Authorities found blood in Nancy Guthrie’s Tucson home, law enforcement sources said, raising concerns that the mother of “Today” host Savannah Guthrie was the victim of foul play.
Nancy Guthrie, 84, was last seen Saturday night at her residence, and local authorities say she may have been forcibly taken around midnight.
The family went to his residence Sunday afternoon after he was reported to have failed to show up for church that morning, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety. All his belongings including his wallet, mobile phone and car were still there but nowhere to be found.
Officials don’t have a clue why he was abducted, but Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos pleaded not guilty to the abductor on Monday.
“Just call us. Let him go. Just call us. The family will tell you, no questions asked here,” he told NBC News.
Nanos, in a press conference on Monday, asked for the public’s help, asking for reports of anything unusual or possible sightings of Nancy Guthrie. A tip line was established Monday evening, and the Sheriff’s Department is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for photos, videos or information leading to the arrest of the person or persons involved in her disappearance.
“We don’t need another bad and bad ending,” said Nanos, “we need some help.”
Adding to the urgency of the case, Nanos warned that Nancy Guthrie’s health is in immediate danger if she does not take a certain type of medication every day.
Nanos said the department was not aware of any threats against Savannah Guthrie that may be related to her mother’s disappearance.
“We are doing everything we can to try to find him,” said Nanos. “All the tools we have, we will use them.”
Details continue to emerge about the scene at Nancy Guthrie’s home.
The sources, who were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, said there were signs of forced entry. It is not clear whose blood was found inside the house.
“Currently, the investigators believe that he was taken from home against his will, perhaps [in the] in the middle of the night,” department spokesman Kevin Adger told The Times on Monday afternoon.
Nanos confirmed that detectives have changed their investigation from a missing person case to a criminal case.
“We actually have a crime scene; we actually have a crime scene,” Nanos said at a press conference.
“He didn’t go alone, we know that,” he said. “He is very limited in his movement.”
On Monday evening, Savannah Guthrie shared a statement on Instagram asking people to pray for her mother’s safe return home.
“Thank you for raising your prayers and ours for our beloved mother, our beloved Nancy, a woman of deep conviction, a good and faithful servant,” he wrote. “Lift up your prayers with us and believe with us that you will be lifted up by them at this time.”
On Monday morning, the hosts of “Tonight” shared a statement from Savannah Guthrie thanking viewers for their “thoughts, prayers and messages of support.”
“Right now we are focused on the safe return of our beloved mother,” a longtime “Today” personality and reporter wrote on behalf of her family. He encouraged anyone with information on his mother’s whereabouts to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.
