TV HOST SAVANNAH GUTHRIE'S MOM MISSING, HOME ACTIVE CRIME SCENE

Summary

Episode Overview

Podcast: Crime Stories with Nancy Grace
Episode Title: TV HOST SAVANNAH GUTHRIE'S MOM MISSING, HOME ACTIVE CRIME SCENE
Release Date: February 2, 2026

In this urgent episode, Nancy Grace leads a deep-dive discussion into the shocking disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of renowned TV host Savannah Guthrie. The episode brings in law enforcement officials, investigative journalists, security experts, and psychologists to piece together the unsettling circumstances, analyze evidence, and offer expert opinions on what needs to happen next. The tone throughout is grave, empathetic, and driven by a sense of urgency to help recover Nancy Guthrie and support Savannah during this distressing time.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Disappearance of Nancy Guthrie (02:11)

• Initial Report:
  Dave Mack, investigative reporter, recounts that Nancy Guthrie was last seen Saturday night at approximately 9:30 PM after returning home from a church function. The following day, she was reported missing by a family member after failing to show up for church (02:35).
• Details of the Case:
  Nancy Guthrie lives independently in the Catalina Foothills, near Tucson, Arizona. Despite her age and some medical limitations, she has no cognitive impairments. Vital items like her keys, ID, purse, and phone were left behind, raising concern that she did not leave voluntarily (03:41).

“Everything — her keys, her id, her purse, her phone, everything — left behind. … She’s limited in mobility. … The sheriff … says she did not just walk out of there.”
— Nancy Grace (04:18)

2. Crime Scene Assessment & Law Enforcement Response (01:20, 05:46)

• Grave Concern from Authorities:
  Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos conveys deep concern about the scene, explicitly noting a homicide team is investigating and not ruling out foul play (01:20, 02:00).

“You don't typically get the sheriff out at a scene like this, but it's very concerning what we're learning from the house.”
— Sheriff Chris Nanos (01:22)

• Official Crime Scene Designation:
  Law enforcement refers to the residence as a “crime scene,” rather than simply a missing persons situation. Homicide detectives and canine units (scent, tracker, cadaver) were deployed along with drones and helicopters, yet no substantial evidence was found in the local area as of recording (05:46).

3. Medical Concerns Heighten Urgency (06:30)

• Medication Dependency:
  Both Nancy Grace and Dave Mack emphasize that Nancy Guthrie is dependent on medication that is potentially life-sustaining. Without it, her life expectancy rapidly decreases, making time a critical factor (06:30, 11:10).

“Her not getting her medication within 24 hours is a fatal thing for her. … Time is of the essence.”
— Dave Mack (11:10)

4. The Emotional Dimension (07:00)

• Personal Stories:
  Nancy Grace and Dr. Bethany Marshall reflect on the worry that comes with caring for elderly parents, especially when they insist on maintaining independence. The pain and fear Savannah Guthrie is likely experiencing is deeply acknowledged.

“When you have a parent that age, it activates the same feelings as if you have a baby. You’re always wondering, is the baby okay?... Parents want autonomy.”
— Dr. Bethany Marshall (09:05)

• Possible Targeting:
  Dr. Bethany speculates whether Nancy Guthrie could have been targeted due to her daughter's fame, raising questions about the motivation behind her disappearance (09:45).

5. Timeline & Evidence Review (10:29, 12:07)

• Critical Timeline:
  Expert consensus is that there is a narrow window—about 10 hours—between when Nancy Guthrie was dropped off and when she was discovered missing, which aids the investigation by providing specific review periods for surveillance and community tips (14:01).

• Unusual Circumstances:
  The front door was found “wide open,” an act considered highly unusual for an elderly woman living alone with full mental faculties (12:07).

“There’s no way this 84-year-old mom leaves her door wide open. That didn’t happen.”
— Nancy Grace (12:50)

• Law Enforcement’s Next Steps:
  Authorities are now examining license plate reader data, and surveillance footage, and are encouraging public tip submissions to help fill in gaps in the investigation (14:19).

