It has been a week since 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie was last seen at her home near Tucson, Arizona. Guthrie left a family dinner the night she disappeared, returned home, and was not heard from after the early hours the following morning.
Who she is
Guthrie lives alone in the Catalina Foothills north of Tucson. She is the mother of three adult children—Annie, Camron and Savannah Guthrie—and a grandmother. Her husband, Charles, died in 1988. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has said investigators do not believe Guthrie wandered away on her own and that she was likely taken by force. He described her as mentally sharp but physically fragile; she relies on a pacemaker and must take medication that could be life-threatening if missed.
Timeline of events investigators have released
– Saturday evening: Guthrie took an Uber to a daughter’s house for dinner and games. A family member dropped her back at her home at about 9:48 p.m. that night.
– About 1:47 a.m.: Guthrie’s doorbell camera disconnected. A few minutes later the device registered movement, but officials say that footage could not be retrieved.
– 2:28 a.m.: Guthrie’s pacemaker disconnected from its monitoring app.
– The next afternoon: When she missed church, parishioners alerted her family and police were notified.
Investigators say a security camera that had been mounted at the front of her home is now missing. Blood spatter on the front porch has been confirmed by DNA testing to be Guthrie’s. Authorities say they remain hopeful she can be returned safely and are continuing to pursue leads.
Suspect status and ransom-related developments
No suspect or person of interest has been publicly identified. The FBI announced a $50,000 reward for information that leads to Guthrie’s recovery and the arrest and conviction of anyone responsible.
Authorities are investigating ransom messages. One note sent to several media outlets referenced specific features of Guthrie’s house—naming an Apple Watch and a floodlight—and included two deadlines (one that expired Thursday at 5 p.m. and another set for Monday). Officials have not disclosed whether the note contained explicit demands; the Phoenix FBI office said it is taking the message seriously. At least one ransom demand has been determined to be fraudulent and a person connected to that false message was arrested. Police say they are examining a “new message” and are working to verify its authenticity.
Family appeals and requests for proof of life
Guthrie’s children, including Savannah, have publicly and repeatedly appealed to whoever might be holding their mother to make contact and provide proof that she is alive. In social media videos the family has pleaded for communication, offered to pay for her return, and asked for verification that would be difficult to fake—citing concerns that images or audio can be manipulated.
What’s next
Law enforcement officials say they are working around the clock and are urging anyone with information to come forward. Federal resources have been offered to the family, and public figures have expressed support. The investigation remains active.