what was said-and unsaid.

 

[Arkay]

I woke up hoping there would be, well, closure. I'm sorry to sound so defeatist but it just will take a miracle for this poor woman (dependent on medication just to live) at this point.

I just want to add this. I work with the elderly for a living. I'm getting ready to go to my assisted living/memory care job right now. Average age is 88. I adore the residents with all my heart. They are like family to me. It's also cash only, so they are wealthy residents paying up to 15k-20k a month.

Nancy Guthrie decision to age in place is 100% what I would choose. All the money in the world, no thank you to a nursing home. Probably sounds hypocritical of me. But I try my best to step in when family members disregard their elderly. Be a caring light for them when no one bothers to visit anymore. Make no doubt about it, that's what our society tends to do except for some lucky few. One of my most beloved residents is 98 years old. We do a conga dance into the dining room every night, she is a treasure.

What's important, a lesson for all of us regardless of age, is that in this increasingly isolated world, remember to stay connected to your community. To your people. To your world. Too many elderly are truly on their own. If they went missing no one would even notice. Newspapers pile up, mail pile up. Happened to my neighbor. They found his body three weeks after this poor soul died alone. It's absolutely tragic.

But her church missed her, her daughter had seen her the night before, neighbors reportedly saw her walking her dog(s?), camera's were set up (I assume) to monitor for possible fall risk.

She was connected, loved and now very much missed. You can do everything right and tragedy still finds you.

Stay connected. We need each other for mental and physical health as well as safety. I am going to give an extra hug to my residents today. I am praying for Ms. Guthrie and peace and comfort for all her loved ones.

Thank you @SammiSleuthing for the love and care that you put into your work, and the respect you show to your residents.

In my mom’s memory care, there is one aide like that. I adore her. She will call me when I’m in New York if any concerns arise about my mother.

It’s a difficult job that I could never do, but unfortunately the majority of the aides do the minimum, even though we are paying for the highest level of care, but I’ve seen too many times that residents are begging for help and the aides are on their phones ignoring them.

 

[Knitpicker]

Ita.
Have been looking around and didn't read about it yet.
Imo.

PS it is strange that this site posted that about the brother in law. Perhaps he got info that they are keeping from the public now until they make sure? Speculation for sure, but if he drops her off at 10 and she is taken/harmed at 2 am…just putting it all together.. And the ‘checking on her” is strange if he drops her off at 10…when would he need to check on her?
Did you read it and what do you think?

 

[Razz]

is it public info what medications she is on and why?

Yes, very important. Ambien is a very strange sleep aid where people have been known to wander inside and outside of their homes.

 

[GatorFL]

PS it is strange that this site posted that about the brother in law. Perhaps he got info that they are keeping from the public now until they make sure? Speculation for sure, but if he drops her off at 10 and she is taken/harmed at 2 am…just putting it all together.. And the ‘checking on her” is strange if he drops her off at 10…when would he need to check on her?
Did you read it and what do you think?

When I take an elderly person at home, part of that is making sure they're comfortable in their bed, chair, etc. I don't leave until that has been accomplished. Perhaps the same thing as "checking on her." Would be super easy for authorities to rule the SIL out if he was at his home from 1-4am.

 

[Knitpicker]

Thank you @SammiSleuthing for the love and care that you put into your work, and the respect you show to your residents.

In my mom’s memory care, there is one aide like that. I adore her. She will call me when I’m in New York if any concerns arise about my mother.

It’s a difficult job that I could never do, but unfortunately the majority of the aides do the minimum, even though we were paying for the highest level of care, but I’ve seen too many times that residents are begging for help and the aides are on their phones ignoring them.

My mother complained that the women “sat there and did nothing” lol. But they were not required to cook or clean.

 

[CuriousCricket]

Thinking about her having a car, but also her family picking her up and dropping her off on that Saturday before she went missing. I think it's reasonable to think she could drive short distances maybe to church or a dr. appointment during the daytime and maybe not want to drive at night or for longer distances. Maybe her daughter picked her up because of the distance or simply because she would be out past dark? Maybe she drives herself to church if it's only a few miles away? IMO

snipped for focus: her driving

Perhaps the kids picking her up was a pattern that just developed over the years. In my family, the "kids" always just popped in and out of the house we grew up in. It was far more common than our parents visiting us.

If we were going somewhere, I dropped by their house. Both were still driving in their 80s, but if we were going out, I drove short distances and Daddy and I shared driving long distances.

It was a routine that developed without any conscious discussion that I recall.