KEY POINT
- The Savannah Guthrie family offers $1 million reward for information in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie in Tucson.
- Authorities are investigating the case as a possible kidnapping after evidence suggested she was taken against her will.
- Nearly 40,000 public tips have been received as federal and local agencies coordinate the search.
TUCSON, Ariz. — The family of missing Tucson woman Nancy Guthrie has increased the reward for information leading to her return to $1 million, as the search for the eighty four year old entered its twenty fourth day, according to a statement released Tuesday by her daughter, Savannah Guthrie.
Speaking through tears in a video posted to Instagram, the NBC anchor said her family is “aching” for her mother and remains hopeful that she will be found alive despite mounting uncertainty in what authorities are investigating as a suspected abduction from Guthrie’s home in Tucson.
“We still believe in a miracle,” Guthrie said. “We also know that she may be lost, she may already be gone.”
The case has drawn nationwide attention, intensified by Guthrie’s public profile as a host on NBC’s flagship morning program and by developments involving ransom notes and forensic evidence.
The reward increase marks a significant escalation in the search effort and reflects growing concern about Nancy Guthrie’s health and vulnerability. Authorities say she has difficulty walking, has a pacemaker and requires daily medication for a heart condition, raising urgency around locating her.
In addition to the $1 million reward, the family pledged to donate $500,000 to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, broadening the appeal to national audiences and advocacy groups focused on missing persons cases.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation confirmed that anyone with firsthand knowledge of Guthrie’s whereabouts should contact its tip line. The bureau’s Phoenix field office has been coordinating with local authorities.
Nancy Guthrie was reported missing around midday on Feb. 1 after she failed to attend church services. The Pima County Sheriff’s Office said investigators believe she was taken from her home against her will, possibly during the night.
Sheriff Chris Nanos previously said that suggesting family involvement is “not only wrong, it is cruel,” adding that relatives have been fully cooperative and ruled out as suspects.
Images released by investigators show a man captured on a Nest doorbell camera at Guthrie’s front door. A law enforcement source familiar with the investigation said the same individual appeared at the residence on an earlier occasion before her disappearance.
Ransom notes demanding approximately $6 million in cryptocurrency were sent to media outlets. Authorities said at least one note was fraudulent and linked to a forty two year old California man who has been charged in connection with transmitting a false ransom communication.
DNA recovered from a glove found near the residence did not produce a match in an FBI database, investigators said.
The case has transformed Tucson, a city known for its large retiree population, into a focal point for national media and online communities. Detectives have received close to 40,000 tips from the public.
Michael Alcazar, a retired New York Police Department detective and adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said high profile cases often generate both critical leads and investigative noise.
“When you receive tens of thousands of tips, the challenge becomes separating credible information from speculation,” Alcazar said. “The reward increase can motivate someone with direct knowledge to come forward, but it can also increase false reporting.”
Elizabeth Smart, an abduction survivor and child safety advocate, said public appeals from family members can shift public engagement in missing persons cases.
“When families speak directly to the public, it personalizes the search and expands awareness beyond the local community,” Smart said. “However, time is a critical factor, especially when health vulnerabilities are involved.”
Law enforcement officials have not disclosed whether they believe the ransom demand was connected to the primary suspect seen on camera.
Sheriff Chris Nanos of the Pima County Sheriff’s Office said investigators remain focused on evidence based leads.
“We are following every credible tip and continuing forensic analysis,” Nanos said at a recent briefing. “Our priority is bringing Nancy Guthrie home.”
In her video appeal, Savannah Guthrie urged anyone with information to come forward. “Tell what you know,” she said. “Help us bring our beloved mom home.”
A spokesperson for the FBI’s Phoenix field office said agents are working alongside local law enforcement and forensic specialists, declining to comment on specific investigative strategies.
Investigators continue to analyze digital evidence, forensic material and surveillance footage. Authorities have not announced arrests connected to the suspected abduction itself.
The expanded reward may increase public engagement in the coming days. Law enforcement agencies said they will continue processing tips and reviewing evidence while maintaining coordination between federal and local authorities.
The decision by Savannah Guthrie’s family to offer a $1 million reward underscores the urgency surrounding Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance and the broader challenges of investigating suspected kidnappings involving elderly victims.
As the search continues, officials say public cooperation remains central to the case, even as investigators work to verify leads and filter misinformation in a high profile environment.
