Podcast Summary – Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes Present

Episode: "WHAT?! Finding Nancy Guthrie Could Take Years, Sheriff Now Says"
Date: February 15, 2026
Hosts: Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes

Overview

This episode focuses on the unsettling update in the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, who has now been missing for two weeks. The central theme is the surprising—and somewhat disheartening—statement by Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos that finding Guthrie "could take years," despite initial messaging that the search was urgent. Robach and Holmes discuss the implications of the sheriff's candor, review the main facts and developments in the case, and reflect on what this means for both the family and public interest in the search.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Sheriff’s Shocking Statement: The Search Could Take Years ([03:04]–[06:46])

• T.J. Holmes opens the episode highlighting the sheriff's shift in tone:
  • "After at first telling us how urgent the search was, the sheriff is now saying it could take years to crack this case... I found [this] odd, surprising and disturbing." — [03:04]
• Amy Robach expresses confusion and concern over the sheriff's comment:
  • "To make a public statement like that doesn't seem helpful... It's just a head scratcher for me." — [03:39]
• The hosts speculate if the sheriff is being honest about having no leads, or simply trying to temper public expectations.

Context Behind the Sheriff’s Words ([04:44]–[08:50])

• Holmes shares the sheriff’s full quote from his New York Times interview:
  • "[Sheriff Nanos] said... 'Maybe it's an hour from now, maybe it's weeks or months or years from now, but we won't quit. We're going to find Nancy, we're going to find this guy.'" — [05:29]
• Robach points out previous urgency: every official comment had described the search as "urgent," yet now there’s an admission it might be a long investigation.
• The hosts discuss the emotional whiplash for the family and public, and analyze what this says about the state of the search.

DNA Developments and Investigation Process ([09:04]–[13:47])

• The investigation has yielded some DNA in Guthrie's home that does not match Nancy, family, or close friends, opening new investigative directions ([05:29], [19:04]).
• Police detained an individual (a DoorDash driver) based on video footage showing a masked suspect, but he was released after questioning due to a lack of evidence ([06:46]–[07:23]).
• Holmes underscores the sheriff's honesty, relating his frustration:
  • "He spoke on experiencing [the investigative ups and downs] and called them exhausting..." — [06:46]

The Strain on Law Enforcement ([07:52]–[10:08])

• Robach notes the sheriff’s lack of national media training:

  • "He's probably just being himself... He’s not media trained, so to speak; he's not a politician. So in a way it's refreshing. But we're maybe even a little taken aback." — [07:52]

• They consider the immense pressures on the department, highlighting that under such scrutiny, every public statement is dissected for meaning.

Theories, Motive, and Public Confusion ([11:26]–[13:47])

• Both hosts voice their bewilderment at Guthrie’s complete disappearance:
  • "How do you disappear? ...and we still find them. How is this possible to just abscond with an 84-year-old sickly lady who is not mobile?" — Holmes [11:51]
  • Theories discussed include kidnapping, ransom, and foul play—nothing seems to fit the facts cleanly.
  • "If you wanted to kill her, you would have killed her there, right? If you want to take her, it has to be for money." — Holmes [12:55]
  • "Why would someone want to do this? ...if you can't figure out the why, it's pretty hard to find the who." — Robach [12:15]

Police Efforts, Public Tips, and DNA Technology ([18:18]–[21:59])

• 32,000 tips have been submitted; the department has 400 investigators sorting through them ([18:37]–[19:04]).
• $100,000 reward is now offered for information leading to Nancy’s recovery or the perpetrator’s arrest ([22:16]).
• Discussion about police using genealogy sites to try and match DNA, referencing success stories from other true crime cases:
  • "They were actually talking about taking DNA and putting it into one of these 23andMe types of databases and finding relatives..." — Robach [19:04]

Challenges of Maintaining Attention & Credible Leads ([22:40]–[24:20])

• Multiple "ransom" notes and claims (including one sent to TMZ demanding Bitcoin) have so far not been credible ([23:13]).
• Robach expresses the importance of keeping the story in the public eye so hope and pressure on authorities doesn’t fade:
  • "The biggest fear... for the Guthrie's is that people just stop caring because it just seems so hopeless and it just seems like there's nothing happening." — [23:20]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Investigation Exhaustion:
  "He called the ups and downs of the case exhausting." — Holmes [06:46]
• On the role of motive in the investigation:
  "The motive is never necessary when you're at a criminal trial... but it's the thing that a jury wants to hear... if you can't figure out the why, it's pretty hard to find the who." — Robach [12:15]
• On police transparency:
  "He’s not media trained, so in a way, it's refreshing. But... maybe even a little taken aback at how honest he's being in moments." — Robach [07:52]
• On public and investigative frustration:
  "They talk like they have nothing. And I'm blown away. The DNA part... they found who was in there and robes even when they figured out, I don't know, left over from a pizza delivery guy..." — Holmes [20:39]
• On continued hope for a miracle:
  "The only way this story gets bigger is if somehow this woman is found alive... you have to hold on to that hope." — Holmes [13:47]

Important Timestamps

• 03:04–03:39 — Initial reaction to sheriff’s new statement
• 05:29 — Reading sheriff’s full quote from NYT
• 06:46 — "Exhausting" nature of case; failed detainment of DoorDash driver
• 11:51–12:15 — Hosts’ disbelief at how Nancy remains missing
• 19:04–20:29 — DNA developments and the expansion of search through genealogy databases
• 22:16 — Reward now set at $100,000
• 23:13 — The latest “ransom” note and its dubious credibility
• 23:20 — The risk of public losing interest

Tone & Takeaways

The episode is characterized by equal parts empathy, frustration, and bafflement—both at the facts of the case and the sheriff’s unusually frank public statements. Robach and Holmes maintain a compassionate tone toward the Guthrie family, call for continued public attention, and urge listeners to keep hope alive despite a lack of concrete developments.

Final Thought

The hosts commit to continuing updates, underscoring just how rare and confounding this disappearance is, and how critical public vigilance and pressure remain as police and family await answers.