Savannah Guthrie’s Mother Missing: $1M Reward Offered in Arizona Abduction Case

by priyanka.patel tech editor

TUCSON, Arizona – Savannah Guthrie, the co-host of NBC’s “Today,” has publicly offered a reward of up to $1 million for information leading to the recovery of her mother, Nancy Guthrie, who has been missing since February 1. The plea for aid, shared via a tearful video posted to Instagram on Tuesday, comes more than three weeks after Nancy Guthrie vanished from her home in Tucson, Arizona. The family’s reward supplements existing rewards offered by the FBI and local authorities, bringing the total potential payout to over $1.2 million for information in the case.

Savannah Guthrie acknowledged the difficult reality of the situation, stating in the video, “My mother may already be gone.” However, she emphasized the family’s desperate need for closure, adding, “But we need to understand where she is. We need her to come home. For that reason we are offering a family reward of up to $1 million for any information that leads us to her recovery.” The announcement marks the end of a week of silence from the Guthrie family, who had previously been providing regular updates on the search.

The FBI is currently offering a $100,000 reward for information about Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, as announced on X (formerly Twitter). 88-Crime, the Pima County and Tucson affiliate of Crime Stoppers, is offering a separate reward of $102,500 for information leading to an arrest in the case. The combined rewards underscore the seriousness of the investigation and the urgency felt by law enforcement and the Guthrie family.

New Details Emerge Regarding Potential Repeated Visits to Guthrie’s Home

Investigators are now focusing on the possibility that the masked individual seen on Nancy Guthrie’s doorbell camera visited her home on multiple occasions prior to her disappearance. While authorities initially believed the footage captured the suspect on February 1, the day Nancy Guthrie is believed to have been abducted, a source told CNN that photos and video show the individual at the property on at least two separate days. The difference in the suspect’s attire – specifically the presence or absence of a backpack – prompted the reevaluation of the timeline.

ABC News first reported this development, highlighting the potential for investigators to uncover additional clues by analyzing the timing of these visits. However, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department cautioned against speculation, stating in a statement on Monday that the images lack date and time stamps and that any claims about multiple visits are “purely speculative.” Sheriff Chris Nanos echoed this sentiment, telling the “Today” show that the images do not definitively indicate visits on different days.

The Ongoing Search and Investigation

The search for Nancy Guthrie, 84, began after she was last seen on January 31 at her secluded Tucson home. Law enforcement has been scouring the surrounding desert landscape for over three weeks, but the investigation has yielded limited results. Investigators have reviewed “thousands of hours” of surveillance footage from the Tucson area, and are continuing to analyze DNA evidence collected from the scene, including gloves found two miles from Guthrie’s home. Initial DNA analysis has not produced any matches in national databases.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department previously asked residents in the neighborhood to submit video footage dating back to January 1, with a specific focus on January 11 and January 31. The FBI released video and photos of the masked suspect tampering with the doorbell camera, which has generated thousands of tips from the public. The suspect is described as a male, approximately 5’9” to 5’10” tall with an average build, and was seen wearing an Ozark backpack.

Law enforcement has detained and subsequently released two individuals as part of the investigation, but has not identified any suspects. Authorities have stated they believe Nancy Guthrie was taken against her will, but have not established a motive for the abduction. Despite the lack of concrete leads, the search continues, with detectives and agents recently canvassing Guthrie’s neighborhood again on Saturday.

In addition to the financial rewards, Savannah Guthrie announced a $500,000 donation to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, expressing her hope that the attention surrounding her mother’s case will raise awareness for all missing persons. She shared a message of hope in her Instagram video, stating, “We still believe. We still believe. We still believe that she can come home.”

Anyone with information regarding the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at 520-351-4900. Tips can also be submitted online at tips.fbi.gov.

Authorities have not announced a specific timeline for the next phase of the investigation, but continue to pursue all available leads. The Guthrie family and law enforcement officials are expected to provide further updates as they become available. The case remains a high priority for both local and federal agencies.

If you or someone you know is struggling with the emotional impact of a missing person case, resources are available. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children offers support and guidance at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or through their website at missingkids.org.

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