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Nancy Guthrie abduction case in Arizona

February 19, 2026 3:03 PM EST

A banner with a growing collection of well-wishes from supporters reads "bring her home" (not pictured) and shows a photo of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, who disappeared from her home nearl

By Herbert Villarraga and Steve Gorman

TUCSON, ‌Arizona, Feb 19 (Reuters) - The ​following is ​a chronology of key developments in what authorities describe as the abduction of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC's "Today" show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie. She was last seen by family ‌members on January 31 after spending the evening at the Tucson home of her ⁠older daughter, Annie Guthrie, and son-in-law.

February 1 - A doorbell video camera at the front door to Nancy Guthrie's Tucson house captures footage ‌of a man wearing a ski ‌mask, backpack, gloves and holstered gun tampering with the camera in the early morning. Guthrie's pacemaker app loses contact with her phone line about a half hour later. Shortly before noon, relatives notify authorities ​that Guthrie is missing after she failed to appear for Sunday church services.

February 4 - Savannah Guthrie, her sister Annie Guthrie, and brother Camron Guthrie post the first of several video messages about their mother's ⁠disappearance on social media, saying they are aware of ransom note reports in the media, and pleading for abductors to open communication with them.

February ​5 - Authorities confirm that DNA tests showed that blood found on Guthrie's front porch came from her. The first of two deadlines set in a purported ransom letter ​passes at 5 p.m.

February 7 - Savannah Guthrie, flanked again by ‌her sister and brother, releases a video statement pleading for her mother's return, saying, "This is very valuable to us and we will pay."

February 9 - Savannah Guthrie, in an ⁠Instagram video, says, "We believe our mom is still out there" and asks for the public's help in locating her. A second ransom deadline passes.

February 10 - The sheriff's department and FBI release the video footage of the armed man at Nancy ⁠Guthrie's door, a recording the sheriff later describes as the single biggest clue to surface in the case. Hours later, authorities ​search a home in the Arizona border town of Rio Rico, 60 miles (97 km) south of Tucson, and take a man into custody for questioning. He is released and no arrests are made. Savannah Guthrie re-posts the masked man's images ‌on Instagram with the caption: "We believe she is still alive; bring her home."

February 15 - FBI says a DNA sample was obtained from a glove that was found ‌near Nancy Guthrie's home and appears to match the pair worn by the masked man in the doorbell camera footage.

February ⁠17 - The FBI says the glove DNA sample ‌failed to produce a match ​in a search of known genetic profiles in a national database, dashing hopes for a major break in the case.

(Writing by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles, Editiing by Donna Bryson, ‌Rod Nickel)



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