“All of these things add up to let us know that something happened to Ms. Guthrie on the night of the 31st after she was dropped off and that this is… [not a typical missing elder case].”
— Brian Fitzgibbons (13:36)

6. FBI & National Assets Involved (15:16)

• Federal Involvement:
  Given Savannah Guthrie’s public profile, the FBI is now officially aware of the case, and Customs and Border Protection have contributed resources. However, Dave Mack notes that drone and helicopter assets recently stood down, indicating a potential shift in investigative strategy (15:16).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I hope it's not [foul play]. I hope we find her. I hope we find her.”
  — Sheriff Chris Nanos (02:07)

• “She did not leave the home on her own.”
  — Dave Mack (11:00)

• “You're taking care of your own children, your own family, your own job. But every day you're worried. I wonder if mom's okay…”
  — Nancy Grace (07:30)

• “Was she targeted because of her daughter’s notoriety? There’s so much more we need to know about this case.”
  — Dr. Bethany Marshall (09:45)

• “Savannah, of course, has left New York and is in Arizona aiding in the search for her mother. There's no way Savannah Guthrie would sit home while other people are looking for her beloved mother.”
  — Nancy Grace (14:55)

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Important Segment Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment/Content | |-----------|----------------| | 01:20 | Sheriff Nanos expresses grave concern at the scene | | 02:35 | Details emerge about the timeframe and missing person report | | 03:41 | Physical description and plea to the public | | 05:46 | Canine and aerial search efforts, expert recommendations | | 06:30 | Nancy Grace connects the case to her personal experience | | 07:30 | Discussion of the emotional toll on families of elderly living alone | | 09:45 | Theories speculated about potential targeting due to Savannah’s fame | | 10:59 | Timeline clarification and importance for investigation | | 12:07 | Confirmation: No cognitive impairment; unusual door left open | | 13:14 | Non-standard missing elder; indicators of foul play | | 14:19 | Timeline aids in technology-based investigation focus | | 15:16 | FBI's awareness and shift in investigative resources | | 16:00 | Closing call for public tips and prayers for safe return |

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Call to Action

• Tip Line: If you have any information regarding Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, contact authorities at 520-351-4900.
• Community Support: Nancy Grace encourages listeners to send prayers and support to Savannah Guthrie and her family.

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Summary

This episode captures the tension and urgency surrounding the mysterious disappearance of Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy Guthrie. From in-depth analysis of the crime scene to the intense emotional impact on families, and a detailed review of evidence and investigative actions, the episode is a blueprint for crisis coverage—mixing sharp legal insight, credible expert advice, and heartfelt appeals for public assistance.

Transcript

[Nancy Grace]

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[Nancy Grace]

Terms crime stories with Nancy Grace.

[Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos]

This is very concerning to us. We don't typically. You don't typically get the sheriff out at a scene like this, but it's very concerning what we're learning from the house and so we'll just continue detectives there. Our homicide team is out right now looking at the scene as well.

[Nancy Grace]

What is it about the scene that concerns you?

[Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos]

You know, I don't want to get into those details. I would just tell you that it's certainly grave concern to us just what we see there and we'll continue to look.

[Nancy Grace]

So you suspect foul play?

[Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos]

I'm not ruling it out.

[Nancy Grace]

Okay. Would you gauge the chances are that it's foul play? Would you be willing to give us any idea on that?

[Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos]

No, I hope it's not. I hope we find her. I hope we find her.

[Nancy Grace]

Safe and sound tonight. Our friend Savannah Guthrie needs our help in including you. Her 84 year old mother in Arizona is missing. Right now it's being treated as a crime scene. Straight out to Dave Mack joining us, investigative reporter, crime stories. Dave, what do we know?

[Dave Mack]

We know that Nancy, A relative called 911 yesterday just around 12 noon and and reported Nancy Guthrie, 84 years old, missing. Now, Nancy, there are several things to consider here. The sheriff's department has already said this looks like a crime scene in that house. They went out right away and already got boots on the ground. They even brought in homicide detectives early. Nancy, I do want to clarify that. Nancy Guthrie, at 84 years old lives in Catalina foothills which is just north of Tucson, Arizona. She was last seen Saturday night around 9:30. It was on Sunday as I said midday when a relative called 911 saying we've got a missing woman and I've got to assume there's more to it based on the amount of assets being used right now to locate her.

