Nancy Guthrie kidnapping: Detectives probe ‘revenge’ motive as FBI ups reward

Police in Arizona are investigating whether Nancy Guthrie was kidnapped in a possible revenge plot, and the FBI has increased its reward for information leading to her location. Photo / Getty Images

Detectives have questioned if Nancy Guthrie could have been kidnapped as part of a “revenge” plot.

The 84-year-old mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie has been missing since February 1, and the Pina County Sheriff’s Department (PCSD) admitted they are struggling to find a motive for behind her disappearance.

Referring to a masked intruder captured on a security camera at Nancy’s Tucson, Arizona, home, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told the Daily Mail: “This is somebody who’s disappeared from the face of the earth, and now we have a camera that says here’s the person who did this.

“And that’s what makes me say this is a kidnapping. The motivation for it is where we get stuck, right? Is it for money? I mean, we had the one demand where they asked for money. But is it really for money, or is it for revenge for something?”

The sheriff urged the kidnapper to set Nancy free.

He said: “Let her go. No questions asked. We’ll worry about prosecuting… another day. Right now, it’s about… let’s get Nancy back.”

Asked what he would say directly to Nancy, he added: “We’re not giving up on you. We’re gonna find you. Just… stay safe as best you can. We’ll find you.”

Nanos’ comments came as Savannah made a fresh appeal for her mother’s safe return.

Savannah posted the clip on Instagram and captioned it: “Bring her home. It’s never too late to do the next right thing.”

She said: “It’s been two weeks since our mom was taken. And I just wanted to come on and say that we still have hope. And we still believe.

“And I wanted to say to whoever has her or knows where she is that it’s never too late. And you’re not lost or alone. And it is never too late to do the right thing. And we are here. We believe. And we believe in the essential goodness of every human being.

“And it’s never too late.”

It comes after the sheriff warned it could take “years” to find Nancy.

Chris Nanos told the New York Times newspaper: “Maybe it’s an hour from now. Maybe it’s weeks or months or years from now.

“But we won’t quit. We’re going to find Nancy. We’re going to find this guy.”

Authorities have found DNA evidence that doesn’t belong to Nancy or “those in close contact to her” at her home.

The PCSD said in a statement on Saturday: “DNA other than Nancy Guthrie’s and those in close contact to her has been collected from the property. Investigators are working to identify who it belongs to. We are not disclosing where that DNA was located.”

The FBI has also revealed “new identifying details” about a suspect in Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance.

In a statement on X, FBI Phoenix said: “Today, the FBI is increasing its reward up to [US]$100,000 for information leading to the location of Nancy Guthrie and/or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance.

“New identifying details about the suspect in the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie have been confirmed after a forensic analysis of the doorbell camera footage by the FBI’s Operational Technology Division.

“The suspect is described as a male, approximately 5’9”-5’10” tall, with an average build. In the video, he is wearing a black, 25-litre Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack.

“We hope this updated description will help concentrate the public tips we are receiving. Since February 1, 2026, the FBI has collected over 13,000 tips from the public related to this case.”