Police say they believe Savannah Guthrie’s 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, was taken from her home against her will in a “possible kidnapping or abduction” before her family reported her missing from her Arizona residence the following day.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos called it “a race against time” and said he hopes “that window hasn’t closed” as the investigation enters the third day since Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance.
Nanos also reported overnight into the morning of Feb. 3 that possible DNA evidence has been found at the crime scene.
“We took some samples that we hope will have enough profile of a DNA profile that gives us some identification of what we’re looking at,” he said.
Nanos added that it could be several more days before investigators could get anything conclusive from the DNA samples taken from the crime scene.
Nancy Guthrie was last seen on the night of Jan. 31 at her home outside Tucson and was reported missing at noon on Feb. 1 by her family, Nanos said at a news conference on Feb. 2. Nancy Guthrie’s home is being considered a crime scene, he told reporters, adding that aspects of the scene “were concerning.”
Speaking to Tom Llamas on NBC Nightly News on Feb. 2, Nanos said, “We believe she was taken out of the home against her will, and that’s how this investigation is moving.”
“I can’t think of the last time where in the middle of the night in someone’s bed, an 84-year-old woman disappeared on us,” he added.
The sheriff’s department clarified that statement on Feb. 3, saying that Nanos meant it figuratively when he talked about Nancy Guthrie being taken from her bed and did not mean it literally.
Law enforcement officials also told NBC News on Feb. 2 that they believe Nancy Guthrie was harmed when she was taken from her home. But when asked later about that remark by the Arizona Daily Star, Nanos said that he had “misspoke or something” while being interviewed by NBC News, telling the paper: “I’m not going to go there with you. I’m not going to speak to that. I’m not confirming or denying.”
Nancy Guthrie does not have cognitive issues, Nanos said at a Feb. 2 press conference, but has physical challenges and is in need of medication that can be fatal if not received within 24 hours.
“She is very limited in her mobility, we know she didn’t just walk out of there, that we know,” Nanos said. “There were other things at the scene that indicate that she did not leave on her own.”
Nanos said later in the press conference that Nancy Guthrie “could not walk 50 yards by herself.”
Nanos would not elaborate on what makes it a crime scene, saying “it would be inappropriate at this time.”
He added that a search for Nancy Guthrie has been “shut down” because her disappearance is being treated as a crime. Savannah and her family have been in touch with police, he said.
“Right now, we don’t see this as a search mission as much as we do a crime scene,” he said.
Savannah, whom Nanos said is now in Arizona, issued a statement on Feb. 2 on behalf of their family.
“On behalf of our family, I want to thank everyone for the thoughts, prayers and messages of support,” she said. “Right now, our focus remains on the safe return of our dear mom. We thank law enforcement for their hard work on this case and encourage anyone with information to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at (520) 351-4900.”
She also shared an Instagram post on Feb. 2 in which she asked for people to pray for her mother’s return.
Her family told police they were alerted to her disappearance when they received a call from someone at their local church saying Nancy Guthrie was not there. The family then went to her house and searched for her before calling police.
Authorities are in possession of Nancy Guthrie’s cell phone, according to Nanos. She lives alone and had house staff, some of whom have been in touch with law enforcement, according to the sheriff.
Police do not know if Nancy Guthrie was targeted because she is Savannah’s mother and are not aware of threats aimed at Savannah after speaking with her, Nanos said.
Nanos added that he does not believe the public is in any danger.
Nanos said multiple teams responded to the scene, including homicide detectives. Foul play cannot be ruled out, he said.
“You don’t typically get the sheriff out at a scene like this, but it’s very concerning what we’re learning from the house,” he said at his first news conference Feb. 1.
Nancy Guthrie is described as 5 feet, 5 inches tall, weighing 150 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. Her family last saw her at home around 9:30 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. Saturday, Nanos said.
Officials had been searching using drones, a helicopter, an airplane, search-and-rescue dogs and volunteers, Nanos said on Feb. 1.
Savannah has often described her close relationship with her mother. Her father, Charles, died when she was 16 years old, leaving Nancy as a single mother of Savannah and her two siblings.
Post a Comment