[Nancy Grace]

Guys, at this hour our friend, my former co worker Savannah Guthrie needs our help. Her mother, her 84 year old mother has gone missing. Nancy Guthrie, gone, last seen Sunday night. Mrs. Guthrie from 5'5, 150 pounds, brown hair, beautiful blue eyes, just like Savannah. There is a tip line, 5203-5149-0052-0351-4900. Now this is in the Catalina foothills near Tucson in Arizona. Please look at this first photo. We know what Savannah looks like. This is her mother. Please help us find this 84 year old mom. Another thing I'm learning. Dave Mack. Hold on Dave. I'm being joined now by not only Dr. Bethany Marshall, our friend joining us out of LA, but Brian Fitzgibbons. He is the director of operations for USPA Nationwide Security. He leads a team of investigators that go all over the world specializing in locating missing people. Uspasecurity.com Brian thank you for joining us tonight. Brian I know this. I know that we're being told left behind are her keys, her id, her purse, her phone, everything. That's what we're learning at this hour. What do we do now? She's limited in mobility. Listen to me, the sheriff, Chris Nano says she did not just walk out of there. Brian so what do we do right now? I would immediately bring in canines, both types of canines, scent dogs, tracker dogs and cadaver dogs. I bring them both in right now.

[Brian Fitzgibbons]

Absolutely, Nancy. And Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has made some immediate coordination to have those things happen. You had K9 teams brought over from customs and Border Patrol, helicopter assets in the air as well as drones with search and rescue technologies searching the immediate area. Because as you said, Nancy Guthrie, being 84 years old with some medical conditions was not going to walk on her own power a significant distance. So those assets have been utilized and unfortunately law enforcement has come up with nothing from that.

[Nancy Grace]

Okay. Brian Fitzgibbons. I just made a horrible, horrible mistake. Dr. Bethany Marshall I just when Brian was talking about her needing meds, I thought about my Mom. Last night, I don't know, quarter of 12, I was in my mom's room. She lives with us. She just turned 94. And I saw where she had not had her night meds. And they're in one of those big boxes, you know, where you lay them out. There's so many day by day, and there's morning meds and there's night meds. And if she doesn't have those meds, she'll die. They thin her blood, therefore her heart. I don't even know what they all are. And without those meds, she'll die, my mom will die. She has to have those meds. And I was thinking about what the sheriff said, that she's not mobile. She can't, you know, just walk out of there. They're treating it like a crime scene. Dr. Bethany and I know we keep showing smiley pictures of Savannah Bethany. But Savannah is not just a famous TV star, you know, she's the co host of the Today show. I still think of Savannah when she first came to join me at Court tv. And she is the same sweet, kind person now that she was then before she became a huge star. Just when you see her smiling, unlike a lot of TV people, that's real. That's who Savannah is. And I'm thinking tonight, Dr. Bethany, when you have your mom in a just say rest home or retirement community, and that's what the mom wants. They want to be independent. They want to live on their own. But the whole time you're riddled with fear. Yes, you're taking care of your own children, your own family, your own job. But every day you're worried. I wonder if mom's okay, but I know she must be totally riddled with fear, Nancy.

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She must be terrified, you know, because you have a 94 year old mom and I just lost my 95 year old dad this past year. When you have a parent that age, it activates the same feelings as if you have a baby. You're always wondering, is the baby okay? Are they being cared for? Even if they're in a nursing home, Are their meals being brought regularly? Is somebody abusing them? Parents want autonomy. Mine did. He had his car keys until the day he died. He did not want to go to a nursing facility. I arranged everybody in the church to visit him on a regular basis. He just thought he had millions of friends, which he did. But he didn't realize everybody was kind of having like a caretaker network, if you know what I mean. So Savannah already is struggling with feelings and has Been, I'm sure she and her sibling group and her family with how do we take care of mom? And when a parent goes into a facility of some sort, what happens is that the caretaker usually needs respite, meaning they're having caregiver burnout. But on the other hand, it goes against all of their internalized belief systems about what it means to care for family members. So it sets in place like this complex bereavement process. Nancy I'm so worried about this mom. I have to say one more thing. Was she being targeted by somebody who was defrauding her, taking her money or targeting her because of a lurid fascination with Savannah? Was she targeted because of her daughter's notoriety? There's so much more we need to.

