Nancy Guthrie is the mother of NBC News journalist and Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie. On February 1, 2026, she was taken from her home in Catalina Foothills, a suburb of Tucson, Arizona. Before the case made headlines, she was a respected public relations professional and a much-loved figure in her Tucson community.
Nancy Guthrie Wikipedia
Nancy was born Nancy Ellen Long on January 27, 1942, in Fort Wright, Kentucky. Fort Wright sits about 5 miles from downtown Cincinnati. She grew up there before her life took her across the world and finally to Arizona.
She lived in the Tucson area for more than 50 years after moving there with her family in the early 1970s. People who knew her describe her as warm, upbeat and deeply faithful.
For most of her life, Nancy stayed out of the spotlight. That changed in 2026, when her disappearance became one of the most watched missing person cases in America. Seven months later, no suspect had been named.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Nancy Ellen Long Guthrie |
| Nickname | Nancy |
| Profession | Retired Public Relations and Communications Professional |
| Date of Birth | January 27, 1942 |
| Age | 84 years (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Fort Wright, Kentucky, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Zodiac Sign | Aquarius |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Known For | Mother of Savannah Guthrie; her 2026 disappearance case |
Nancy Guthrie’s Height, Weight and Physical Appearance?
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Height | 5 feet 4 inches (about 163 cm) |
| Weight | 150 pounds (about 68 kg) |
| Eye Color | Blue |
| Hair Color | Brown |
These details come straight from the FBI’s official poster for her case. The FBI lists her with brown hair, blue eyes, a height of 5’4″ and a weight of 150 pounds.
Her health is an important part of her description. The FBI calls her a vulnerable adult who has trouble walking, uses a pacemaker and needs daily medicine for a heart condition.
Even so, her family says her mind was very sharp. Relatives described her as mentally sharp and independent, and she lived alone in her home.
Nancy Guthrie Career
Nancy showed an interest in writing and news early on. After graduating from Notre Dame Academy, she went to the University of Kentucky, where she worked on the student newspaper.
For many years, she was a full time mom. That changed after her husband died. She took a public relations job at the University of Arizona so that Savannah and Annie could go to college without paying tuition, as Savannah told The Hollywood Reporter in 2016.
Her work went well beyond office tasks. She ran the Center Stage program, which brought monthly lunchtime concerts to the hospital for staff, patients and visitors. She was also program director for Medcamp, a yearly program that introduced select Arizona high school students to medicine.
Her peers noticed her hard work. In 2000, she was elected president of the Southern Arizona chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.
Is She Married? Who is Nancy Guthrie’s Husband?
Nancy was married to Charles Guthrie, a mining engineer. His job took the family to Melbourne, Australia, where Savannah was born in 1971. They returned to the United States two years later and settled in Tucson.
Their life changed forever in 1988. On June 10, 1988, Charles died suddenly at 49, leaving Nancy, then 46, to finish raising their three children alone. He died of a heart attack while working in Mexico.
Savannah was only 16 at the time. She has called her mother the “rock” who kept the family together after that loss. There are no public reports of Nancy remarrying.
Nancy Guthrie’s Net Worth 2026
| Money Linked to Her Case | Amount |
|---|---|
| Ransom demanded in a note (February 2026) | $6 million in Bitcoin (reported) |
| FBI reward | Up to $100,000 |
| Guthrie family reward | $1 million |
| Total reward offered | About $1.2 million |
| Family donation to NCMEC | $500,000 |
No trustworthy source has ever published a net worth figure for Nancy. She was a private person, not a celebrity. Her main income came from her long career in university public relations and communications, and later from retirement.
The dollar amounts people see in the news are tied to her case, not her personal wealth. One reported ransom demand asked for $6 million, with a deadline of February 9. On February 24, her family offered a $1 million reward and also gave $500,000 to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children to help other families in similar pain.
Family Background
Nancy raised three children with Charles. Their names are Camron, Annie and Savannah.
Annie Guthrie is a writer, jeweler and teacher at the University of Arizona Poetry Center, and Camron Guthrie is a retired Air National Guard pilot. Annie is married to Tommaso Cioni.
Her youngest, Savannah, became one of the best known faces on morning TV. It was Nancy who pushed her to study journalism in college, which started her career. Savannah and her husband Michael Feldman have two children, Vale and Charley.
Major Events in Nancy Guthrie’s Life
Nancy’s life has had big turning points. She was born in Kentucky in 1942, lived in Australia in the early 1970s and then made Tucson her home for five decades.
The loss of her husband in 1988 pushed her back into the workforce, where she built a strong career. For her 80th birthday in 2022, Savannah honored her on air, praising how she faced hard times with grit and faith.
Her family last saw her on the evening of January 31, 2026, when her son in law dropped her off at home. The next day, a church member told the family she had missed a planned livestream of the church service, and relatives found her gone.
On February 10, the FBI released doorbell camera footage of an armed, masked person outside her home. In June, reports revealed that a note sent in February claimed she had died soon after being taken. No proof of this has been announced, and on September 15, Savannah made a new public plea, saying the family just wants to bring her mom home and give her a proper goodbye.
Lesser-Known Facts About Nancy Guthrie
| Fun Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| High School | All-girls Notre Dame Academy near Cincinnati |
| First Taste of Journalism | Worked on the University of Kentucky student newspaper |
| Lived Abroad | Spent time in Melbourne, Australia, in the early 1970s |
| Professional Title | Held the APR (Accredited in Public Relations) credential |
| Hospital Concerts | Ran the Center Stage lunchtime music program |
| TV Appearances | Appeared on Today several times over the years |
| Tucson Home | A burnt adobe house in the Catalina Foothills |
Many people know Nancy only as Savannah’s mom, but she built a career of her own. The Southern Arizona PRSA chapter lists her as its 2000 president, with the APR title after her name. That credential shows serious skill in her field.
Her home also has a story. The family settled into a burnt adobe home in the Catalina Foothills near Campbell Avenue and Skyline Drive.
She was no stranger to TV either. Nancy appeared on Today a number of times, including a Tucson homecoming segment where she and her daughters shared lunch at El Charro downtown.
Faith was central to her daily life. She stayed active in her community and went to church regularly.
Nancy Guthrie Social Media
Nancy did not have any confirmed public social media accounts. She lived a quiet life and was not an online personality.
Most public updates about her come from her daughter. Savannah Guthrie shares family statements and pleas on her Instagram account (@savannahguthrie). Savannah first spoke about the case in a video posted on social media on February 4, 2026, alongside Annie and Camron.
For official news, the FBI and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department are the most reliable sources. Anyone with information can call the Pima County Sheriff’s Department tip line at 520-351-4900 or the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
FAQs
How old is Nancy Guthrie?
She was born on January 27, 1942, which makes her 84 years old in 2026.
Has Nancy Guthrie been found?
No. As of late September 2026, she has not been found and the investigation is still active.
Who was Nancy Guthrie’s husband?
Her husband was Charles Guthrie, a mining engineer who passed away in 1988 at age 49.
What did Nancy Guthrie do for a living?
She worked in public relations and communications at the University of Arizona for many years.
How tall is Nancy Guthrie?
According to the FBI, she stands 5 feet 4 inches and weighs about 150 pounds.