What began as an ordinary, comforting family evening has turned into a nightmare for the Guthrie family.
Just hours after sharing dinner and a relaxed game night, Savannah Guthrie’s 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, vanished from her Tucson home — a disappearance now being treated by authorities as a possible abduction.
Dinner, Mahjong, and No Signs of Trouble
Savannah’s sister, Annie Guthrie, had spent Saturday evening with their mother, enjoying dinner and playing mahjong, a game Nancy clearly loved and had even posted about days earlier.
Nothing about the night felt unusual.
According to Annie, her mother showed no strange behavior, no confusion, and no warning signs that something was wrong.
After the evening wrapped up, Nancy returned to her $1 million home in Tucson’s upscale Catalina Foothills neighborhood around 9:45 p.m.
That was the last time family members saw her.
A Missing Person Report That Sparked Alarm
Concern set in the following day when a member of Nancy’s church called the family to say she hadn’t shown up for services.
That absence was immediately troubling.
Relatives rushed to Nancy’s home, searched for her themselves, and quickly realized something was very wrong.
By around noon on Sunday, they reported her missing.
Law enforcement soon began treating the case with urgency — and then with even greater concern.
Why Investigators Believe Nancy Didn’t Leave Voluntarily
Authorities initially launched a full-scale search, deploying police dogs, drones, and even a sheriff’s department plane.
But by Monday, those efforts stopped for a chilling reason: investigators no longer believe Nancy walked away on her own.
Sheriff Chris Nanos explained that Nancy has limited mobility and relies on daily medication that she did not take with her.
Her phone, wallet, and car were all left behind.
Those details, combined with other findings at the home, led detectives to conclude that her disappearance appears criminal in nature.
“She did not just walk out of there,” Nanos said, emphasizing that evidence at the scene suggests she was taken.
A Family That Has Faced Sudden Loss Before
For Savannah and her siblings, this ordeal reopens old wounds.
Their father, Charles Guthrie, died suddenly of a heart attack when Savannah was just 16 — a loss she has described as devastating and life-altering.
Through that heartbreak, Nancy became the emotional anchor for her children.
Annie once called her mother “our bright north star,” crediting her with holding the family together during unimaginable grief.
Savannah has repeatedly spoken about her mother’s strength, describing her as “iron” and “granite strong,” someone who quietly put aside her own pain to make sure her children survived emotionally.
Letting Go, Even When It Hurt
Savannah has also shared deeply personal memories of how difficult it was to leave her mother when she accepted her first news job at 21.
She worried about leaving Nancy alone — until her mother gently but firmly encouraged her to go.
“If you can’t leave me,” Nancy told her, “then I didn’t do my job right.”
That moment, Savannah said, gave her permission to build her life, even though the separation was painful.
Neighbors Shocked by the Sudden Police Presence
The disappearance has shaken the normally quiet Catalina Foothills community.
Neighbors described the area as peaceful and safe, a place where people walk their dogs, ride bikes, and greet one another each morning.
That calm was shattered Sunday night as police vehicles lined the streets with flashing lights and a helicopter hovered overhead.
Several residents said the scale of the response was unlike anything they had ever seen in the neighborhood.
The Today Show Family Responds Through Tears
On Monday’s broadcast, emotion spilled into the studio.
Jenna Bush Hager, visibly shaken, spoke directly to viewers, stressing that Nancy depends on daily medication that she does not have with her.
“She needs them for survival,” she said, urging anyone with information to come forward.
Craig Melvin echoed the concern, telling viewers the situation hit painfully close to home for the Today Show team, who rarely find themselves covering a story involving one of their own.
A Mother Who Never Stopped Believing
Both Nancy and Annie have appeared on Today in the past, often during heartfelt segments where Savannah spoke openly about her journey to motherhood.
She once shared how her mother’s unwavering belief in her sustained her through years of disappointment.
Nancy repeatedly assured her daughter that she would become a mother — and a wonderful one — even when time seemed to say otherwise.
That confidence, Savannah said, carried her through some of the hardest seasons of her life.
Savannah Steps Away as the Family Waits
Savannah has since returned to Tucson and was absent from work on Monday.
She is also expected to step back from her upcoming Winter Olympics hosting duties.
In a statement, she thanked supporters for their prayers and messages, making it clear that the family’s focus is singular and urgent.
“Right now, our focus remains on the safe return of our dear mom,” she said.
Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at (520) 351-4900.
What’s Next?
Investigators continue treating Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance as a criminal case, working through leads and reviewing evidence from her home and neighborhood.
For her family, colleagues, and community, the hope remains the same — that answers will come, and that Nancy will be brought home safely.
