Arizona police say Nancy Guthrie believed alive as FBI examines ransom notes

A wide search continues in southern Arizona after Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of US television anchor Savannah Guthrie, vanished from her Tucson-area home over the weekend. Investigators say they are working on the assumption that she is still alive while they analyse two ransom notes and examine evidence from the scene.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told reporters that officers will keep operating under the belief that Guthrie “is still out there” unless facts prove otherwise. The FBI said it is reviewing the notes and confirmed that officers have already arrested a person linked to a fake message sent during the investigation.

The case has drawn national attention because of the mix of physical evidence, digital data, and apparent ransom communication that authorities must now connect into a clear timeline.

Timeline of disappearance under scrutiny

Investigators said Nancy Guthrie spent Saturday evening with family in the Tucson area. She used Uber to travel to her daughter Annie’s home for dinner, and police later interviewed the driver.

Relatives dropped her back at her home in the Catalina Foothills later that night. Family members said she spent the evening playing games before returning home.

Several unusual events then appeared on connected devices during the early hours of Sunday.

At 01:47 local time, someone disconnected and removed the doorbell camera at the property. Officials said Guthrie did not subscribe to the service, so no video footage exists.

At 02:12, software detected motion near the house. Sheriff Nanos noted that an animal could have triggered the alert. No video clip was available.

At 02:28, the mobile app linked to Guthrie’s pacemaker lost connection with her phone. Investigators say this detail helps establish the sequence of events.

Police later found blood on the front porch. Tests confirmed it belonged to Nancy Guthrie. Forensic teams continue to analyse other evidence taken from the home.

Concern grew on Sunday morning when she did not attend church as usual. Family members and churchgoers flagged the absence, prompting calls to authorities.

Ransom notes and proof-of-life demand

FBI Special Agent Heath Yanke said one ransom note arrived at several media outlets. The note set a payment deadline of 17:00 on Thursday, without naming a time zone, and mentioned a second deadline for Monday.

The message included references to an Apple Watch and a floodlight at the house. Investigators are studying those details to determine whether the sender had inside knowledge of the property.

The FBI also confirmed that officers arrested one person for sending a fake ransom note, which added confusion to the case.

In kidnapping cases, negotiators often demand proof of life before any discussion. The Guthrie family has repeated that request publicly.

In a video released on Wednesday night, Savannah Guthrie appeared with her sister Annie and brother Cameron to make an appeal.

“We are ready to talk,” she said. “However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated. We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her.”

Agent Yanke said the family wants contact and understands that “time is of the essence”.

Health concerns add urgency

Relatives said Nancy Guthrie lives with heart problems and chronic pain. She relies on daily medication to manage her condition.

“She is without any medicine,” Savannah Guthrie said. “She needs it to survive. She needs it not to suffer.”

Those health concerns have increased the urgency of the search and added pressure on investigators to locate her quickly.

Sheriff Nanos admitted he fears the possibility that she may not be found alive. He also said police cannot rule out motives other than ransom, even though they are taking the demands seriously.

Search effort and federal involvement

Search teams are using dogs, drones, helicopters and federal resources across the area. Sheriff Nanos described the effort as “all hands on deck”. The FBI has offered a $50,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest.

After the family released its appeal, US President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that he had directed federal law enforcement to assist and to “get her mother home safely”.

The case has attracted widespread attention because of Savannah Guthrie’s role as co-anchor of NBC’s Today show. She withdrew from NBC’s coverage of the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Milan because of the disappearance.

Investigators say their priority remains the early hours of Sunday and the authenticity of the ransom notes. They continue to ask the public for credible information while maintaining the belief that Nancy Guthrie may still be alive.