Sheriff says he believes Nancy Guthrie kidnapper could strike again

March 13, 2026 Cosmopolite
Sheriff says he believes Nancy Guthrie kidnapper could strike again

Over a month afterSavannah Guthrie's 84-year-old motherwasabducted from her Arizona home, the sheriff in the case is providing details on a possible motive.

USA TODAY

On Thursday, March 12, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanostold "NBC Nightly News"that he believedNancy Guthrie's kidnappercould strike again. The case ofthe "Today" show host's missing mother has captured national attention, after she was reportedly taken against her will in the early morning hours of Feb. 1. Anexhaustive search for both her and her abductorhas since swept across Arizona, whilethe Guthrie familyhas released direct pleas to the suspect.

"We believe we know why he did this, and we believe that it was targeted," Nanos told NBC correspondent Liz Kreutz. "We're not 100% sure of that, so it would be silly to tell people, 'Yeah, don't worry about it, you're not a target.'"

<p style="Today" show host Savannah Guthrie's 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, was seemingly abducted from her home outside Tucson, Arizona, in the early hours of Feb. 1, 2026. Authorities released photos and videos on Feb. 10, of a potential suspect who was caught tampering with a camera on her front door on the morning of her disappearance. 

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> A Pima County Sheriff deputy watches as workers place Armelinda Valenzuela is hugged after she sang and prayed in front of Nancy Guthrie's residence on Feb. 25, 2026, in Tucson, Arizona. Valenzuela said, Catherine Lopez carries a backpack she found in a culvert, while joining other volunteers to search for any possible signs of Nancy Guthrie near her residence on Feb. 22, 2026, in Tucson, Arizona. Lopez was able to give the backpack to Pima County Sheriff deputies. The volunteer group was looking for anything that could help find Nancy Guthrie or the person or persons responsible for her disappearance. Law enforcement officials continue to search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, after she went missing from her home on the morning of February 1st. Lisa Pollak (R) joins other volunteers to search for any possible signs of Nancy Guthrie near her residence on Feb. 22, 2026, in Tucson, Arizona. The volunteer group was looking for anything that could help find Nancy Guthrie or the person or persons responsible for her disappearance. Law enforcement officials continue to search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, after she went missing from her home on the morning of February 1st. Jamie Messick walks through a culvert as he joins other volunteers to search for any possible signs of Nancy Guthrie near her residence on Feb. 22, 2026, in Tucson, Arizona. The volunteer group was looking for anything that could help find Nancy Guthrie or the person or persons responsible for her disappearance. Law enforcement officials continue to search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, after she went missing from her home on the morning of February 1st. Media outlets set up across the road from Nancy Guthrie's residence on Feb. 19, 2026, in Tucson, Ariz. Law enforcement officials continue to search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, after she went missing from her home on the morning of February 1st. An anonymous donor contributed $100,000 to the total reward offered in the Nancy Guthrie case, bringing it to over $200,000. Two AI-generated images with the likeness of Nancy Guthrie sit in a memorial near her residence on Feb. 19, 2026, in Tucson, Ariz. Law enforcement officials continue to search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, after she went missing from her home on the morning of February 1st. An anonymous donor contributed $100,000 to the total reward offered in the Nancy Guthrie case, bringing it to over $200,000. A sign sits in a memorial setup outside of Nancy Guthrie's residence on Feb. 18, 2026 in Tucson, Ariz. Law enforcement officials continue to search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, after she went missing from her home on the morning of February 1st. A Pima County Sheriff's vehicle sits in the driveway of Nancy Guthrie's residence on Feb. 18, 2026, in Tucson, Ariz. Law enforcement officials continue to search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, after she went missing from her home on the morning of February 1st. Jeannie Maggard visits a memorial setup next to the driveway of the residence of Nancy Guthrie on Feb. 18, 2026, in Tucson, Ariz. Law enforcement officials continue to search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, after she went missing from her home on the morning of February 1st. Alex Stone (ABC News) reports live outside Nancy Guthrie's home in the Catalina Foothills in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 16, 2026. A Pima County Sheriff looks on after escorting a person off Nancy Guthrie's property on Feb. 16, 2026 in Tucson, Ariz. Searches continue for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, after she went missing from her home on the morning of February 1st. The search enters its 3rd week with law enforcement officials claiming to have found several items of evidence, but having made no arrests. The FBI and Pima County SheriffÕs Department deputies process evidence from a late-model, gray Range Rover as they investigate the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, at a CulverÕs in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 13, 2026. A sign in support of the Guthrie family stands next to several bouquets of flowers left outside Nancy Guthrie's home in the Catalina Foothills near Tucson on Feb. 12, 2026. Members of the Reed family pay their respects at a makeshift memorial outside of the residence of Nancy Guthrie on Feb. 16, 2026 in Tucson, Ariz. The search continues for Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, after she went missing from her home on February 1. Law enforcement officials say they have found several items of evidence, but have made no arrests. A backpack sits in this handout image, part of new visuals the FBI released regarding the investigation into Nancy Guthrie's disappearance. <p style=New images from a Nest camera show an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie's front door on the morning of her disappearance.