Tommaso Cioni, the son-in-law of missing 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, has spoken publicly for the first time since her abduction from her Tucson home, offering an emotional account that has helped shift the investigation’s focus and quiet rampant speculation targeting the family. In a brief but poignant interview with local Arizona media on February 17, 2026, Cioni described the last known moments with his mother-in-law, providing investigators with a clearer timeline while underscoring the family’s anguish and cooperation.
Nancy Guthrie vanished in the early hours of February 1, 2026, from her Catalina Foothills residence. The sequence of events began the previous evening when she joined her daughter Annie Guthrie and son-in-law Tommaso Cioni for dinner and games at their nearby home. Cioni drove Nancy back to her house, dropping her off around 9:48 p.m. on January 31. That routine farewell became the last confirmed sighting of the elderly woman before the masked intruder appeared on her Nest doorbell camera at 2:12 a.m., tampering with the device and forcing entry. Her pacemaker disconnected from its app at 2:28 a.m., signaling she was likely removed from the premises rapidly.
Cioni’s interview came amid intense online scrutiny that had wrongly positioned him as a “prime suspect.” Speculation exploded after reports noted he was the last person to see Nancy alive, fueling rumors on social media and true crime forums. Some armchair detectives pointed to the family’s cooperation—or perceived lack thereof—as suspicious, with wild theories accusing Annie and Tommaso of involvement for financial or personal reasons. The pressure peaked when Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos addressed the rumors directly on February 16, issuing a firm statement: “To be clear, the Guthrie family—to include all siblings and spouses—has been cleared as possible suspects in this case. The family has been nothing but cooperative and gracious and are victims in this case plain and simple.”
In his interview, Cioni spoke with visible emotion about that final evening. “It was just a normal family dinner—laughing, playing games, talking about everything and nothing,” he recalled. “I drove Mom home, made sure she got inside safely, said goodnight like always. The next morning when Annie called saying she wasn’t answering, we knew something was terribly wrong.” He described the shock of learning about the doorbell footage and the immediate involvement of law enforcement. “We handed over everything—phones, timelines, whatever they asked. We’ve been through every detail a hundred times because we want her back more than anyone.”
Cioni’s words helped humanize the family amid the speculation. He addressed the pain of being scrutinized: “The rumors hurt. They distract from finding her. We’re not hiding anything—we’re praying, searching, and cooperating fully.” His emphasis on the ordinary nature of the night countered theories of foul play within the family, aligning with the sheriff’s clearance and redirecting attention to the masked suspect captured on camera.
The investigation has remained multifaceted. Over 50,000 tips have flooded in, with authorities pursuing leads ranging from the black glove found two miles away (yielding unknown male DNA not matching CODIS) to biological evidence inside the home (also foreign to Nancy and close contacts, now undergoing genetic genealogy analysis). Aerial searches using a custom Bluetooth sniffer developed by ethical hacker David Kennedy continue, targeting the pacemaker’s signal. Ransom notes surfaced early but proved fraudulent or unproductive.
Savannah Guthrie, alongside siblings Annie and Camron, has maintained public appeals. In videos, she has urged the perpetrator: “It’s never too late to do the right thing. You’re not lost or alone.” The family’s unity, bolstered by Cioni’s statement, has helped quash baseless accusations and refocus efforts on the intruder.
Cioni’s revelation—simple yet powerful—served as a turning point. By detailing the mundane final hours, he reinforced the abduction’s external nature and highlighted the family’s victimhood. Sheriff Nanos praised their cooperation, noting polygraph tests and voluntary searches of family properties had all corroborated their accounts.
As the search enters its 19th day, challenges persist: an elderly woman with cardiac issues missing in desert terrain, no direct CODIS hits on DNA, and the possibility of an accomplice. Yet Cioni’s words have brought clarity and compassion back to the forefront. The nation continues to watch, hoping his honest reflection marks the beginning of answers in a case that has tested a family’s resilience and a community’s resolve.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or Pima County Sheriff’s Office. In the silence since February 1, every credible lead—and every voice like Cioni’s—brings renewed hope for Nancy Guthrie’s safe return.
