Sheriff Rules Out Burglary Theory in Nancy Guthrie Abduction

Authorities say security footage shows armed individual outside victim's home, motive remains unclear.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has ruled out the theory that the abduction of Savannah Guthrie's mother, Nancy Guthrie, was the result of a burglary gone wrong. Nanos confirmed that investigators are treating the disappearance as a kidnapping, citing security camera footage that shows an armed individual outside Nancy's home on the night she went missing. However, the sheriff said the motive remains unclear, stating: "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?"

Why it matters

The abduction of a high-profile figure's elderly mother has raised concerns in the community and sparked an intensive investigation by local and federal authorities. The ruling out of a burglary theory suggests the perpetrator may have had a specific target and motive, which could have broader implications for public safety and the ongoing search for Nancy Guthrie.

The details

According to Sheriff Nanos, there were no valuable items missing from Nancy Guthrie's home, which led investigators to conclude this was not a botched burglary. The security camera footage shows an armed and masked individual outside the home on the night Nancy disappeared. Authorities have detained and released several people but have not identified any suspects. An alleged ransom note demanding $6 million in bitcoin has been received, but Savannah Guthrie and her siblings have said they are willing to pay the ransom in exchange for proof that their mother is alive.

  • Nancy Guthrie was last seen on January 31, 2026.
  • Nancy Guthrie was reported missing the next morning on February 1, 2026.

The players

Chris Nanos

The Pima County Sheriff who has ruled out the theory that Nancy Guthrie's abduction was a burglary gone bad.

Nancy Guthrie

The 84-year-old mother of news anchor Savannah Guthrie who was abducted from her home in Tucson, Arizona.

Savannah Guthrie

The news anchor and daughter of Nancy Guthrie who has said her family is willing to pay the $6 million ransom demand in exchange for proof of her mother's well-being.

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What they’re saying

“This is somebody who disappeared from the face of the Earth, and now we have a camera that says here's the person who did this.”

— Chris Nanos, Pima County Sheriff (DailyMail)

“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?”

— Chris Nanos, Pima County Sheriff (DailyMail)

What’s next

The judge will decide on Tuesday whether to allow the alleged kidnapper, who has been detained, to be released on bail.

The takeaway

This high-profile abduction case has raised serious questions about public safety and the motives behind the crime, with authorities still struggling to determine if the perpetrator's goal was financial gain or something more sinister. The willingness of the victim's family to pay the ransom underscores the urgency to locate Nancy Guthrie and bring her captors to justice.