Nancy Guthrie84 years old, mother of American journalist and television presenter Savannah Guthrie, was reported missing last week after disappearing from her home near Arizona, in the United States.
Authorities believe that Nancy was kidnapped from her home, but have kept quiet about the details that led to this conclusion regarding the elderly woman.
She was last seen at her home on Saturday night (31), and police say it is essential to find her quickly, especially as she is without the essential medication she takes daily.
When police arrived at the home Sunday, they found things that were “very concerning,” Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said, prompting a criminal investigation.
Savannah Guthrie, who traveled to Tucson after learning of her mother’s disappearance, is now asking for prayers for her family.
What happened?
Guthrie was last seen on Saturday (31), when her family took her home around 9:30 p.m., Nanos told CNN. They took her into the house and she went to bed, the sheriff said.
When she didn’t show up at church on Sunday morning, a fellow church member called her family, who came to her house around 11 a.m. to look for her. Then, a family member called the police to report the disappearance.
“Something they told me about that scene made me believe there was more than just one person missing,” Nanos said of the decision to launch a criminal investigation. “We still have hope that she is alive and we will continue with the search and rescue.”
Nanos said investigators believe she was kidnapped from her bed, “but they can’t say why.” Authorities do not know what time Guthrie was taken, Sheriff Nanos added.
What did investigators find in the house?
Police are treating Guthrie’s home as a crime scene and have described the circumstances of her disappearance as suspicious, the sheriff said.
The case is “not related to dementia,” Nanos said at a press conference Monday morning, and Guthrie is “in full possession of her mental faculties” and “very lucid.”
But she also has limited mobility and “couldn’t walk 50 feet,” the sheriff said, leading investigators to believe she was taken from her home.
“She didn’t get lost,” Nanos said.
“We also found some evidence at the crime scene that points to her being taken from there against her will. I can’t go into details,” said Nanos, explaining that this is to protect the integrity of the case.
He also declined to say whether Guthrie was injured during the incident.
Investigators are analyzing DNA evidence found at the crime scene, the sheriff told the news affiliate. CNNKVOA.
Questioned by CNN Whether Guthrie could have been the victim of a kidnapping for extortion, given his daughter’s notoriety, Nanos said that is not the current line of investigation, but that “we will never rule out that possibility.”
Investigators also don’t believe it was a home invasion or a robbery gone wrong, Nanos told MS NOW, adding that that possibility also hasn’t been ruled out.
Right now, “time is crucial” to find her, the sheriff said at the news conference. Guthrie takes medication daily and that “withdrawal of treatment could be fatal,” he said. However, there is no indication that there is any threat to public safety, Nanos said.
Who is involved in the investigation?
Local police are leading the investigation, and FBI agents from across Arizona are “fully engaged” and offering numerous technical resources to local authorities, he told CNN a law enforcement source familiar with the investigation. This includes assisting in analyzing data from cell phone towers near the Guthrie home.
One of investigators’ priorities right now is to download security footage from the home, he said. Private companies such as Google and Apple are also offering assistance, the sheriff said.
Authorities are asking for the community’s help, asking neighbors to review video recordings of their homes and report any suspicious activity. Any information could help investigators piece together what happened, he said.
“I need the community to mobilize and start calling, let us know if you see anything,” Nanos said.
What did Savannah Guthrie say about this?
Savannah Guthrie is in Arizona, Sheriff Nanos said. The “Today” program, which Savannah hosts on NBC, began on Monday (2) with a statement from her, which said:
“On behalf of our family, I want to thank everyone for the messages of support, prayers and positive thoughts. At this time, our focus remains on the safe return of our beloved mother.”
The statement also asked that anyone with information contact the sheriff’s office.
The host’s security team has also contacted the sheriff’s department, Nanos said, adding that authorities are not aware of any threats against the TV host.
In an Instagram post Monday night, Savannah Guthrie wrote, “Thank you for joining in our prayers for our beloved mother, our dear Nancy,” and described her mother as “a woman of deep conviction, a good and faithful servant.”
“Lift up your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be supported by them at this very moment. We need you,” she wrote, quoting a passage from the Bible before ending with a solemn message: “Bring her home.”
Savannah Guthrie always spoke highly of her mother and the close relationship they had. During her 80th birthday celebration on the “Today” show, Savannah Guthrie described her as someone who “lived a life of integrity and loyalty.”
She talked about how her mother raised three children after the death of their father, who passed away before their senior year of Savannah high school.
“She faced unimaginable challenges in her life with grit, without self-pity, with determination and always, always with unwavering faith,” Savannah Guthrie said during the tribute.
