Savannah Guthrie's Mom Missing, Pacemaker Issues Raise Concerns

Investigators search for Nancy Guthrie, 84, who depends on crucial heart medication

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The search for Nancy Guthrie, Savannah Guthrie's 84-year-old mother, is in its eighth day. Authorities believe Guthrie was abducted from her home in the Catalina Foothills near Tucson, Arizona. Concerns have been raised about Guthrie's health, as she was said to be on important medications, and her pacemaker reportedly stopped syncing with her Apple Watch on the night of February 1. Parade spoke with cardiologist Dr. Srihari S. Naidu to answer questions about pacemakers, heart medications, and what could happen if a patient stops taking their medication abruptly.

Why it matters

The case of Nancy Guthrie's disappearance highlights the critical importance of access to necessary medical treatments, especially for elderly individuals who rely on devices like pacemakers and regular medication. Abruptly stopping heart medications can have serious health consequences, underscoring the urgency in locating Guthrie and ensuring she receives the care she requires.

The details

Dr. Naidu explained that pacemakers are implanted devices that regulate heart rate, often in elderly patients like Guthrie who may have a slow resting heart rate. He noted that pacemakers do not directly connect to devices like Apple Watches, but rather transmit data to a home monitoring system that relays information to the patient's doctor. Regarding Guthrie's pacemaker reportedly stopping its sync with her Apple Watch, Dr. Naidu said he was unaware of any app that could monitor a pacemaker in that way. He also discussed the potential risks of abruptly stopping heart medications, which could increase the chance of a stroke or other life-threatening event, particularly for patients with stents or a weakened heart.

  • The search for Nancy Guthrie is in its eighth day as of February 8, 2026.
  • Guthrie's pacemaker reportedly stopped syncing with her Apple Watch on the night of February 1, 2026.

The players

Nancy Guthrie

An 84-year-old woman who was reported missing from her home in the Catalina Foothills near Tucson, Arizona. Guthrie is the mother of news anchor Savannah Guthrie.

Srihari S. Naidu, M.D., FACC, FAHA, FSCAI

A triple board-certified cardiologist and Professor of Medicine at New York Medical College, who provided expert commentary on pacemakers and heart medications for this story.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“A pacemaker essentially has a remote monitoring system, and so a patient gets a box that is taken to their home and set up, and this box is set up to transmit either through WiFi or radio frequency, or through the internet to a server that goes to the doctor's office.”

— Srihari S. Naidu, M.D., FACC, FAHA, FSCAI, Professor of Medicine, New York Medical College (Parade)

“I have not heard of that, and I certainly have thousands of patients. ... I think I would know that. ... Apple Watches can do their own evaluation of arrhythmias. And those can record, and then they can be downloaded or sent to your doctor, but not to the pacemaker as far as I'm concerned.”

— Srihari S. Naidu, M.D., FACC, FAHA, FSCAI, Professor of Medicine, New York Medical College (Parade)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the critical importance of access to necessary medical treatments, especially for elderly individuals who rely on devices like pacemakers and regular medication. Abruptly stopping heart medications can have serious health consequences, underscoring the urgency in locating Nancy Guthrie and ensuring she receives the care she requires.