Where things stand
• A concerning scene: Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said they believe Nancy Guthrie was “removed from the house against her will” and told investigators to call the homicide team when the disturbing scene was described to him.
“No proof of life:” There has been “no proof of life” and no follow-up communication connected to the ransom letter linked to the disappearance of Guthrie, FBI Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke said. The ransom letter mentioned two deadlines, including a first deadline of 5 p.m. today and a second deadline for next Monday.
• Still no suspects: Investigators believe Guthrie was taken from her home against her will, but there are no suspects yet, the sheriff’s department reiterated today. “We want her back,” Nanos said at a news conference a short time ago.
• Leads coming in: The sheriff said investigators are following leads as they wait for other evidence, like lab reports, to come in. Blood found on the porch of Guthrie’s home “came back to Nancy,” Nanos said.
• $50,000 reward: The FBI announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of Guthrie and/or “the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance.”
Sheriff says he believes Nancy Guthrie is alive, urges patience
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told CNN’s Ed Lavandera that he believes Nancy Guthrie is still alive.
“People are always asking, do I believe she’s alive? Absolutely, absolutely. There’s nothing to say she isn’t,” he said.
Nanos also highlighted the breadth of resources supporting the investigation. “We’ve got all kinds of resources out there. I never had to call the chief or the FBI or 10 other chiefs of police. They called me,” he said. “And that’s this community.”
However, he cautioned that the investigation is taking time. Referring to crime scene and lab analysis, he said, “These things are done in an hour on Law & Order. This is real world, and it just takes some time.”
“We’ve gotten some things back, but there’s nothing that you would say, ‘Aha, this is it,’” he added. “We’re waiting for that one big break. I just hope it comes faster.”
Uber driver interviewed by police was very cooperative and helpful, sheriff says
The Uber driver who took Nancy Guthrie from her house to her family’s home on Saturday night has been “very open” with investigators, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said.
The driver, who was interviewed by investigators, is not under suspicion and shared video from inside the car of Guthrie that night, Nanos said.
Police were able to verify that it was Guthrie in the video based on the clothes she was wearing and other details, Nanos said.
The driver told officials she took Guthrie to a house about 30 minutes away, which is where Guthrie’s daughter lives, according to the sheriff.
“They were there for dinner, and I think they played some card games and things before she came home,” Nanos said.
Others who were interviewed, including housekeeping staff and Guthrie’s family, have all been cooperative, Nanos said.
Front-door camera missing from Nancy Guthrie’s home, sheriff says
A front-door camera is missing from Nancy Guthrie’s home, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told CNN.
The camera was previously in the “front door area” of the house, and investigators are not aware of any other cameras missing, Nanos told CNN’s Ed Lavandera.
It is unclear which of the cameras at the home detected a person, but investigators are “not giving up” trying to determine that detail.
Obtaining surveillance video in Nancy Guthrie case has been difficult because of terrain, sheriff says
Getting surveillance video in the Nancy Guthrie case has been difficult because of the nature of the terrain where she lives, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told CNN’s Ed Lavandera on Thursday.
Nanos described it as “a very suburban, rural area of the Tucson area, in a very mountainous side of town where vegetation is extremely thick,” adding the area is “not very well lit.”
“We are still canvassing that neighborhood and other neighborhoods and still drawing down from cameras on our streets, at our intersections, with hopes that maybe we’ll find something,” Nanos said.
Investigators believe Nancy Guthrie was taken from home against her will, sheriff says
Investigators believe Nancy Guthrie was removed from her home against her will, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said in an interview with CNN’s Ed Lavandera.
When asked whether there is reason to believe the disappearance involved violence, Nanos said he could not discuss details of the crime scene. He added that investigators are still awaiting test results of physical and biological evidence that could help clarify what happened.
“We’re waiting on a lot of physical evidence in that regard,” Nanos said, “anything that may help us there.”
