TLDR
- Nancy Guthrie, mother of NBC’s Savannah Guthrie, disappeared in Arizona, with blood found at her home.
- Investigators are reviewing Bitcoin ransom claims, but no confirmed contact has been made with the family.
- A California man was arrested for sending fake Bitcoin ransom messages related to the case.
- The Pima County Sheriff’s Department and FBI continue to search for Nancy Guthrie and investigate the kidnapping.
NBC Today Show host Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy Guthrie, has gone missing from her home in the Catalina Foothills area of Tucson, Arizona. Investigators are treating the case as a violent kidnapping after blood was discovered at her residence. At the same time, authorities are looking into unverified claims of a Bitcoin ransom. However, there has been no confirmed contact between the captors and the family.
The Disappearance of Nancy Guthrie
Nancy Guthrie, 84, was last seen on the evening of January 31. Family members dropped her off at home, and she was expected to attend church the next morning. When she failed to show up, family members grew concerned and reported her missing. Her belongings, including her phone, wallet, car, and medication, were all left behind, adding to the mystery of her disappearance.
More footage shows blood, missing Ring doorbell camera at the home of Nancy Guthrie pic.twitter.com/pbubB0trFw https://t.co/p32kkypE7P
— BensonNewsHub (@BensonNewsHub) February 3, 2026
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department, along with the FBI, has since launched an investigation into her case. Investigators quickly found blood spatter at her doorstep, leading them to suspect that the woman may have been taken violently. A doorbell camera at her home was also found to be disabled or removed, suggesting that Nancy Guthrie did not leave voluntarily.
Bitcoin Ransom Claims Surface
As the investigation unfolded, unverified claims of a Bitcoin ransom surfaced. Alleged ransom messages sent to the family reportedly demanded millions of dollars in cryptocurrency. The messages even included a Bitcoin wallet address and a deadline for payment.
🚨 BREAKING: NBC’s Savannah Guthrie suggests her mother, Nancy, may be being held for ransom and says she is “ready to talk.”
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) February 5, 2026
However, law enforcement has not confirmed the authenticity of these ransom demands. No direct contact has been made between the alleged captors and the Guthrie family. The police have stated that they are still reviewing these claims, but no solid evidence has been found to link them to the kidnapping.
Fake Extortion Attempt in the Midst of the Investigation
In a separate development, a California man named Derrick Callella was arrested for allegedly sending fraudulent Bitcoin ransom messages. These messages were targeted at members of the Guthrie family, but law enforcement confirmed that Callella’s actions were unrelated to the actual kidnapping case.
Authorities described Callella’s actions as an opportunistic scam, capitalizing on the high-profile nature of the investigation.
Amid the ongoing search for Savannah Guthrie's mom Nancy Guthrie, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos shared a full timeline they've created based on the electronics processed in the case. https://t.co/6ZsKl9I1Mn pic.twitter.com/dxynQqhitN
— E! News (@enews) February 6, 2026
Callella’s arrest has added another layer of complexity to the case, highlighting the rise of cryptocurrency-related scams during high-profile criminal investigations. Investigators are now focusing on the genuine details of the case, with the Bitcoin ransom claims still under review.
Continued Search for Nancy Guthrie
As of now, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI continue to investigate the case, focusing on locating Nancy Guthrie and determining who was behind her abduction. The lack of verified ransom demands and the complexity of the situation have only deepened the mystery surrounding her disappearance.
NBC’s Savannah Guthrie, who is also a senior anchor for the TODAY show, has taken time off from her broadcasting duties to focus on her mother’s case. The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities urging anyone with information to come forward.