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> New images from a Nest camera show an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie's front door on the morning of her disappearance. New images from a Nest camera show an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie's front door on the morning of her disappearance. New images from a Nest camera show an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie's front door on the morning of her disappearance. A well-wisher leaves a note and handmade flowers outside of Nancy Guthrie's home in the Catalina Foothills after the disappearance of Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, who went missing from her home in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 12, 2026 Jennifer Bond signs a banner that reads News broadcasters are stationed outside Nancy Guthrie's residence on Feb.12, 2026 in Tucson, Ariz. Law enforcement officials have claimed to have found several items of evidence as searches continue for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, after she went missing from her home on the morning of February 1st. Guthrie's possible abductors had set a deadline of 5pm on February 9 for a $6 million payment. Yellow bows are tied to trees on the street of Nancy Guthrie's home in the Catalina Foothills after the disappearance of Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, who went missing from her home in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 12, 2026. Members of the media follow investigators as they search the edges of Nancy Guthrie's street in the Catalina Foothills after the disappearance of Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, who went missing from her home in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 11, 2026. A member of the FBI surveils the area around Nancy Guthrie's residence on Feb. 11, 2026 in Tucson, Arizona. Searches continue for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, after she went missing from her home on the morning of February 1st. Guthrie's possible abductors had set a deadline of 5pm on February 9 for a $6 million payment. Residents deliver flowers to a makeshift memorial at the entrance to Nancy Guthrie's residence on Feb. 11, 2026 in Tucson, Arizona. Searches continues for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, after she went missing from her home on the morning of February 1st. Guthrie's possible abductors had set a deadline of 5pm on February 9 for a $6 million payment. Investigators canvass Annie Guthrie's neighborhood on Feb. 10, 2026, after the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, who went missing from her home outside Tucson. Investigators canvass Annie Guthrie's neighborhood on Feb. 10, 2026, after the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, who went missing from her home outside Tucson. Law enforcement and news broadcasters are stationed outside of Nancy Guthrie's residence on Feb. 10, 2026 in Tucson, Arizona. Searches continues for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, after she went missing from her home on the morning of February 1st. Guthrie's possible abductors had set a deadline of 5pm on February 9 for a $6 million payment. An investigator canvasses Annie Guthrie's neighborhood on Feb. 10, 2026, after the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, who went missing from her home outside Tucson. U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie speaks in a video message, thanking supporters and asking for help in locating her elderly mother, Nancy Guthrie, who went missing from her Arizona home several days ago, in this screen grab obtained from social media video taken at an unspecified location and released Feb. 9, 2026. Broadcast journalists report live outside the home of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, who went missing from her home in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 9, 2026. <p style=U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, accompanied by her siblings Annie and Camron, speaks in a video message, addressing that they are willing to pay for the release of their elderly mother, Nancy Guthrie, who went missing from her Arizona home several days ago, in this screen grab obtained from social media video taken at an unspecified location and released February 7, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> A Pima County Sheriff's Department deputy on Feb. 10, 2026, patrols the home of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, who went missing from her home outside Tucson. Live-streamers, journalists and a Pima County Sheriff's Department deputy gather at the home of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, who went missing from her home in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 9, 2026. A sign and other objects showing support from neighbors is posted at the home of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, who went missing from her home in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 9, 2026. <p style=Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of "Today" anchor Savannah Guthrie is missing, and Arizona officials say they are investigating her disappearance as a "crime."

