The Night That Changed Everything
The desert night in Tucson’s Catalina Foothills feels long, wide, and very still under a sky full of stars. For Nancy Guthrie, an 84-year-old retired teacher with a kind smile and a pacemaker that keeps her heart steady, January 31, 2026, started like any normal day and ended in total quiet. Now, on February 6, the search for her has reached day six. The hours around her disappearance tell a clear, scary story put together from garage cameras, devices that stopped working, and a family that is more and more worried.
Nancy Guthrie is the mom of Savannah Guthrie, who co-hosts NBC’s Today show. In her neighborhood she was known for being strong but gentle, going to church regularly, and staying close to her family. She lived by herself in a private home near East Skyline Drive, but she was never really alone—there were dinners at her daughter Annie’s house, games with the grandkids, and quick Uber rides. She needs to take medicine every day, so every hour without it is serious.
What happened between getting dropped off at home and the family calling for help the next morning made police sure she did not leave on her own. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said it looks like she was taken by force. No one has been named a suspect, no reason has been given, but signs from cameras and devices show someone came into the house during the night.
The Evening Goes Like Normal
January 31 started the way many Saturdays do for Nancy. At 5:32 p.m. she took an Uber to her daughter Annie’s house nearby for dinner and a laid-back game night with family, including her son-in-law Tommaso Cioni. The Uber driver was questioned later and said everything looked normal—no strange actions.
Around 9:48 p.m. a family member drove her back home. Cameras on the property caught the garage door opening, then closing tight at 9:50 p.m. Nancy got comfortable, her phone close by, the house peaceful. There was no hint of anything wrong; she seemed to get ready for bed like always.
The Dangerous Hours Overnight
Between 1:47 a.m. and 2:28 a.m. on February 1 the night changed from calm to dangerous. At 1:47 a.m. the doorbell camera, part of the home security, suddenly went dead. Police have not said if someone messed with it, but the sudden stop is noticeable. At 2:12 a.m. another camera picked up movement. No video was saved because there was no paid storage plan, only a record of the alert. Police say it could have been a person, an animal, or even the wind, but the timing makes it suspicious. By 2:28 a.m. Nancy Guthrie’s pacemaker app showed it lost connection to her phone, which was still inside the house.
Together with the doorbell camera missing and a small spot of blood on the outside porch (DNA tests showed it was hers, but not a lot), it looks like something fast and quiet happened—maybe while she was sleeping. There were no obvious signs someone broke in, but the house was called a crime scene right away.
Sheriff Nanos said during his February 5 news conference that this short time is when
“We assume Nancy was home and probably getting ready for bed.”
When They Realized She Was Gone and the Quick Response
Nancy Guthrie did not show up for her usual church service, so a friend called the family around 11 a.m. to check. Relatives got to the house by 11:56 a.m. and found it empty—her phone was there, but her medicine was gone.
At 12:03 p.m. someone called 911. Police arrived by 12:15 p.m. and started searching and collecting evidence. The fancy, spread-out neighborhood and big desert areas made the first searches harder.
Things Get More Serious and the Family Speaks Out
By February 2 police said publicly it might be a kidnapping. On February 3 messages asking for ransom showed up—demands for bitcoin and mentions of things like an Apple Watch—but there was no proof she was alive. One message was fake and led to an arrest; the others are still being checked.
On February 4 Savannah Guthrie and her brothers and sisters put out a video message, saying straight to whoever might have her:
“We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her.”
Her brother Camron sent another message on February 5 saying they are ready to talk, even as some ransom deadlines came and went with no word.
On February 5 the FBI got involved, a $50,000 reward was offered for information that helps find her or catch someone, and hope was stressed again. Sheriff Nanos said he believes Nancy is “still out there,” even though there is no proof she is alive yet. The blood on the porch was hers but only a small amount.
Day Six: Still No Answers
As of February 6, 2026, the investigation keeps going—no arrests, no named suspects. People from the community are helping police search the desert. Anyone with information can call 520-351-4900 or 911. Savannah Guthrie has taken time off from Today to focus on the search with her family.
This timeline, based on police updates and electronic records, shows how fast a normal day can turn upside down. It starts with a warm family evening and ends with desperate calls under the Arizona sky. Even with so much unknown, Nancy Guthrie family stays strong—held up by faith, their community, and the hope that Nancy will come back home safe, medicine in hand, to the house that went quiet so suddenly.
As the search goes on, the whole country is watching, praying, and waiting for the timeline to end with good news: Nancy Guthrie found safe.
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