Forensic Expert Suggests Extortion Plot in Disappearance of Savannah Guthrie's Mother

Nancy Guthrie has been missing for over a month, and authorities believe she was kidnapped from her Arizona home.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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A forensic expert has suggested that the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie, may be due to an extortion plot. Authorities believe Nancy Guthrie was kidnapped from her home near Tucson, Arizona, on January 31, and drops of her blood were found on the front porch. The search for Nancy Guthrie has entered a second month, and authorities have expressed concern about her health as she needs vital daily medication.

Why it matters

The disappearance of Savannah Guthrie's mother has garnered national attention, and the forensic expert's theory of an extortion plot adds a new layer of complexity to the case. The potential involvement of a family member or someone close to the Guthrie family raises concerns about the safety and security of the elderly, especially those with high-profile relatives.

The details

Forensic analyst Joseph Scott Morgan suggested that Nancy Guthrie may have been targeted due to her connection to her daughter, Savannah Guthrie, a co-host of the Today show. Morgan said that Nancy Guthrie would be a 'much more valuable target' if her abductor knew who her daughter was, and that it could be a 'grandson that might be in the neighborhood that has some knowledge.' The FBI has released video from a doorbell camera showing a masked man on Nancy Guthrie's porch on the night she disappeared, and has described him as about 5 feet, 9 or 10 inches tall with an average build.

  • Nancy Guthrie was last seen at her home near Tucson, Arizona, on January 31, 2026.
  • Nancy Guthrie was reported missing the following day, on February 1, 2026.
  • On February 10, 2026, the FBI released video from a doorbell camera showing a masked man on Nancy Guthrie's porch on the night she disappeared.

The players

Nancy Guthrie

The 84-year-old mother of Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie, who has been missing for over a month.

Savannah Guthrie

The co-host of the Today show and the daughter of Nancy Guthrie.

Joseph Scott Morgan

A forensic analyst who has suggested that Nancy Guthrie's disappearance may be due to an extortion plot.

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What they’re saying

“I've had people that have taken advantage of the elderly because they knew that they had money, and they bum rush them into their house and they snatch them out of there, or they do terrible things like murder inside of the house.”

— Joseph Scott Morgan, Forensic Analyst (NewsNation)

“Nancy Guthrie would be a 'much more valuable target' if her abductor knew who her daughter was, and that it could be a 'grandson that might be in the neighborhood that has some knowledge.'”

— Joseph Scott Morgan, Forensic Analyst (NewsNation)

What’s next

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

The takeaway

This case highlights the vulnerability of the elderly, especially those with high-profile relatives, and the need for increased security measures and awareness of potential extortion plots targeting the elderly. It also raises questions about the role of family members in such cases and the importance of thorough investigations to uncover the truth.