The investigation into the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, mother of Today show anchor Savannah Guthrie, has reached a critical stage as law enforcement in Pima County, Arizona, works to separate fact from the speculation fueled by the digital age. Nancy Guthrie has been missing since January 31, 2026, when she was last seen being dropped off at her home near Tucson. In the weeks that followed, the lack of information was filled with rumors and unfounded accusations, many of which targeted the very people most devastated by her absence: her family. A major update from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department has now officially shifted the focus of the investigation, giving the family a somber but necessary reprieve from public scrutiny.
On Monday, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos issued a definitive statement aimed at quelling the rumors that had plagued the Guthrie family since the search began. For weeks, attention had focused on Tommaso Cioni, the last person to see Nancy alive that Tuesday evening in late January. Because he was the final person to interact with her, Cioni became the subject of intense social media speculation. Addressing these concerns, Sheriff Nanos emphasized the importance of preventing Cioni and other relatives from being “wrongly scrutinized” simply because of their proximity to the timeline of the disappearance.
The statement was unequivocal. “The Guthrie family—including all siblings and spouses—has been cleared as possible suspects in this case,” Sheriff Nanos declared. He described the family’s conduct throughout the ordeal as “cooperative and gracious,” stressing that suggestions of their involvement were not only false but also “cruel.” By officially designating the Guthrie family as “victims plain and simple,” the Sheriff’s Department sought to redirect public attention away from speculation and toward finding the actual perpetrator.