“Nancy Guthrie” in the news right now refers to the 84‑year‑old mother of “Today” show co‑anchor Savannah Guthrie, who is the subject of an active missing‑person and suspected abduction case in Arizona.

What happened to Nancy Guthrie?

  • Nancy Guthrie, 84, was reported missing on February 1, 2026, from her home in the Catalina Foothills area near Tucson, Arizona, after she didn’t show up to church and family went to check on her.
  • Investigators found concerning signs at her home, including a missing security camera and blood on the porch that DNA tests later confirmed belonged to her.
  • Because of these signs and her age and medical needs (she uses a pacemaker and relies on important medications), authorities have said they believe she was taken against her will rather than simply wandering off.

So when people online ask “why did they take Nancy Guthrie,” they’re talking about this suspected kidnapping and the still‑unclear motives behind whoever removed her from her home.

Why do authorities think she was “taken”?

Authorities haven’t publicly confirmed a clear motive yet, but here’s what they’ve pointed to:

  1. Evidence at the scene
    • Signs of forced entry and the removal of a front security camera strongly suggest someone intentionally came to the home and did not want to be recorded.
 * Blood at the scene, DNA‑matched to Nancy, indicates there was some kind of struggle or injury.
  1. Ransom‑type communications
    • Law enforcement has said they are reviewing ransom‑style notes or messages sent to media outlets, and the FBI has joined the case, which usually happens when there are signs of kidnapping or extortion across state or digital lines.
 * One alleged ransom email mentioned deadlines, though officials later arrested someone in connection with at least one fraudulent ransom note that does not appear to be tied to the real abductors.
  1. Her condition and routines
    • The sheriff has emphasized that Nancy is mentally sharp and not someone who typically wanders, so a voluntary disappearance or dementia‑related wandering is considered unlikely.
 * She missed church and did not contact family, which was out of character and triggered concern very quickly.

Because of all this, investigators describe the situation as a likely abduction and have offered a reward for information.

But why did they take her? (What people are speculating)

No official, confirmed motive has been released, so anything beyond this is speculation. Still, public discussion and true‑crime forums tend to circle around a few possibilities:

  • Financial motive / ransom : The presence of ransom‑style notes, even if some were hoaxes, naturally leads people to think money or leverage against her well‑known daughter might be involved.
  • Targeted vs. random : Investigators have said they are not yet ready to state whether this was random or targeted, which keeps both options open in the public’s mind.
  • Personal grievance : Some online discussions and livestreams toss around theories about someone with a personal connection or grudge, but there is no public evidence backing that at this stage.

Right now, all of those “whys” are still questions, not answers. The official line is simply that she appears to have been taken against her will, and the investigation is active.

What’s the latest news?

  • The FBI is jointly investigating with local authorities and has posted a $50,000 reward for information leading to Nancy’s recovery and/or the arrest of whoever is responsible.
  • A man has reportedly been detained in connection with the suspected abduction after a traffic stop south of Tucson, which authorities are calling a major development, but they have not yet publicly laid out a full motive or detailed narrative of what happened.
  • Public appeals from Savannah Guthrie and the family continue, asking for Nancy to be returned and for anyone with information to come forward.

Because this is unfolding in real time, key questions—including “why did they take Nancy Guthrie?”—are still unanswered by investigators.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.