Arizona officials are asking for the public’s help in locating Nancy Guthrie, the mother of “Today” show anchor Savannah Guthrie.
During a Feb. 2 briefing, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said search and rescue teams were unable to locate 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, who was reported missing from her home outside Tucson around noon on Feb. 1.
“We’re seeing things at home that relate to us,” he said. “We now believe, after we have processed the crime scene, that we do have a crime scene, we do have a crime committed and we are asking for the community’s help.”
Nanos noted that Guthrie had “some medical issues” that required her to take daily medication, which “if she didn’t take her medication within 24 hours, it could have been fatal.”
While the sheriff said it would be “inappropriate” to reveal more details about the scene, he told reporters there were signs Guthrie “didn’t leave on his own.” He added that no other caregivers or family members were missing and the family had been very cooperative with authorities. “Our hearts go out to them, this is their mom.”
“Her mobility is very limited,” he said. “We know she didn’t just walk out of there.” He mentioned there were other signs in the home that she didn’t leave alone, but gave no further details.
Nanos also said the family “wants everyone to know” that Guthrie is “sane” so “this has nothing to do with dementia” and that she is not lost.
Nancy Guthrie, 84, the mother of Savannah Guthrie, was reported missing on February 1 in Arizona.
Savannah Guthrie’s Mom Nancy Guthrie Missing in Arizona
Nanos previously said that the Pima County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call around noon on Sunday, February 1 reporting that Nancy was missing from her home.
“Ms. Guthrie is 84 years old and in poor health, so naturally we have some big concerns,” he said Sunday. “The scene inside the house also gave us some concern.”
NBC national law enforcement and intelligence correspondent Tom Winter told “Today” on Monday that authorities “are able to bring out helicopters.” [Sunday] At night, they used infrared cameras to search. “They set up a drone. They have enlisted the help of Customs and Border Protection … and the FBI is aware of the case.”
At a news conference on Tuesday, Nanos said the search-and-rescue mission had been halted because officials no longer “treat it as a search mission, like we would a crime scene.”
Savannah Guthrie Absent from “Today” and Missing “Dear Mom” Nancy
Savannah Guthrie, who was absent from Monday’s “TODAY” broadcast, expressed gratitude for “the thoughts, prayers and messages of support” in a statement to USA TODAY.
“Right now, our focus remains on the safe return of our dear mom,” she said. “We thank law enforcement for their hard work on this case and encourage anyone with information to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at (520) 351-4900.”
Contributor: Melina Khan and Erin Jensen, USA Today
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Savannah Guthrie’s missing mom ‘could have been fatal’ if not taken
