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TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) 鈥� Authorities believe the 84-year-old mother of 鈥淭oday鈥� show host Savannah Guthrie was kidnapped, abducted or otherwise taken against her will, and the sheriff said Monday it鈥檚 imperative she鈥檚 found soon because she could die without her medication.

Nancy Guthrie was last seen around 9:30 p.m. Saturday at her home in the Tucson area, where she lived alone. Her family reported her missing around noon Sunday. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the possibility she was taken overnight, spokesperson Angelica Carrillo said.

Guthrie had limited mobility, and officials don’t believe she left on her own. Sheriff Chris Nanos said Guthrie was of sound mind.

鈥淭his is not dementia-related. She鈥檚 as sharp as a tack,” Nanos said at a news conference earlier in the day. 鈥淭he family wants everyone to know that this isn鈥檛 someone who just wandered off.鈥�

Nanos said a family member received a call from someone at church saying Guthrie wasn鈥檛 there, leading family to search for her at her home and then calling 911. Nanos said Guthrie needs her daily medication, and the sheriff urged whoever has her to free her.

鈥淚f she鈥檚 alive right now her meds are vital. I can鈥檛 stress that enough. It鈥檚 been better than 24 hours, and the family tells us if she doesn鈥檛 have those meds, it can become fatal,鈥� Nanos said.

Searchers were using drones and search dogs to look for her, Nanos said. Search and rescue teams were supported by volunteers and Border Patrol, and the homicide team was also involved, he said. It is not standard for the homicide team to get involved in such cases, Nanos said. The FBI has offered to help, Carrillo said.

鈥淭his one stood out because of what was described to us at the scene and what we located just looking at the scene,鈥� Nanos said Sunday. He was not ruling out foul play.

On Monday morning, Nanos said search crews worked hard but have since been pulled back.

鈥淲e don鈥檛 see this as a search mission so much as it is a crime scene,鈥� the sheriff said.

Even so, a sheriff鈥檚 helicopter flew over the desert Monday afternoon near Guthrie鈥檚 home in the affluent Catalina Foothills area on the northern edge of Tucson. Her brick home has a gravel driveway and a yard covered in Prickly Pear and Saguaro cactus.

Savannah Guthrie issued a statement Monday, NBC’s .

鈥淥n behalf of our family, I want to thank everyone for the thoughts, prayers and messages of support,鈥� she said. 鈥淩ight now, our focus remains on the safe return of our dear Nancy.”

鈥淭oday鈥� opened Monday鈥檚 show with the disappearance of the co-anchor鈥檚 mother, but Savannah Guthrie was not at the anchor鈥檚 desk. Nanos said during the Monday news conference that Savannah Guthrie is in Arizona. Savannah Guthrie grew up in Tucson, graduated from the University of Arizona and previously worked as a reporter and anchor at KVOA-TV in Tucson.

Nancy Guthrie appeared in a November 2025 story her daughter did about her hometown. Over a meal, Savannah Guthrie asked her mother what made the family want to plant roots in Tucson in the 1970s.

鈥淚t鈥檚 so wonderful. Just the air, the quality of life,鈥� Nancy Guthrie said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 laid back and gentle.鈥�

She said she likes to see the javelinas, pig-like desert mammals, eat her plants.

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Billeaud reported from Phoenix.

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