Summary

  • Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos says Nancy Guthrie's blood has been found on her porch following her disappearance

  • He says police believe the 84-year-old mother of US news anchor Savannah "is still out there" and officials are "working around the clock" to find her

  • "We have nobody of interest or any suspects that you would consider a prime suspect", Nanos adds

  • FBI special agent Heith Janke says one arrest has been made this morning over a ransom note determined to be fake, as two others are being looked into

  • Janke adds Nancy's family "wants to be contacted" by the potential captors and understands that "time is of the essence"

  • It has been nearly five days since Guthrie disappeared from her home in Tucson, Arizona - here's a timeline

  1. A full timeline of the night Nancy Guthrie disappearedpublished at 20:38 GMT 5 February

    Nancy Guthrie (L) and Savannah Guthrie (R)Image source, NBC
    Image caption,

    Nancy Guthrie (L) and Savannah Guthrie (R)

    We now have more information about what happened on the night Nancy Guthrie was last seen, and the morning she was reported missing.

    Here is a breakdown of what investigators have shared:

    Saturday, 31 January

    • 17:32 (local time) - Guthrie travels to a family member's home for dinner
    • 21:48 - A family member drops her off at her home, opening the garage door
    • 21:50 - Garage door closes after Guthrie is dropped off

    Sunday, 1 February

    • 1:47 - Guthrie's doorbell camera is disconnected and removed
    • 2:12 - A video software detects a person on camera near the home (but no video is available, police say)
    • 2:28 - Guthrie's Pacemaker, an implanted cardiac device, disconnects from its phone app
    • 11:56 - Family members attempt to check in on Nancy
    • 12:03 - A call is made to 911 by family members
    • 12:15 - Police arrive to the home, discovering blood on the front porch, and the search begins

    Our live coverage is now coming to an end, but you can follow any updates here: US police believe Savannah Guthrie's missing mother is 'still out there'

  2. Breaking down the evidence police are examining in Nancy Guthrie's disappearancepublished at 20:07 GMT 5 February

    Following a news conference, we now know a bit more on the evidence that police and the FBI are looking at in relation to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie. They say they are following every lead but do not yet have any suspects or persons of interest in what they believe is a kidnapping.

    This evidence includes:

    • Evening Uber ride - Guthrie had taken an Uber taxi to her family's house earlier on Saturday evening for dinner. Police have spoken to the driver
    • Blood - blood was found on the front porch of Guthrie's house. DNA analysis has confirmed the blood belongs to Nancy Guthrie, but officials are awaiting results of further DNA testing
    • Doorbell - a doorbell camera to her home was disconnected and removed at 01:47 local time
    • Camera - shortly after this at 02:12, software detects a person on camera, but there is no video available
    • Pacemaker - at 02:28, Guthrie's pacemaker disconnects from her phone, an app shows
    • Ransom note - a note was sent to media outlets on Tuesday which contained two deadlines, one for 17:00 today and another for Monday. Police said the note contained information about an Apple watch, and a floodlight, as well as mentioning a monetary value and discussions of Bitcoin
    • Medicine - Guthrie takes certain medications, and the police are in touch with pharmacies in the area to check prescription logs

  3. FBI shares plea for information around Guthriepublished at 19:42 GMT 5 February

    The FBI has shared a public plea for any information regarding the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie.

    As we learned earlier from the press conference, the FBI says there is a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to her whereabouts.

    The agency has also shared a missing persons poster of Nancy Guthrie.

    Poster showing picture of Nancy Guthrie with black dogImage source, FBI VIA X
  4. Trump watched sheriff updatepublished at 19:35 GMT 5 February

    Karoline LeavittImage source, Getty Images

    Over at the White House, Donald Trump's press secretary Karoline Leavitt is currently giving her media briefing.

    Leavitt says she and President Donald Trump tuned into Sheriff Nanos' media conference, and she describes the search for Nancy Guthrie as a "heartbreaking situation".

    She adds that Trump "spoke directly" with Savannah, Guthrie's daughter, yesterday and offered federal government support.

    "Any requests that are made by state and local officials in the search of Ms Guthrie will absolutely be accommodated," Leavitt continues, saying that she has spoken with FBI Director Kash Patel about this today.

    "Our hearts and our prayers are with Savannah and her entire family as they search for their dear mother."

  5. Blood found, no suspects and $50,000 reward - a recappublished at 19:24 GMT 5 February

    FBI's Heith Janke standing in front of microphones beside Pima County Sheriff Chris NanosImage source, Reuters

    Here's some of the key lines we just heard from that press conference:

    • Blood found on Nancy Guthrie's porch was confirmed to belong to her
    • Officials are still waiting for the results of more DNA analyses
    • No suspect has been identified
    • The doorbell camera at Nancy Guthrie's home was disconnected about 01:47 local time
    • A $50,000 reward has been announced by the FBI for information leading to an arrest
    • An arrest over a fake ransom note has been made
    • One ransom note sent to the media has two deadlines: one at 17:00 today (no time zone was given) and another on Monday
  6. We want Nancy back, Nanos sayspublished at 19:15 GMT 5 February

    Nanos says that there are no plans for further updates until they have a major development in the case.

    Investigations like this take time, he adds, asking for space. "Mistakes are going to be made," he says and if he makes one it won't be the first time, but "more important than me is we want Nancy back".

    With that, the news conference comes to an end. We'll shortly be bringing you a recap of what we've learned and further updates in our next few posts - stay with us.

