Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance entered a critical phase when a family source backed off on the initial report of her first disappearance, increasing public attention to the investigation.
Two Pima County Sheriff’s Office deputies stand outside Nancy Guthrie’s home on February 8, 2026 in Tucson, Arizona. (Getty Images via AFP)According to Fox News, Nancy Guthrie — the mother of longtime Today Show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie — was not scheduled to attend a private church service in Tucson on the morning of Feb. 1, despite initial reports suggesting otherwise.
The source said the misstatement caused confusion about the timeline surrounding when concerns were first raised.
A long-standing Sunday routineA family source told Fox News that for several years, dating back to the Covid-19 pandemic, Nancy Guthrie and a small circle of close friends followed a consistent Sunday routine that did not involve attending church in person. Instead, they regularly gathered at each other’s homes to watch a church service streamed live from New York.
The service originated at a church in New York where Savannah Guthrie attended, the source said.
Read more: Savannah Guthrie’s miscarriage and two rounds of IVF: ‘My mother got me…’
The morning Nancy went missing, she was expected to arrive at a friend’s house to watch the livestream, as she had done many times before. When he fails to show up, the team members become worried.
The family was alerted when he did not show upAccording to sources, a friend contacted Nancy’s daughter Annie after repeated attempts to contact Nancy.
The source stressed that Nancy was never expected at the Tucson church service and said the misreporting created a misunderstanding about how and when she was first reported missing.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department faced a backlash
Authorities cited “new leadership.”The Pima County Sheriff’s Department said it was following up on what it described as “new leads” in the case, after confirming investigators have not identified any suspects, persons of interest or vehicles involved in Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance.
Also read: Did Nancy Guthrie have a dog? What to know as the search for the 84-year-old enters its second week
“The investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance is active and ongoing,” a PCSD spokesperson told Fox News Monday local time, adding that investigators need time and space to do their work.
Officials said no press briefings are scheduled unless there are significant developments.
The ransom note has expiredSavannah Guthrie issued an emotional public plea for help, calling the situation a “frustrating time” as authorities investigate a ransom note linked to her mother’s disappearance.
Law enforcement has not publicly authenticated the note, and the deadline it mentioned passed Monday night without proof of life.
PCSD confirmed that an active law enforcement presence remains at the Guthrie residence as investigators continue to review thousands of tips.
