The disappearance of Savannah Guthrie’s mother is now being treated as a crime, according to authorities in Arizona.
Nancy Guthrie, 84, was last seen Saturday night, Jan. 31, outside her home in Tucson. She was reported missing the following day. On Monday, Feb. 2, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos confirmed during a news conference that investigators believe she did not leave the property on her own.
“We do in fact have a crime scene. We do in fact have a crime,” Nanos said. “She did not leave on her own. We know that.”
Authorities are reviewing surveillance footage from the home and have urged neighbors to check their own Ring and security cameras for any relevant activity. The sheriff also stressed the urgency of the situation, noting that Nancy Guthrie requires daily medication and that missing doses could be life-threatening.
Nanos emphasized that her disappearance is not related to cognitive decline. “This is not dementia-related. She’s as sharp as a tack,” he said, adding that mobility issues would have made it impossible for her to leave the property by herself. “She couldn’t walk 50 yards by herself.”
Law enforcement officials are asking anyone with information about the case to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. “I need this community to step up and start giving us some calls,” Nanos said.
The update follows a public statement from Savannah Guthrie, who did not appear on the Today show on Monday. In a message shared by NBC, she thanked the public for their support while urging anyone with information to come forward.
“On behalf of our family, I want to thank everyone for the thoughts, prayers and messages of support,” Guthrie said. “Right now, our focus remains on the safe return of our dear Nancy. We thank law enforcement for their hard work on this case, and encourage anyone with information to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.”
Sheriff Nanos had previously said on Sunday that foul play could not be ruled out, citing “concerning evidence” discovered at the home. While details have not been released, he noted that the circumstances prompted an unusually high level of law enforcement response.
“This one stood out because of what was described to us at the scene and what we found just in looking at the house,” he said.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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