[Nancy Grace]

Know about this case, Dr. Bethany, that just adds more suffering onto Savannah, to think that somehow someone targeted her mother because of her. Dave Mack, Crime Stories Investigative reporter We are hearing that Ms. Guthrie, Nancy Guthrie, vanished shortly after being dropped off at home by friends. She was coming home from a church function on Saturday night. Are those the people to last see her? I wonder if she made a phone call or anything after that.

[Dave Mack]

Well, that's what we know is that she was dropped off and it was family that actually was with her when they dropped her off Saturday evening. Now she does live by herself, Nancy, and it was the next morning. Now, remember, we said she did something with church on Saturday evening. So when she didn't show up at church on Sunday morning, members of the church contacted family and they went to the house and that's when they discovered she was missing. So we know when she arrived at home, and we know that she did not go to church the next morning. A couple of other things to point out, Nancy. Law enforcement is saying they are not treating this as anything other than a crime scene at her house. That's important because usually we're talking about these as we're looking for somebody. It's a missing person. They're talking. This is a crime scene. She did not leave the home on her own. And they have added. You mentioned the medication. Her not getting her medication within 24 hours is a fatal thing for her. So this medication, everything about this, it is really timely right now. Time is of the essence.

[Nancy Grace]

Nancy Another thing. Dave Mack, hey, let me throw this to Brian Fitzgibbons because it may weigh in on his opinion of what should be happening right now. Brian Nancy Guthrie, Savannah's mother, is not suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's or any other mental defect at all. She has no cognitive decline okay. Nothing. It's not like she just wandered out of the house and she just wandered into a body of water and died. That did not happen. Here's what I wanted to throw at you, Brian. Her front door, we are told, was wide open. Now, Brian, nobody leaves their door wide open. Like, the last thing my mom says is I'm walking out of her room at night, shut the door, because she thinks it's colder in her room if I leave the door open. And she's actually right. There's no way this 84 year old mom leaves her door wide open. That didn't happen. So that said, what do we do?

[Brian Fitzgibbons]

Yeah, you've correctly highlighted something here. This is not a standard case of a missing elder where some medical event has led to temporary confusion or that there was early onset dementia or something like that. We have the Pima county sheriff clearly identifying that this is a crime scene. We have a door left wide open.

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[Brian Fitzgibbons]

Which a woman living alone is not going to. Of sound mind is not going to do this. And he's been very crystal clear about the assets that have been brought in very quickly. So all of these things add up to let us know that Something happened to Ms. Guthrie on the night of the 31st after she was dropped off and that this is.

[Nancy Grace]

And in just a few hours, Brian, we've got a very narrow timeline. She's dropped off from the church function Saturday evening, Sunday morning, time for church, she's gone. We got maybe a 10 hour window right there. How does that help, Brian? Or hurt?

[Brian Fitzgibbons]

That's incredibly helpful because what law enforcement is doing now, and in the statement that just happened hours ago, they are beginning an extensive search of license plate readers, all camera surveillance in the area. They're soliciting tips from the public. So they're shifting their focus to a technology focus now to piece together that timeline. Having it narrowed down is going to make it a faster process.

[Nancy Grace]

Savannah, of course, has left New York and is in Arizona aiding in the search for her mother. There's no way Savannah Guthrie would sit home while other people are looking for her beloved mother. Nancy Guthrie. Dave Mack, Crime stories investigative reporter. Did I understand that the FBI has been brought in?

[Dave Mack]

They have been, Nancy. And you know, authorities are not aware of any threats against Savannah Guthrie. But Nancy, you mentioned that Savannah Guthrie is a very high profile news celebrity and co host of the NBC Today show. Would not be unusual for threats against her. They're not saying that, but the FBI is aware of this case, as is U.S. customs and Border Protection also assisting Nancy. You know, they brought in all the assets, drones, helicopters, and everything right away, but, you know, we have found out they've all been sent home. At this point, I don't know what they found out, but certain aspects of this investigation are changing.

[Nancy Grace]

Guys, if you know or think you know anything about the disappearance of Savannah's mom, Nancy Guthrie, please dial 520-351-4900. Repeat, 520-351-4900. And, of course, please join us in prayer that Nancy Guthrie has brought home alive and well. This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.