ADVERTISEMENT
The search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of beloved Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, has intensified in the rugged terrain of Arizona, sparking a nationwide wave of concern and a massive mobilization of emergency resources. Nancy was reported missing from her home in the Catalina Foothills, an upscale community nestled against the dramatic backdrop of the Santa Catalina Mountains near Tucson. Since she was last seen on Saturday, January 31, 2026, the local community and law enforcement agencies have been working tirelessly to locate her, while Savannah’s absence from her usual post at 30 Rockefeller Plaza has served as a poignant reminder of the unfolding crisis.
The disappearance was first noted by local authorities after family members were unable to make contact with Nancy. According to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, the search began in earnest shortly after the initial report, with deputies and volunteer search-and-rescue teams flooding the area. The Catalina Foothills present a unique challenge for searchers; while the area is residential, it is characterized by deep arroyos, dense desert vegetation, and steep, rocky inclines that can be difficult to navigate, especially for an elderly person. Sheriff Chris Nanos, leading the investigation, has expressed significant concern regarding the timeline of her disappearance. He noted that Nancy’s age and specific health considerations make time a critical factor in the operation. To combat the vastness of the search area, the department has deployed a sophisticated array of investigative resources, ranging from K-9 units trained in scent tracking to aerial drones equipped with thermal imaging technology.
