Nancy Guthrie's family offers $1m reward to bring home missing mother
BBC World
February 24, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Nancy Guthrie, an 84-year-old woman from Tucson, Arizona, has been missing for over three weeks, sparking a massive search effort. Her family, including NBC anchor Savannah Guthrie, has offered a $1 million reward for any information leading to her safe return or identification of her whereabouts. In an emotional Instagram video, Savannah Guthrie expressed the family's deep anguish and their enduring hope for a miracle, while also acknowledging the possibility that Nancy may have already passed away. The family has donated $500,000 to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, urging anyone with information to come forward.
The case gained national attention after Nancy was reported missing on February 14 when she did not attend church services. Authorities believe she may have been abducted from her home. The FBI has released surveillance footage of a masked suspect captured by Nancy’s doorbell camera, along with ransom notes demanding $6 million in cryptocurrency. While one note was later revealed to be fake, sent by a California man who was charged, the search continues for concrete leads.
Investigators have ruled out family members as suspects and are analyzing DNA evidence found near her home, though no matches have been identified so far. The case has attracted global media attention, transforming Tucson into a hub of amateur sleuthing and public interest. Over 40,000 tips have poured in from the public, with many descending on the area to follow developments closely. Despite the extensive efforts, Nancy’s whereabouts remain unknown, leaving her family and supporters hopeful yet deeply concerned.
This story resonates globally as it highlights the challenges of missing persons cases, especially involving an elderly individual with medical vulnerabilities like a pacemaker and heart condition. The high-profile nature of the case, featuring a prominent media family and international attention, underscores the emotional and logistical complexities of such searches. As the search continues, the public’s involvement and the financial incentives for information highlight the importance of community engagement in solving mysteries of this scale.
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Originally published on BBC World on 2/24/2026