  7. Bitcoin mentioned in ransom notepublished at 19:14 GMT 5 February

    Janke says a ransom note they are looking into mentions Bitcoin, a form of cryptocurrency.

    But he says for now, they won't be publicly elaborating more on that front.

  8. Second ransom note deadline of Monday, Janke sayspublished at 19:14 GMT 5 February

    FBI Agent Heith Janke is pushed again on the ransom note - saying the deadline is 17:00 today, but not confirming what time zone.

    He says that if a transfer isn't made by this time, then a second deadline of Monday existed.

    He also refuses to clarify what the ransom note says might happen if the deadlines aren't met.

  9. Is it possible Guthrie case not a ransom situation?published at 19:12 GMT 5 February

    Nanos is asked if there is a possibility that Nancy Guthrie's case is not a ransom situation.

    He says that it is possible.

    When asked what else it could be, he replies: "Your guess work is as good as mine."

    Nanos adds that they cannot rule out or say whether or not the situation is targeted.

  10. Ransom note deadline for later today, FBI agent sayspublished at 19:09 GMT 5 February

    Janke reveals that the "first deadline" set in the ransom note falls today at 17:00 (he didn't specify a time zone).

    There is also a second deadline in the note - but Janke says he cannot mention.

    Normally, an abductor would have made contact by now, he says.

  11. Police in touch with pharmacies over Guthrie's medicationpublished at 19:07 GMT 5 February

    Nanos says the sheriff's department is aware what medication Nancy Guthrie is on and has been in touch with pharmacies in the area to check their prescription logs.

    He says officers may now go back to these pharmacies to double check what has been prescribed.

    He says deputies have also been continuously checking in at every local hospital "physically in person" throughout the investigation.

  12. No indication Guthrie being held outside US, officials saypublished at 19:06 GMT 5 February

    Next, the sheriff and FBI special agent are asked about whether there are concerns Guthrie is being held outside the US, given Arizona is a border state with Mexico.

    Chris Nanos says he has not been in touch with Mexican authorities.

    The FBI's Heith Janke says his teams have no information to suggest she is in Mexico, but "we haven't ruled anything out... we will follow the facts wherever they take us".

  13. Guthrie family want contact with potential captors, FBI sayspublished at 19:02 GMT 5 February

    FBI special agent Heith Janke says Nancy's family "wants to be contacted" and understands that "time is of the essence".

    Addressing any potential captors directly, the FBI specialist says the family wants to hear from them.

    Nancy Guthrie's loved ones are seeking "proof of life", he says, adding that there has not been any direct contact with those responsible for the abduction, just the ransom note which was sent to media outlets.

  14. Police are looking at everyone, Nanos sayspublished at 19:00 GMT 5 February

    Sheriff NanosImage source, Reuters

    Sheriff Nanos warns against online speculation about any suspects, and addresses rumours that a family member is being looked at.

    He says police are looking at everyone and have spoken to a range of people, including an Uber driver and a gardener.

    It would be irresponsible to not look at everyone, he says.

    Nanos says the Guthrie family have been very cooperative and have done everything they have been asked.

  15. Guthrie could die without her medication - sheriffpublished at 18:56 GMT 5 February

    Nanos again emphasises that Nancy Guthrie needs daily medication.

    He says after four or five days of being missing, authorities "still don't know that she's getting her medication.

    "That could, in itself, prove fatal", he says.

  16. Investigators need to be careful with proof of life videos, FBI sayspublished at 18:54 GMT 5 February

    In their video last night, Nancy Guthrie's children, including the news anchor Savannah, said they were "ready to talk" to their mother's potential abductors.

    "However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated," Savannah Guthrie said in that video. "We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her."

    Special agent Janke says the family said that because AI can make anything look real, so investigators need to be very careful about "proof of life" videos.

    He declined to expand on any other communication the family may have received.

    He also won't disclose what the deadline provided in the ransom note is.

  17. Ransom note presented to Guthrie familypublished at 18:52 GMT 5 February

    The FBI's Janke says the ransom note sent to media outlets has been presented to the Guthrie family because it contained facts associated with a deadline and with a monetary value.

    He adds: "One talked about an Apple watch, and one talked about a floodlight. We're not going to go into specifics." It's not clear if he's talking about multiple ransom notes or the one shared with Guthrie's family.

    He says he doesn't want to put more facts out there that could help others profit from in this case.

  18. Police working on assumption Guthrie is alive, sheriff sayspublished at 18:49 GMT 5 February

    When asked whether Nanos and his team are fearing Guthrie will not be found alive, he says: "I'm certainly fearful of that."

    But he adds that police are operating under the assumption she is alive and are "going to continue thinking that way until we find her".

    The sheriff is then quizzed about suspects - have his investigators ruled out anyone Nancy Guthrie was with the night before she disappeared?

    Nanos says he's sure his investigators have feelings, and says: "I wouldn't say anybody's ruled out yet" in case new information comes to light later on.

  19. Arrest made over fake ransom notepublished at 18:46 GMT 5 February

    The FBI confirms that there have been three ransom notes so far.

    One arrest has been made this morning over a ransom note, which the FBI determined was fake.

  20. Police 'mindful' about what is released to public, Nanos sayspublished at 18:45 GMT 5 February

    Sheriff NanosImage source, Reuters

    Nanos is asked if there are any pieces of information police are holding back on purpose.

    He says, like in any investigation, authorities are being "mindful" about what they release. He says there are legal and strategic guidelines to consider before putting information out.