What initially appeared to be a routine missing-person case has taken on a far more serious dimension as new information emerges. Authorities searching for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today Show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, say recently released police dispatch audio has added urgency to the investigation. Nancy was reported missing from her Arizona home late Saturday night, and officials now believe the circumstances surrounding her disappearance are more complex than first assumed.
Family members became concerned when they were unable to reach Nancy the following morning and discovered she was not at home. A 911 call was placed around noon on Sunday, February 1, 2026. Investigators now believe she went missing several hours earlier, sometime after 10 p.m. Saturday night. That overnight window has become a key focus, particularly after authorities determined that Nancy’s pacemaker stopped syncing with her phone and smartwatch around 2 a.m.
Police have confirmed that Nancy’s personal devices were later found inside the home, a detail that raised immediate concern. Dispatch audio referenced her medical conditions, including heart issues, her reliance on a pacemaker, and limited mobility. Officials say these factors make it unlikely that she left the residence on her own without assistance.
At a press briefing, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said investigators no longer consider the case a simple disappearance. Authorities now believe Nancy may have been taken from her home against her will. While no suspects have been publicly identified, law enforcement emphasized that the investigation has shifted from a search-and-rescue effort to a more comprehensive inquiry.
Savannah Guthrie has traveled to Arizona to be with her family and has publicly expressed gratitude for the support and concern shown by the community. Investigators continue to ask anyone with relevant information to come forward, noting that even small details could be important. As officials work to reconstruct the events of that night, the focus remains on understanding what happened during the critical overnight hours and bringing answers to a case that has drawn national attention.