As authorities continue to investigate the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, investigators are scouring her Arizona community for clues in the high-profile case.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told reporters Thursday he believes Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today host Savannah Guthrie, is “still out there,” although investigators have no proof she’s still alive five days after she was reported missing from her Tucson home.
“Right now, we believe Nancy is still out there,” Nanos said. “We want her home.”
DNA tests determined blood found on Guthrie’s porch matches the 84-year-old, according to Nanos, who also provided additional details Thursday on the timeline of her disappearance.
Guthrie left her residence at 5:32 p.m. Saturday for a relative’s home and later returned at 9:48 p.m., at which point her garage door opened and closed two minutes later.
Hours later, at 1:47 a.m. Sunday, Guthrie’s doorbell camera was disconnected, Nanos said. A person had been detected on the device at 2:12 a.m., but no footage is available, the sheriff said.
Guthrie’s pacemaker then disconnected from her personal device at 2:28 a.m. on Sunday. Her relatives later visited her home at 11:56 a.m. and discovered that she was missing, Nanos said. Minutes later, someone called 911 from the residence, where deputies arrived around 12:15 p.m. Sunday.
Here’s a look at key locations linked to the case, including Guthrie’s home, the residence of her 56-year-old daughter Annie Guthrie and her church:
A deadline stated in a ransom note sent following Guthrie’s suspected abduction is set to expire later Thursday. Nanos declined to indicate what the note threatened would happen if relatives missed the 5 p.m. deadline.
Pima County Sheriff’s Department officials do not plan to hold any further press conferences unless “real evidence” presents itself, according to the sheriff.
“It’s pretty pointless to just keep hounding the same things over and over,” Nanos told reporters.
Savannah Guthrie, meanwhile, has asked her Instagram followers to pray for her mother’s safe return. She has also appealed directly to her mother’s captors while asking for proof of life. Nanos has said investigators believe Nancy Guthrie, who has limited mobility, was taken against her will.
FBI officials on Thursday also announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in Guthrie’s disappearance.
In a polarized era, the center is dismissed as bland. At Newsweek, ours is different: The Courageous Center—it’s not “both sides,” it’s sharp, challenging and alive with ideas. We follow facts, not factions. If that sounds like the kind of journalism you want to see thrive, we need you.
When you become a Newsweek Member, you support a mission to keep the center strong and vibrant. Members enjoy: Ad-free browsing, exclusive content and editor conversations. Help keep the center courageous. Join today.
