The chilling discovery of blood inside the luxurious Tucson home of Nancy Guthrie has sent shockwaves through the community — and raised terrifying questions about the fate of the 84-year-old mother of beloved Today show anchor Savannah Guthrie.
Authorities have now confirmed that DNA testing on samples collected from the scene matches Nancy Guthrie herself. This bombshell revelation comes amid growing fears that the elderly woman was violently abducted in the dead of night, leaving behind a trail of evidence that paints a horrifying picture of struggle and possible injury.
The nightmare began late Saturday evening, January 31, 2026, when family members dropped Nancy off at her multimillion-dollar residence in the upscale Catalina Foothills area near Tucson, Arizona. She was last seen around 9:30 p.m., safe in her own home — or so everyone thought. By Sunday morning, when she failed to appear at church, alarm bells rang. Relatives rushed to the house, only to find her personal belongings untouched: her cellphone, wallet, car keys, and crucially, her life-sustaining medications — all abandoned.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos wasted no time declaring the home a full-blown crime scene. “She didn’t walk away. She didn’t leave willingly,” he stated emphatically during a tense press conference. Investigators quickly uncovered signs of forced entry, suggesting intruders burst in while Nancy slept. Sources close to the probe revealed the presence of blood inside the residence — a small but ominous amount that immediately escalated concerns for her safety.
As forensic teams swarmed the property, DNA samples were rushed to labs for urgent analysis. The results? A devastating match: the biological material belongs to Nancy Guthrie. Police have not officially confirmed the samples as blood in every statement, but multiple law enforcement sources, including those speaking to major outlets like the Los Angeles Times and CBS News, insist blood was indeed discovered at the scene. The sheriff’s office has remained cautious, noting that early DNA returns showed only Nancy’s profile — no foreign suspects yet — but emphasized that testing continues on additional evidence.
Adding to the dread, chilling footage emerged showing what appears to be a trail of blood droplets and splatter on the front porch of the home. NewsNation captured the disturbing images after the scene was released back to the family, with dark stains visible on the tiles near the door — right beside an unopened Amazon package. One security camera frame at the entrance was mysteriously empty, fueling speculation that the perpetrators disabled or removed surveillance to cover their tracks.
Nancy Guthrie, described by her famous daughter as a woman of “unshakeable faith” who has faced life’s hardships with grit and grace, suffers from physical ailments that severely limit her mobility. Sheriff Nanos stressed she “couldn’t walk 50 yards” without assistance and requires daily medication — without which her condition could turn fatal within hours. “If she’s alive right now, her meds are vital,” he warned. “Time is of the essence.”
The family, including Savannah Guthrie, has been plunged into unimaginable anguish. The Today co-anchor missed broadcasts to rush to Arizona, issuing a heartfelt plea on social media: prayers for her “beloved mom, our dearest Nancy, a good and faithful servant.” She urged the public to “believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment.”
Investigators, now assisted by the FBI, are chasing hundreds of leads. They are scouring cell tower data, working with tech companies for potential Saturday night footage, and urging anyone with photos or videos to submit them via a dedicated QR code. A reward has been offered for information leading to Nancy’s safe return.
Whispers of a possible ransom note have surfaced, with reports of a suspicious communication sent to a local news station — containing eerily specific details about Nancy’s attire that night. The sheriff’s department confirmed awareness of such reports and is investigating, though they caution the public against speculation.
Who would target an 84-year-old woman living alone? Was this a random home invasion gone horribly wrong, or something more calculated? Authorities insist there’s no evidence of a broader threat to the community — no pattern of elderly abductions plaguing Tucson — but the violent indicators at the scene suggest foul play of the most sinister kind.
Nancy Guthrie was safe in her bed one moment, gone the next. Her blood — confirmed as hers through DNA — tells a story of violence that no one wants to imagine. As search efforts intensify and the clock ticks on her medication needs, the question haunts everyone: Is Nancy still alive, and can she be brought home before it’s too late?
The entire nation watches, prays, and waits for answers in what has become one of the most high-profile missing persons cases of the year. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department immediately at 520-351-4900. Nancy Guthrie’s life may depend on the next tip that comes in.
