Fact Check: Was Savannah Guthrie's missing mother Nancy declared dead?
WASHINGTON, DC: Reports claiming that Nancy Guthrie has died are rapidly spreading across social media. The speculation intensified after a second note reportedly sent to media outlets and the Guthrie family claimed that the 84-year-old had died shortly after her abduction and was buried somewhere in nature.
Nancy, the mother of 'Today' anchor Savannah Guthrie, disappeared from her Tucson-area home in January 2026. As the latest claims gain traction online, here's what the facts show.
Claim: Nancy Guthrie died after her abduction
A recently revealed note connected to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of 'Today' show anchor Savannah Guthrie, claimed that she had died. According to reports, the Guthrie family received two notes shortly after Nancy went missing. The first demanded a cryptocurrency ransom in exchange for her safe return. The second note, whose contents were not previously made public, allegedly said that Nancy died shortly after being abducted and was buried somewhere outdoors.
Nancy was last seen at her home in Tucson, Arizona, on January 31. Two days later, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said investigators believed she had been abducted and described the scene at her home as very concerning, though he did not provide many details.
On February 10, investigators made a major breakthrough when the FBI found doorbell camera footage showing a possible suspect entering Nancy's home. Authorities later arrested a person of interest, but released that individual shortly afterward. Since then, investigators have reported little progress in finding Nancy.
Savannah Guthrie recently returned to co-host the fourth hour of 'Today' while filling in for Sheinelle Jones. During the show, she spoke with Jenna Bush Hager about the difficulty of returning to work while her mother remains missing. Savannah said her colleagues have been supportive and that being on the show gives her something positive to focus on during an extremely difficult time, though she admitted that the situation remains very hard for her.
Fact Check: Nancy Guthrie remains a missing person
Authorities have not officially declared 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie dead, even though a note sent to media outlets claimed she had died. The second note, which was reportedly sent after her abduction from her Tucson, Arizona, home, stated that she died by accident. However, because her body has not been found, Nancy is still considered a missing person, and investigators continue to treat the case as active.
As of June 23, Nancy remains missing after she was abducted from her Tucson home on February 1, 2026. Law enforcement agencies are still investigating the case and have expanded search efforts to areas near the US-Mexico border.
NewsNation reported that the Mexican volunteer search group Buscando Corazones Nogales continued searching for Nancy on June 17. The group searched two new locations near Nogales, Sonora, but did not find her remains. During their efforts, however, they discovered 25 unmarked graves that were not connected to Nancy's case.
Retired FBI agent Steve Moore and former Pima County SWAT commander Bob Krieger also discussed the investigation with NewsNation. They suggested that a nearby Native American reservation could play an important role in determining whether the abductors crossed into Mexico. Krieger said that if the suspects traveled to Mexico, they may have passed through the reservation area at some point.
At this time, there is no official confirmation that Nancy Guthrie has died. Investigators continue to classify her case as an active missing person investigation, and search efforts remain ongoing.
