FBI officials doubled the reward to $100,000 in the increasingly desperate search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, who vanished from her Arizona home twelve days ago in what investigators are treating as a kidnapping.
The elderly woman was reported missing on February 1, 2026, after failing to appear for church services. Evidence at her Catalina Foothills residence indicates she was taken against her will, with authorities pointing to disturbing details including blood drops found on her porch and security footage showing an armed intruder.
Armed Intruder Caught on Camera
Security footage has become a critical element in the investigation. A doorbell camera at Guthrie’s home was disconnected by a masked and gloved individual at 1:47 a.m. on February 1, with subsequent Nest camera footage showing an armed person tampering with the device.
Authorities are also examining security camera footage that shows a man wearing a backpack attempting to scale a wall near a home in the Tucson area close to Guthrie’s property on the morning of her disappearance.
The FBI has released a physical description of the suspect as a male approximately 5’9″ to 5’10” tall with an average build, wearing a black 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack.
Timeline of Disappearance
Nancy Guthrie was last seen on the evening of January 31, 2026, when she was dropped off at her home by her son-in-law. The next morning, she failed to appear for church services, prompting concern from family members.
What’s particularly alarming to investigators? Guthrie was taken without her necessary medications, raising urgent concerns about her health and well-being as the search enters its second week.
A person of interest was briefly detained following a traffic stop in Rio Rico, Arizona on February 10, but was released without charges after being determined to be fully cooperative and not involved in the disappearance.
Bizarre Twist in Investigation
In an unusual development, TMZ founder Harvey Levin revealed that his organization received a letter claiming to know the identity of Guthrie’s alleged kidnapper. A follow-up message stated, “I am not being taken seriously.” Authorities have not commented on whether they consider this communication credible or relevant to their investigation.
The FBI and local law enforcement are casting a wider net. They’ve requested all video footage from January 1 to February 2, 2026, from residents within a two-mile radius of Guthrie’s home, including any captures of vehicles, pedestrians, or anything deemed suspicious.
“We’re pursuing every lead, reviewing every piece of evidence, and questioning anyone who might have information,” said a spokesperson for the investigation team, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the ongoing case.
The disappearance has drawn national attention not only because of Nancy Guthrie’s connection to her high-profile daughter, but also due to the brazen nature of the apparent abduction from her home in what residents describe as a typically quiet, secure neighborhood.
As the search enters its thirteenth day, the increased reward reflects growing concern about Guthrie’s welfare and the determination of authorities to bring her home safely — a race against time that becomes more urgent with each passing hour.
