CATALINA FOOTHILLS, AZ (THECOUNT) — Nancy Guthrie, 84, the mother of NBC “Today” anchor Savannah Guthrie, has been reported missing from her home in the Catalina Foothills area near Tucson in Pima County, Arizona, according to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said during a late Sunday news conference that Nancy Guthrie was last seen Saturday night at approximately 9:30 p.m. near her residence. A family member contacted 911 around noon Sunday to report her missing, prompting an immediate response from deputies and search personnel.
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Sheriff Nanos said Guthrie has some physical ailments but that her family indicated she does not suffer from any cognitive issues. Authorities also noted that “the scene at the house has some concerns for us,” though no additional details about what investigators observed were released publicly.
Search and rescue teams were deployed overnight and into Monday, including volunteers, K-9 units, border patrol agents, and helicopters. Law enforcement officials said they are utilizing extensive resources across the Catalina Foothills terrain in an effort to locate her.
“We’ve pretty much just thrown everything at this as we can,” Nanos said during the briefing, emphasizing the urgency and scale of the search effort.
The Catalina Foothills region north of Tucson is known for its rugged desert landscape, natural washes, elevation changes, and residential areas that back up to open desert and mountain terrain. Authorities said teams are canvassing both developed neighborhoods and surrounding desert areas as part of the coordinated effort.
Detectives assigned to the sheriff’s department homicide unit are involved in the investigation. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of foul play as the search continues and investigators evaluate conditions at the residence and potential leads.
The sheriff’s department confirmed that deputies are conducting door-to-door inquiries in the surrounding area and reviewing any available surveillance footage from nearby homes and roadways to determine whether Guthrie may have left the residence on foot or by other means.
The “Today” show addressed the situation during its Monday morning broadcast and shared a statement from Savannah Guthrie on behalf of her family.
“On behalf of our family, 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,” Savannah Guthrie said in the statement.
She also thanked law enforcement for their work and encouraged anyone with information to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at 520-351-4900.
Savannah Guthrie has spoken publicly in the past about her close relationship with her mother. She has previously shared how Nancy Guthrie supported her early career decisions, including encouraging her to accept her first television news job in Butte, Montana, at age 21, despite the distance from home.
“It’s not because she didn’t want me to stay. Of course she wanted me to stay,” the NBC anchor previously recalled. “But she’s like, ‘I’m not going to stand in the way of your dreams.’”
Authorities have not released additional information about the circumstances surrounding Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance. Officials emphasized that the investigation remains active and ongoing as teams continue to follow leads and expand the search perimeter.
Law enforcement agencies often treat missing-person cases involving elderly individuals with heightened urgency due to potential health risks and environmental exposure, particularly in desert climates where nighttime temperatures can drop sharply and daytime heat can become dangerous.
Officials said search teams will continue operations around the clock as conditions allow, with additional personnel prepared to assist if new information develops.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department urged anyone in the Catalina Foothills or greater Tucson area who may have seen Nancy Guthrie or noticed unusual activity Saturday night or Sunday morning to contact investigators immediately.
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