Nearly nine months after 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie disappeared from her residence in the Catalina Foothills near Tucson, Arizona, authorities still have no confirmed location for her and have made no arrests. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, whose department leads the investigation alongside the FBI, recently offered one of the clearest public ᴀssessments of the case so far, stating that he believes she was alive when she was taken from her home.

Nancy Guthrie was last seen on the evening of January 31, 2026, after family members dropped her off at her house. She was reported missing the next day when she did not appear at church. Investigators quickly determined that a crime had occurred and have treated the matter as a suspected abduction. Her daughter, Savannah Guthrie, co-host of NBC’s Today show, along with other family members, has repeatedly appealed to the public for information while describing the prolonged uncertainty as deeply painful.

In a recent interview on the Buckmaster Show, a Tucson radio program, Sheriff Nanos said investigators believe Nancy left her home alive rather than being killed inside the residence. He did not speculate on what may have happened afterward and did not identify any suspects or reveal new physical evidence. The statement provides insight into the working theory guiding the inquiry: that the crime began with her removal from the property.

That distinction carries practical implications. If she was taken alive, investigators must focus on how she was transported, where she might have been held, and who would have had both the opportunity and the capability to carry out such an act. The sheriff’s comments leave the central question unanswered, however, as no suspect has been publicly named and no body or confirmed burial site has been found.

Two notes sent in the first days after her disappearance remain among the most closely examined pieces of the case. The first, received on February 2 and addressed to Savannah Guthrie, demanded millions of dollars in Bitcoin and included details about the home that led authorities to treat it as potentially credible. A second note arrived several days later and claimed she had died shortly after being taken. Investigators have not verified that claim. Both messages were later released to the public in the hope that someone might recognize the distinctive writing style.

Sheriff Nanos has consistently rejected suggestions that the investigation has stalled. He has described the case as far from cold and said work continues. A combined reward of more than $1 million—including the Guthrie family’s $1 million offer and an FBI contribution—remains available for information that leads to Nancy’s recovery or the identification of those responsible.

For the family, the months since February have been marked by repeated public appeals and ongoing private uncertainty. Savannah Guthrie has used her platform on multiple occasions to urge anyone with even small details—unusual activity near the home in late January or early February, or familiarity with the language in the notes—to contact authorities.

As of late October 2026, Nancy Guthrie remains missing. Investigators continue to ask the public to come forward with any information by calling the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. Tipsters may remain anonymous.

The sheriff’s recent comments underscore that, nearly nine months later, the search for answers and for Nancy Guthrie herself is still active.

Sources: International Business Times Australia