Authorities Deem Message in Nancy Guthrie Case Not Credible, Warn Against Scams
Investigators looking into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie have concluded that a recently reported message purporting to be connected to her case is not credible. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department announced the determination after reviewing the communication in coordination with the FBI. Officials continue to urge the public to report any suspicious messages through official channels and to refrain from engaging with unverified claims.
Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC “Today” show co-host Savannah Guthrie, was reported missing after she failed to attend church as expected. She was last seen at her home in the Catalina Foothills area near Tucson, Arizona, on the evening of January 31. Family members contacted authorities the following day once they realized she had not been located.
During the course of the investigation, several media organizations have received communications claiming some connection to Guthrie’s disappearance. Authorities have previously described certain of those messages as illegitimate attempts to solicit money. In this latest instance, investigators assessed the information provided and determined the message lacks credibility. The case remains active, with law enforcement continuing to evaluate leads and encourage anyone with potentially relevant information to share it through established official channels.
Law enforcement has also released photographs and video footage related to the investigation in an effort to generate additional tips. Officials emphasize that the public should rely on verified updates from the investigating agencies and avoid circulating unsupported claims about the circumstances surrounding Guthrie’s disappearance. Spreading unconfirmed information can complicate efforts to assess genuine leads.
Alongside the assessment of the message, authorities have issued a broader warning about potential scams linked to the case. They advise members of the public not to send money or provide personal or financial information in response to unsolicited messages that invoke Guthrie’s name or claim knowledge of the investigation. Such messages may be designed to exploit public concern. Preserving the content of any suspicious communication and reporting it to law enforcement—without responding or transferring funds—helps protect individuals while still allowing investigators to review the material.
The determination that one particular message is not credible addresses only that specific communication. It does not resolve questions about the origin of other messages that may have been received, nor does it establish Guthrie’s whereabouts or the circumstances of her disappearance. Those matters remain under active investigation. Public attention to a high-profile missing-person case can increase visibility and generate useful information, but it can also attract misleading or opportunistic claims. Messages that invoke the name of a missing person may carry an emotional urgency that prompts quick responses; officials stress that such urgency should not substitute for verification of the source and confirmation that investigators recognize the information as genuine.
Anyone who believes they have information that could assist the investigation is encouraged to contact the appropriate law enforcement agency directly. Those who receive suspicious messages should preserve the relevant details and report them without engaging further. Official updates from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and partner agencies remain the most reliable source of information as the investigation continues. The assessment of this message represents a discrete development within an ongoing inquiry, and investigators continue to follow up on relevant leads.