"Today" show cohost Savannah Guthrie, accompanied by her siblings Annie and Camron Guthrie, speaks in a video message addressing a possible kidnapper who might be holding her 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie in this screen grab obtained from social media video taken at an unspecified location and released Feb. 4, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Chris Castorena, a private detective based in Phoenix volunteering his time to search for Nancy Guthrie, scans her street for clues after the disappearance of Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, who went missing from her home in Tucson, U.S. February 5, 2026. <p style=The Pima County Sheriff's Office in Arizona received a 911 call reporting Nancy Guthrie missing from her home outside Tucson around noon local time on Sunday, Feb. 1.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Investigators showed renewed interest at the home of Nancy Guthrie on Feb. 4, 2026, stringing up crime scene tape for a time in the late afternoon. They removed it shortly before 6 p.m. Guthrie had been missing since Jan. 31, 2026, with investigators saying she had been taken from her home northeast of Tucson. Guthrie is the mother of Investigators showed renewed interest at the home of Nancy Guthrie on Feb. 4, 2026, stringing up crime scene tape for a time in the late afternoon. They removed it shortly before 6 p.m. Guthrie had been missing since Jan. 31, 2026, with investigators saying she had been taken from her home northeast of Tucson. Guthrie is the mother of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of <p style=She was reported missing from her home in a community just north of Tucson on Feb. 1, 2026.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Media broadcasts as private security stands guard in the driveway of Nancy Guthrie's house after the disappearance of the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, who went missing from her home in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 4, 2026. The front of the home of Nancy Guthrie, mother of Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos gives an update on the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, mother of Savannah Guthrie, on Feb. 2, 2026. Television media set up at the house of Nancy Guthrie, NBC host Savannah Guthrie's mother, on Feb. 3, 2026, in Catalina, Ariz. Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Nancy Guthrie and Nancy Guthrie and Nancy Guthrie and Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Chris Castorena, a private detective based in Phoenix volunteering his time to search for Nancy Guthrie, scans her street for clues after the disappearance of Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, who went missing from her home in Tucson, U.S. February 5, 2026.

Search for Nancy Guthrie and person suspected of taking her continues

"Today" show host Savannah Guthrie's 84-year-old mother,Nancy Guthrie, was seemingly abducted from her home outside Tucson, Arizona, in the early hours of Feb. 1, 2026. Authorities released photos and videos on Feb. 10, of a potential suspect who was caught tampering with a camera on her front door on the morning of her disappearance.

Savannah Guthrie visits'Today' show, plans full return

"Don't think for a minute that because it happened to the Guthrie family, you're safe. No, keep your wits about you," he continued. "From day one, we had some strong beliefs about what happened, and those beliefs haven't diminished."

The investigation intoGuthrie's disappearancehas looped in old-school DNA leads and newer technology to surface images of the alleged suspect from a doorbell camera in front of theelderly woman's home. Private companies, working with local police and the FBI, were able to retrieve footage of a masked and armed man approachingGuthrie's homethe night of the kidnapping.

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Nanosalso told NBC that they're looking intoa potential Wi-Fi jammerbeing used to interrupt Guthrie's internet service the night of the crime.

<p style=New images released by authorities on Feb. 10, 2026, from a Nest camera outside Nancy Guthrie's home show an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at the front door on the morning of her disappearance on Feb. 1.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> New images from a Nest camera show an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie's front door on the morning of her disappearance. New images from a Nest camera show an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie's front door on the morning of her disappearance. New images from a Nest camera show an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie's front door on the morning of her disappearance. New images from a Nest camera show an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie's front door on the morning of her disappearance. New images from a Nest camera show an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie's front door on the morning of her disappearance. New images from a Nest camera show an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie's front door on the morning of her disappearance. New images from a Nest camera show an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie's front door on the morning of her disappearance.

Search for Nancy Guthrie and person suspected of taking her continues

New imagesreleased by authorities on Feb. 10, 2026, from a Nest camera outside Nancy Guthrie's home show an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at the front door on the morning of her disappearance on Feb. 1.

When was Savannah Guthrie's mom Nancy, last seen?

Nancy Guthrie has not been seensince Jan. 31,and her family reported her missing the following morning.

After she failed to show up at a friend's house to watch a church service online on Feb. 1, as she routinely did, they called her daughter, Annie, who lives nearby, a source close to the family told NBC News.

Nancy Guthrie abduction timeline

In a press conference on Feb. 5, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told reporters that doorbell camera video had helped authorities piece together atimeline of Guthrie's kidnapping.

  • Jan. 31 at 5:32 p.m. Guthrie traveled to her family's house for a game night.

  • Jan. 31 at 9:48 p.m. Her family dropped her back at home, and the garage door opened.

  • Jan. 31 at 9:50 p.m. The garage door closed.

  • Feb. 1 at 1:47 a.m. Doorbell camera in front of Guthrie's home disconnected.

  • Feb. 1 at 2:12 a.m. Software for the smart home detected a person on the camera.

  • Feb. 1 at 2:28 a.m. Guthrie's pacemaker app shows it was disconnected from her phone.

  • Feb. 1 at 11:56 a.m. The family checks on her.

  • Feb. 1 at 12:03 p.m. Family calls 911 to report her missing.

  • Feb. 1 at 12:15 p.m. Patrol cars arrive.

Contributing:Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY;Richard Ruelas and Sarah Lapidus, Arizona Republic

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Nancy Guthrie was 'targeted,' sheriff says he believes he knows why

 

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