Sheriff Reveals Belief in Case of Savannah Guthrie’s Missing Mom
The search continues for Nancy Guthrie, the mother of Today co-host Savannah Guthrie, who has been missing for more than 72 hours after last being seen at her Arizona home on Saturday night.
On Wednesday, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos addressed the ongoing investigation during an appearance on Today, indicating that authorities remain hopeful they can find 84-year-old Nancy alive.
'She's alive, and we want to save her'
Nancy Guthrie was reported missing on Sunday morning, Feb. 1, after failing to show up for a church service. Speaking with NBC's Liz Kreutz this morning, Nanos maintained his belief that Nancy is still alive.
"We have nothing else to go on but the belief that she is here,” Nanos said, via PEOPLE. “She's present. She's alive, and we want to save her."
Nancy Guthrie has physical health issues and needs medication, hastening the need to find her as soon as possible. However, she “has no cognitive issues at all" and is "sharp as a tack," Nanos said previously.
Police are treating Nancy Guthrie's disappearance as a kidnapping
Earlier this week, Nanos said police were treating Guthrie's home as "a crime scene" and believe the missing woman was taken against her will.
“I believe she was abducted, yes,” Nanos told CBS News. “She didn’t walk from there. She didn’t go willingly.”
No suspects have been named--yet
On Tuesday, a report from NewsNation's Ashleigh Banfield suggested Tommaso Cioni, Nancy Guthrie's son-in-law and Savannah's brother-in-law, is considered a potential suspect in the case, but authorities have denied as much in a new statement shared with TMZ.
"We have not identified a suspect or person of interest in this case. Detectives continue to speak with anyone who may have had contact with Mrs. Guthrie. We are also awaiting additional forensic results," the Pima County Sheriff's Department told TMZ.
"We are not confirming the car being seized, we are unsure where that reporter is getting that information."
Savannah asking for prayers
In a message shared on social media Monday night, Savannath Guthrie asked for prayers from the public.
“We believe in prayer. We believe in voices raised in unison, in love, in hope. We believe in goodness. We believe in humanity. Above all, we believe in Him,” she wrote. “Thank you for lifting your prayers with ours for our beloved mom, our dearest Nancy, a woman of deep conviction, a good and faithful servant. Raise your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment.”