More than 100 tips reviewed in Guthrie case, sheriff says
Law enforcement has reviewed “well over” 100 tips in the case of Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said today.
In a case that has gained widespread public attention, the sheriff encouraged people to continue providing information.
“There’s no tip too small,” he said.
“Don’t dismiss something that you think is, ‘Eh, I don’t want to bother the police.’ Bother the police. We’re asking you to bother us,” Nanos said.
Sheriff says "something didn't sound right" in initial missing person reports
On Sunday afternoon, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said he got a text about a missing elderly woman that put him on edge.
The details in the text message about Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance prompted the sheriff to call in the homicide team, as well as search and rescue, he said. “Something didn’t sound right to me,” Nanos said.
The sheriff declined to give details about the exact contents of the text message but said it noted that the missing person was an 84-year-old woman with mobility issues.
“Usually, our homicide team, we never call them out, unless you have a body of some sort, but I thought this one, we needed them, and so we got them out,” the sheriff said.
What we learned from the news conference on Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance
Authorities called a news conference this afternoon to update the media on the search for Nancy Guthrie and whoever may have taken her. Guthrie has been missing for five days, but investigators believe she “is still out there.”
If you’re joining us, here’s a roundup of what we learned at the news conference:
- Investigators have not identified any person of interest in the search for Nancy Guthrie, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said.
- There has been no proof of life and no follow-up communication connected to ransom letters sent to local and national media outlets, according to FBI Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke.
- The ransom letter included two deadlines: the first at 5 p.m. today and the second next Monday, Janke said. He also disclosed that an arrest has been made in connection with what he described as an “imposter ransom demand.”
- DNA results from what was considered “the best target” for suspect DNA were minimal, but the blood found on the porch of the home “came back to Nancy,” Nanos said.
- There is no indication of forced entry, Nanos said, rejecting reports to the contrary.
- Authorities presented a timeline of Guthrie’s disappearance showing that hours after she was dropped off at her home Saturday evening, her doorbell camera disconnected at 1:47 a.m. Sunday, officials said.
- There is no doorbell camera video available, but the camera software detected a “person on camera” at 2:12 a.m., and her pacemaker app lost connection to her phone at 2:28 a.m., Nanos said.
- The sheriff declined to discuss whether there was forced entry into the home.
- The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to her recovery, “and or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance.”
CNN’s Rebekah Riess and Alaa Elassar contributed to this report
Uber driver who took Nancy Guthrie to family dinner was questioned during investigation, sheriff says
Investigators have questioned the Uber driver who took Nancy Guthrie to her daughter’s house for a family dinner the night before Guthrie’s disappearance, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said Thursday.
“We did speak to a driver, because Nancy, we learned, had been taken (in) the Uber to the family residence (of) the daughter, for dinner, and we located that driver and spoke with them and got that information,” Nanos said.
Nanos later told CNN they don’t suspect the Uber driver at all.
Guthrie was taken home by family members at 9:48 p.m. Saturday and has not been seen since, according to a timeline released by the sheriff’s department Thursday.
Technology will “really help” solve the case of Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, sheriff says
As the investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie continues, “it’s technology that’s going to really help us solve this case,” Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said today.
Sheriff does not rule out forced entry in Nancy Guthrie case
Investigators are not discussing whether there was forced entry in connection with the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said Thursday, pushing back on reports suggesting authorities had made a determination.
“I have no clue where that comes from,” Nanos said. “We have been very consistent — we are not discussing that at all, whether it’s forced entry or not forced entry.”
Ransom note included two deadlines, including one for 5 p.m. today, FBI says
The ransom letter linked to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie included two deadlines, including a first deadline of 5 p.m. today and a second deadline for next Monday, FBI Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke said.
No specifics were provided on what time zone the deadline was set for.
“In a normal kidnapping case, there would be contact by now, trying to discuss that,” Janke said.
FBI says no proof of life, no further contact tied to ransom letter
There has been no proof of life and no follow-up communication connected to the ransom letter linked to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, FBI Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke said Thursday.
