The search for Nancy Guthrie — the 84-year-old mother of NBC News‘ Today co-host Savannah Guthrie, who disappeared from her Arizona home over the weekend — entered a third day on Tuesday. The FBI has joined an investigation now following “hundreds of leads” from the public in a race against the clock to find the missing woman, who may not have the life-saving medications she’s been prescribed.
On Tuesday morning, Arizona’s Pima County Sheriff’s Department held a press conference where Sheriff Chris Nanos took questions from reporters. The Q&A session was also attended by members of the FBI, which is now working alongside the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. Special Agent Jon Edwards said the FBI is doing “everything in our power to bring Nancy Guthrie home to her family” prior to Nanos taking questions.
“We’re following all leads we have. We’ve got hundreds of leads, and it’s from you that we produced those leads,” Nanos told reporters in reference to his plea on Monday to the public reach out with any information in the case. “We are sharing all of our leads with the FBI; they are helping us in evaluating them.”
When Nanos was asked whether investigators believe they are looking for someone who is still alive, he said, “We hope we are.” He told the gathered reporters that unless something breaks in the investigation, the department and FBI plan to hold a similar press conference about the case “every couple of days.”
Sheriff Nanos on Tuesday said all evidence has been gathered from Guthrie’s home and that investigators are working with the companies that manufacture the security cameras around the property to obtain the footage. He would not answer any questions to help narrow down the time that she went missing, but did give an update on DNA gathered from the home.
“We have submitted all kinds of samples for DNA, and we’ve gotten some back, but nothing to indicate any suspects,” he said.
Nancy Guthrie was confirmed to be missing by authorities in Arizona over the weekend after family members reported her disappearance at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday; she had been dropped off at her home around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday. Her disappearance is being treated as a crime scene after local police said she was likely taken against her will in a “possible kidnapping or abduction.” Nancy’s cell phone and car were left behind.
During a press conference on Monday, Nanos said she is of great sound mind but has mobility issues and is in urgent need of her daily medications.
Savannah Guthrie took to social media on Tuesday to ask her many fans and followers to “please pray” for her mother’s safe return. She has been absent from the Today show this week, but released a statement on behalf of her family Monday that said, “I want to thank everyone for the thoughts, prayers and messages of support. Right now, our focus remains on the safe return of our dear mom. We thank law enforcement for their hard work on this case and encourage anyone with information to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at (520) 351-4900.”
This is a developing story.
