Family Offers $1 Million Reward in Search for Missing Mother of Savannah Guthrie

The search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of “Today” show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, stretched into its fourth week on Feb. 26, 2026, with law enforcement preparing to release her Tucson-area home back to the family after extensive forensic processing, sources familiar with the investigation told NBC News.

Guthrie was reported missing on Feb. 1 after she failed to appear at church, prompting a friend to alert authorities. Investigators believe she was taken against her will from her home in the Catalina Foothills area north of Tucson during the early morning hours of Jan. 31 or Feb. 1. The Pima County Sheriff’s Office has classified the case as a kidnapping, with evidence suggesting a targeted abduction.

A significant development came earlier this week when Savannah Guthrie announced on Instagram that the family is offering up to $1 million for information leading to her mother’s recovery. In a emotional video posted Feb. 24, Savannah Guthrie said, “Someone knows how to find our mom and bring her home,” urging tips to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or directly to her, while noting anonymity is possible. The family reward aligns with FBI criteria and supplements the bureau’s own $50,000 offer.

The announcement triggered an immediate surge in activity: More than 23,000 calls have flooded the FBI tip line since Guthrie’s disappearance, including 750 in the first 12 hours after the reward video, according to a senior official. The post also prompted renewed law enforcement presence at the home on Feb. 25, with investigators, including prosecutors from Pima County, returning for what appeared to be final walkthroughs before releasing the property.

The home has been a focal point of the probe since the outset. Authorities recovered DNA evidence, including mixed samples that required processing at a private lab in Florida. However, delays in sorting the DNA could extend up to a year, officials have indicated, tempering earlier hopes for quick breakthroughs. Blood was reportedly found near the front door and on the ground outside, and footage released by the FBI shows an armed individual in a ski mask and backpack tampering with the doorbell camera and possibly removing recording devices on the night of the disappearance. Additional video recovered later contradicted initial reports of “no video” at the scene.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has publicly cleared all family members, including Savannah Guthrie, her siblings, and spouses, of any involvement. The sheriff has described the abduction as “very targeted,” with speculation about possible surveillance of the home in advance. Investigators are coordinating with Mexican authorities amid concerns the suspect or suspects may have crossed the border, though no confirmed leads in that direction have been disclosed.

Multiple ransom notes have surfaced, according to some reports, but details remain limited as the investigation continues. The FBI’s Phoenix field office is leading the effort, with assistance from local sheriff’s deputies and other agencies. As of Feb. 25, the search marked Day 25, with no arrests and no confirmed sightings of Guthrie since she entered her home.

Nancy Guthrie, born Nancy Ellen Long on Jan. 27, 1942, in Fort Wright, Kentucky, has three children, including Savannah, Annie, and Camron. She lived independently despite mobility limitations and required regular medication. Her disappearance has drawn national attention due to her daughter’s prominence, with Savannah Guthrie repeatedly appealing for prayers and information on air and social media. The “Today” host has shared that her mother’s deep faith influenced her own, and she has described the ordeal as heartbreaking.

The case has also sparked widespread online discussion, including unverified theories and conspiracy claims on social media platforms like X, ranging from possible connections to family associates to speculation about the suspect’s identity. Authorities have urged the public to avoid spreading unsubstantiated rumors and to focus on providing credible tips.

As the investigation progresses, the return of the home to the family signals a shift from intensive on-site forensics to broader canvassing and tip follow-up. Officials continue to express hope that the increased reward and public awareness will generate the break needed to locate Guthrie.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit tips online at tips.fbi.gov. The family has emphasized that the $1 million reward applies specifically to information leading to Nancy Guthrie’s recovery, per established FBI guidelines.

The emotional toll on the Guthrie family remains evident, with Savannah Guthrie’s public pleas underscoring the urgency. As the search enters late February, the nation watches and waits for resolution in this high-profile case.