Mother of Today host Savannah Guthrie believed abducted in Arizona

The 84-year-old mother of Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie is believed to have been abducted from her home in southern Arizona, according to CBS News, citing officials. Authorities said the case is now being treated as a crime scene rather than a missing-person search.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said during a press conference earlier Monday that deputies were called around noon Sunday to a residence in Pima County, Arizona, after Nancy Guthrie was reported missing. The area is near Tucson.

“I believe she was abducted, yes,” Nanos told CBS News. “She didn’t walk from there. She didn’t go willingly.”

Nanos said search-and-rescue teams, volunteers, other local agencies, and U.S. Border Patrol K-9 units searched overnight but found no trace of Guthrie.

“We saw some things at the home that were concerning to us,” he said. “After we processed that scene, we believe that we do in fact have a crime scene, that we do in fact have a crime.”

Authorities said Guthrie has significant mobility limitations and requires medication. Nanos said she did not have access to that medication and that going without it for 24 hours could be fatal.

Investigators said evidence at the home indicates Guthrie did not leave on her own. “She is very limited in her mobility,” Nanos said. “We know that she didn’t just walk out of there. There are other things at the scene that indicate she did not leave on her own.”

Nanos said deputies are reviewing home security footage and other technological evidence and are asking for the public’s help.

“What I really need, I need this community to step up and start giving us some calls,” he said. “We don’t need another bad, tragic ending. We need some help.”

Authorities said there is no indication of an ongoing threat to the public. Nanos said investigators do not know whether the incident was targeted and that there is no evidence linking it to Guthrie’s daughter. He added that family members, including Savannah Guthrie, have been cooperative and remain in contact with investigators.