While authorities remain in contact with the family, he said there have been no additional demands beyond the initial letter and no confirmation that Guthrie is being held.
“There has been no proof of life,” Janke said. “They’re still waiting for communication.”
The FBI is not discussing specific details about whether a possible timeline was included in the ransom letter or if the family has received photos or videos of Guthrie, noting that advances in artificial intelligence make it increasingly difficult to rely on videos or similar material as proof of life.
Investigators are “trying to actually get a proof of life that we can verify,” he added. “The family wants to be contacted. They know time is of the essence.”
FBI investigating ransom letter sent to media; arrest made in separate imposter demand
The FBI is investigating a ransom letter sent to both local and national media outlets, FBI Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke said during a news conference Thursday.
“As with every lead, we are taking it seriously,” Janke said, adding that investigators are in contact with the family. While law enforcement can advise and make recommendations, he said, “any action taken on any ransom is ultimately decided by the family.”
Janke also disclosed that an arrest has been made in connection with what he described as an “imposter ransom demand.” A criminal complaint is expected to be presented to a judge later Thursday.
Additional details about the imposter ransom demand will be released by the FBI and the US Attorney’s Office in Arizona as they become available.
FBI announces a $50,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of Nancy Guthrie
The FBI, now jointly working the case involving the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, has announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of Guthrie “and or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance.”
Blood found on porch of Nancy Guthrie’s home belongs to Guthrie herself, sheriff says
While Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos says his department is in a “phase” of “sometimes we’re waiting” on things like lab reports, he added some of the DNA submitted as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie has “come back quickly.”
While results on DNA thought to be “the best target” for suspect DNA returned as “minimal,” blood found on the porch of the home “came back to Nancy,” Nanos said.
“There’s still more items that have been submitted. We just haven’t got them back yet,” the sheriff said. “In the meantime, we’re not just sitting on our haunches waiting. We do have a number of leads coming in.”
Latest timeline of Nancy Guthrie's abduction: No doorbell cam video
Authorities presented a timeline of Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance during a news conference Thursday.
Saturday, January 31, 2026
5:32 p.m. - Nancy travels to local family’s home
9:48 p.m. - Family drops Nancy off at home & garage door opens
9:50 p.m. - Garage door closes
Sunday, February 1, 2026
1:47 a.m. - Doorbell camera disconnects
2:12 a.m. - Software detects person on camera (No video available, no subscription) Editor’s note: If there is no video, it is unclear how the software could confirm that a person triggered it.
2:28 a.m. - Pacemaker app shows disconnection from phone
11:56 a.m. - Family checks on Nancy
12:03 p.m. - 911 call to Pima County Sheriff’s Department
12:15 p.m. - Patrol arrives
No person of interest identified in search for Nancy Guthrie, sheriff says
Investigators have not identified any person of interest in the search for Nancy Guthrie, who has been missing for five days, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said at a news conference Thursday.
“We have nobody of interest or any suspects that you would consider a prime suspect,” Nanos said. “We’re not there yet.”
"We believe Nancy is still out there," sheriff says
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said Thursday that investigators are continuing the search for Nancy Guthrie.
“Right now, we believe Nancy is still out there,” Nanos said.
The sheriff’s department and the FBI have been working around the clock, according to Nanos.
“We just want her home and find a way to get to the bottom of all of this,” he said.
HAPPENING NOW: Sheriff holds news conference on Nancy Guthrie investigation
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos is speaking at a news conference in Tucson, Arizona, providing the latest information on the investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance.
Heith Janke, special agent in charge of FBI’s Phoenix office, will also speak at the news conference.
The sheriff’s office and FBI are investigating what happened to the mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie, who was last seen in her Tucson home Saturday night.
Nancy Guthrie’s children released a video Wednesday night appealing to the kidnappers for more communication and proof their mother is still alive.
