A second note in the Nancy Guthrie case claimed the Today anchor’s mother was dead
Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC’s Savannah Guthrie, has been missing since late January. A newly revealed note sent to media said she died after being abducted. The case remains unsolved.
There’s an update in a case much of the country has followed since the winter.
A second note connected to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today anchor Savannah Guthrie, reportedly stated that she had died. The detail comes from new reporting by NBC News and ABC News, and it’s the first time the contents of that note have been made public.
Here’s how the case has unfolded.
Timeline of the Nancy Guthrie case
January 31, 2026 — Nancy Guthrie is last seen at her home in Tucson, Arizona.
February 2 — Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos says he believes she was abducted, describing a “very concerning” scene at the house while declining to give specifics.
Shortly after her disappearance — The family receives two notes. The first demands a cryptocurrency ransom for her safe return. The contents of the second are not disclosed at the time.
February 10 — In the first major break, the FBI recovers doorbell footage of a possible suspect entering the home.
Mid-February — A person of interest is arrested, then released a short time later. Little public progress follows.
June 22, 2026 — NBC News and ABC News report the contents of the second note for the first time: it said Nancy died shortly after being abducted and was buried “somewhere in nature.”
As of now, Nancy Guthrie has not been found, and no one has been charged.
Savannah Guthrie has kept working through it
Through the ordeal, Savannah Guthrie has continued to appear on Today.
She recently spoke with Jenna Bush Hager about what returning to work has been like with her mother still missing. She described needing to hold herself together to do the job, and said being back on air brings her some comfort, two hours surrounded by people, even as the situation is never far from her mind.
“It’s not easy,” she said.
The investigation remains open. Anyone following the case can find continuing coverage from NBC News, ABC News, and local Tucson outlets, which are reporting it as the active law-enforcement matter it is.
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Article compiled and edited by Derek Gibbs (entertainment editor) and the Clownfish TV newsroom.
Hat Tips:
Variety (June 22, 2026), Jack Dunn reporting, verified for the second note’s reported contents, the case timeline, and Savannah Guthrie’s on-air comments
NBC News and ABC News (June 2026), the originating reports, verified for the second note saying Nancy Guthrie died after being abducted and was buried “somewhere in nature”
Pima County Sheriff’s Office statements (February 2026), verified for the abduction determination, the “very concerning” crime scene, the February 10 doorbell-footage break, and the arrest and release of a person of interest