Savannah Guthrie and Her Family Are ‘Devastated’ as Mom Nancy Remains Missing After 52 Hours in Arizona: Police

“They are a family and they lean on each other,” Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told PEOPLE

Savannah Guthrie and her mother, Nancy Guthrie, on the ‘Today’ set in 2023.Credit : Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty

NEED TO KNOW

Savannah Guthrie’s mom, Nancy, was last seen at her Arizona home around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department (PCSD) began a search for the woman’s whereabouts after she was reported missing at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 1
PCSD Sheriff Chris Nanos told PEOPLE that the Guthrie family is “devastated” over the news of the missing matriarch

The Guthrie family is continuing to support one another amid the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie’s mom, Nancy.

Nancy Guthrie, 84, was last seen at her Arizona home around 9:30 p.m. local time on Saturday, Jan. 31, according to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department (PCSD). The following day, on Feb. 1, an urgent search began for her whereabouts after she was reported missing at 11 a.m.

On Monday, Feb. 2, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos spoke to PEOPLE about the investigation and the Guthrie family’s reaction. “They’re just devastated like anyone would be. They are a family and they lean on each other,” he said.

“The sheriff added that the Guthrie family can call PCSD “with anything.”

“We’re just staying in touch with them and they know this community supports them as well,” he said.

Nancy and Savannah Guthrie on Today on April 17, 2019.Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Nanos’ remarks followed the Feb. 2 press conference in which it was revealed that Nancy’s home is considered a “crime scene.”

At the conference, he made a “plea” to “anyone who knows anything about this, who has seen something, heard something, to contact us. Call 911. We don’t we don’t need another bad, tragic ending. We need some help.”

“This is an 84-year-old lady who suffers from some physical ailments, has some physical challenges, is in need of medication — medication that, if she doesn’t have in 24 hours, it could be fatal,” Nanos said.

Nancy is “of great sound mind” and “did not leave on her own,” Nanos added.

In his conversation with PEOPLE, he said, “Somebody came into that home and I believe took her out there without her permission. It was against her will.”

“She didn’t just wander off either. That’s got to be clear. She is really just as sharp as a tack,” he said. “And that too is concerning that here you have this lady who’s got all her wits about her, she knows what’s going on.”

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During a press conference on Tuesday, Feb. 3, Nanos said that investigators do not know Nancy’s whereabouts at this time and are unsure how many people may have been involved in her kidnapping.

He added that he does not believe the disappearance poses an ongoing danger to the public, but said authorities are continuing to follow all leads.

A source told PEOPLE that the Today show anchor, 54, and her mom are “very, very close,” adding that “they’re like best friends.”

Another insider told PEOPLE of the mother-daughter duo: “Savannah and her mom are obsessed with each other.”

“Her mom is her world,” the insider said. “Nancy beams whenever she talks about Savannah.”

Nancy often appeared with her daughter on the NBC morning show over the years. She was last seen on the show in November 2025 when Guthrie did a segment on her hometown of Tucson, Ariz.

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On the Feb. 2 episode of the Today show, Savannah was absent and Sheinelle Jones filled in for Guthrie alongside Craig Melvin.

Guthrie released a statement to the Today show, saying, “On behalf of our family, I want to thank everyone for the thoughts, prayers, and messages of support. Right now, our focus remains on the safe return of our dear mom.”

“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.”