Jennifer Bond signs a banner that reads "Bring her home" and shows a photo of Nancy Guthrie, U.S. television journalist Savannah Guthrie's abducted elderly mother, at the KVOA newsroom, where Savannah worked earlier in her career, in Tucson, Arizona, U.S., February 12, 2026. REUTERS/Rebecca Noble
(New York, NY) – After two months of searching for her mother, “Today Show” host Savannah Guthrie is making her return to work. Guthrie’s mom, Nancy, was first reported missing in what authorities have identified as a likely kidnapping. The police have not found any answers, and there have been no arrests made in connection to the case. Here is what we know about where the investigation stands, why a deputy in the sheriff’s department is facing kidnapping charges and when Savannah is back on air:
Evidence Points to Possible Violence
While we still have no idea what happened to Nancy, many law and crime experts are wary that the 84 year old grandmother was injured or worse during the incident. Blood was found on her porch, and her home surveillance camera was ripped from the wall. Authorities have released photos of the suspect caught on camera before disabling the devices. The perp, however, was concealed head to toe, throwing another wrench in the identification process. Arizona authorities did detain and question a man in early March, but he was quickly released and never charged in connection to the case.
Savannah Shares Her Story
In an interview with her colleague Hoda Kotb, Guthrie said her mom’s case was not a typical missing persons case. She said most days, her mom was in such tremendous pain she was unable to walk to her mailbox, let alone flee her residence. Savannah detailed the first days of the investigation and the moment she found out her mom was missing after getting a call from her sister. She said her older brother, who has a background in military and intelligence, immediately told family members he believed this was a kidnapping for ransom.
Being in the spotlight, Savannah speculated if her career on camera had anything to do with the incident. Yet, with no suspect in custody, any presumed motivation is simply guesswork. Guthrie does believe the two ransom letters the family received are genuine and valid. She also bashed any speculation that this was an inside job involving a member of the family. She said the suggestion alone is unbearable and compounds the family’s pain. Savannah mourned the site of her childhood home that turned into a crime scene swarming with investigators. Savannah’s co-hosts announced on Friday that she will be returning to the program on April 6.
Rick Kastigar, a former boss to Arizona Sheriff Chris Nanos was on 77WABC’s Cats and Cosby, where he speculated the amount of suspects involved
Sheriff Surrounded by Controversy
The investigation has captured national headlines, and with all that attention comes plenty of scrutiny. Sheriff Chris Nanos came under fire early in the probe after he was spotted at a University of Arizona basketball game a week after Guthrie was first reported missing. This past Tuesday, the Pima County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to invoke a local law that would require the sheriff to testify under oath. Nanos is going to be served questions on April 7, the board’s next public hearing. Nanos is also facing a recall effort. Guthrie herself said she was grateful to the people working on this case around the clock, but the family still needs answers.
Bombshell Kidnapping Arrest of Pima County Deputy
Meanwhile, a deputy with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department is facing kidnapping charges related to the arrest and detention of a woman. The woman alleges Travis Reynolds, 22, told her he could help get her out of the arrest, and showed her explicit videos. Reports say Reynolds also made demands for the woman to show her breasts before he took her to jail. Reynolds has been fired as a result of the arrest. His next court date is coincidentally April 6th, when Savannah returns to the “Today Show”. While the incident is unrelated to the Guthrie case, many critics of the Sheriff’s office point to this as further evidence of disorder within the department.
