Harlan Connections Emerge in High-Profile Missing Person Case

Family member confirms Nancy Guthrie's ties to Harlan County as authorities continue search

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Before becoming part of a highly publicized national missing person's case, Nancy Guthrie, the mother of NBC News anchor Savannah Guthrie, once lived in Harlan County, Kentucky. A family member has confirmed this connection, providing details about the Guthrie family's history and contributions to the local community, including landmarks like the Tucker Guthrie airport and the Elzo Guthrie Elementary School. As the search for the 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie continues, this local link has residents of Harlan County following the case closely.

Why it matters

The revelation of Nancy Guthrie's ties to Harlan County adds a personal angle to this high-profile missing person's case, which has gripped the nation. It highlights the deep roots the Guthrie family has in the region and the community's investment in seeing the case resolved. The case also sheds light on the Guthrie family's history and influence in Harlan County, including their involvement in local landmarks and businesses.

The details

Sally Guthrie, a first cousin of Nancy Guthrie's late husband Charles, confirmed that the Guthrie family had deep connections to Harlan County. Charles Guthrie was born in Harlan on Christmas Day in 1938, and the family had ties to local landmarks like the Tucker Guthrie airport and the Elzo Guthrie Elementary School. The family also had connections to the Yancey Mine, a coal mining operation in the area that was established by Elbert O. Guthrie and gained notoriety for a tragic 1932 explosion that killed 23 miners.

  • Nancy Guthrie, 84, reportedly disappeared in the middle of the night from her home in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 1, 2026.
  • The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information related to Nancy Guthrie's disappearance.

The players

Nancy Guthrie

The 84-year-old mother of NBC News anchor Savannah Guthrie, who has gone missing from her home in Tucson, Arizona.

Savannah Guthrie

The co-anchor of the NBC News morning show Today, who is the daughter of the missing Nancy Guthrie.

Charles Guthrie

The late husband of Nancy Guthrie, who was born in Harlan, Kentucky on Christmas Day in 1938 and worked as a mining engineer.

Sally Guthrie

The first cousin of Charles Guthrie, who provided details about the Guthrie family's connections to Harlan County.

Elzo Guthrie

A man of significant influence in Harlan County in the early 1900s, who was the grandfather of Sally Guthrie and Charles Guthrie.

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What they’re saying

“To be honest, I am trying to keep a low profile because, as an elderly person who lives alone, I have become frightened.”

— Sally Guthrie, First cousin of Nancy Guthrie's late husband (harlanenterprise.net)

“Nancy took her adult children on a trip to Harlan several years ago so they could become familiar with their roots.”

— Sally Guthrie, First cousin of Nancy Guthrie's late husband (harlanenterprise.net)

“Nancy is an absolutely wonderful, lovely lady. Everyone who knows her adores her.”

— Sally Guthrie, First cousin of Nancy Guthrie's late husband (harlanenterprise.net)

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 deep connections the Guthrie family has to Harlan County, Kentucky, and the community's investment in seeing the high-profile missing person's case resolved. It also sheds light on the family's history and influence in the region, including their involvement in local landmarks and businesses.