A police official in Arizona said it’s “a race against time” to find Savannah Guthrie’s 84-year-old mother, Nancy, who has been missing for more than two days.
Speaking on Today — where Guthrie is a longtime anchor — Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said of the ongoing investigation, “It is a race against time, and I hope that window hasn’t closed.” He added: “We believe [Nancy] was taken out of the home against her will, and that’s how this investigation is moving.”
Nancy was last seen on Jan. 31, with the family reporting the disappearance over the weekend. Guthrie was absent from Today on Monday as she works with local authorities on the investigation.
Details remain scarce, though the information authorities have shared paints a vague, but disconcerting picture. At a press conference on Sunday, Nanos said the state of Nancy’s house was particularly concerning to investigators, though he would not describe the scene.
“We don’t typically get the sheriff out at a scene like this, but it’s very concerning what we’re learning from the house,” Nanos said. “Our homicide team is out right now looking at the scene as well.” (Some reports have said that authorities found blood in Nancy’s house.)
On Tuesday, Feb. 3, Nanos revealed that investigators are waiting on the results from some DNA samples taken from Nancy’s home. Results, however, may not come back for a few days, and it’s unclear exactly what authorities are hoping the DNA evidence will reveal.
“We took some samples that we hope will have enough profile of a DNA profile that gives us some identification of what we’re looking at,” Nanos said.
Last night, Guthrie released a statement on Instagram, asking for help and prayers for her family. “Thank you for lifting your prayers with ours for our beloved mom, our dearest Nancy, a woman of deep conviction, a good and faithful servant,” Guthrie wrote on Instagram. “Raise your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment. We need you.”
The missing person report for Nancy describes her as being 5 feet 5 inches, weighing 150 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. She was last seen near her home near East Skyline Drive and North Campbell Avenue. Concerns about her well-being were raised after a member of her church contacted a family member when she didn’t show up for services.
Nancy does not suffer from cognitive issues, with Nanos previously saying this is not a case of someone with dementia wandering off. While Nancy is considered to be in good physical health, she does require daily medication and has some mobility issues. To that end, Nanos has said, “We know she didn’t just walk out of there. There were other things at the scene that indicate she did not leave on her own.”
