Nancy Guthrie, the mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie, was reported missing Sunday. Authorities believe she was taken from her home near Tucson, Arizona, sometime between Saturday night and early Sunday morning. While the search for the 84-year-old continues, a theory has surfaced online that a drug cartel may be behind the abduction.
A supportive sign left by neighbors is posted outside the home of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of American journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, who went missing from her home on February 4, 2026 in Tucson, Arizona, USA. (REUTERS)To be sure, these theories come from unverified profiles. The Pima County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI have not blamed cartel activity for the kidnapping. The sheriff’s office said they have not announced any suspects or persons of interest at this time, as they speak with people they believe Guthrie had contact with before he was taken. In the process of their investigation, they have already visited the home of Savannah’s sister, Annie Guthrie, which is said to be close to Nancy.
The two also dined together on the night Nancy is believed to have been taken. Authorities also spoke with Annie’s husband, Tommaso Cioni, who the New York Times reported was the last time Nancy was seen because he left her home.
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At the same time, authorities, particularly the FBI, are looking into alleged ransom notes sent in the case. The bureau is working to verify their authenticity, and in one case, a man named Derrick Calella was arrested for fake ransom notes.
With no firm lead yet to be announced, speculation has been rife on social media, with many believing drug cartels were involved.
Nancy Guthrie claims to have been kidnapped by drug cartelsTo be sure, theories of Guthrie being taken by drug cartels were only spreading on social media. There is no hard evidence to support this theory. HT.com could not independently verify the claims made online.
“How many people think Nancy Guthrie was taken by a Mexican drug cartel?” one person asked on Facebook. Another person added, “If they have a ransom note on Nancy Guthrie, I doubt it has anything to do with freeing Tyler Robinson! What other motive could there be for kidnapping this woman? At least it doesn’t seem criminally illegal. Mexican drug cartels? Maybe she’s already dead. She’s out of drugs and her blood can’t be found. Trying to kidnap her!,” another person theorized by Charlie Kirk. Attaches the case to the shooter.
Another added, “Sorry to say but Nancy Guthrie was probably taken by the drug cartel.”
“I believe Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance may have been a revenge kidnapping by a cartel. Only 70 miles north of Tucson Mexico…” wrote one account on Facebook. However, Tucson appears to be 586 miles from the Mexican border, according to Google Maps. Yet, another account pointed to Mexican cartels, “Nancy Guthrie lives only 60 miles from Mexico. Could the Sinaloa drug cartel gang be responsible for her kidnapping? Why not? Could this be their revenge against the United States for the United States designating the Sinaloa gang as a foreign terrorist organization last February?”
One account called Phoenix, Arizona the ‘kidnapping capital’ of the country. A 2009 Los Angeles Times article also reported this, writing “It was Phoenix, after all: Local and federal law enforcement authorities say more kidnappings for ransom occur here than any other city in America. Most of the victims and suspects are linked to the drug-trafficking world, usually returning to Western Mexican police reports in the western Mexican state.”
