Five months after Nancy Guthrie vanished, a chilling minute-by-minute timeline of her final hours comes to light—raising the terrifying question: Are we looking at THE ULTIMATE COVER-UP?

Nancy Guthrie, who is Savannah Guthrie’s 84-year-old mother, has been missing since Jan. 31.

Nancy was last seen that night when she was dropped off at her home near Tucson, Ariz., by her family. The following morning, her family reported her missing when Nancy wasn’t present for one of her usual church services. A little before noon on Feb. 1, her family went to check up on her and called police when she wasn’t home.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department (PCSD) subsequently launched an investigation.

“This is an 84-year-old lady who suffers from some physical ailments, has some physical challenges, is in need of medication — medication that, if she doesn’t have in 24 hours, it could be fatal,” Nanos said on Feb. 2. “So we make a plea to anyone who knows anything about this, who has seen something, heard something, to contact us. Call 911. We don’t we don’t need another bad, tragic ending. We need some help.”

Over the course of the next five months, both the PCSD and the FBI continued investigating leads, which have included surveillance footage showing a masked man approaching Nancy’s home the night she went missing. Despite receiving various tips, police have not shared any sort of resolution to the case as of June 2026.

Here’s a complete timeline of Savannah Guthrie’s mom Nancy’s disappearance.

Jan. 31: Nancy is last seen

Savannah Guthrie and mother, Nancy Guthrie.

Savannah Guthrie/Instagram

Nancy traveled to her local family’s home for dinner and to play games at 5:32 p.m., Nanos shared during one of the press conferences. He also shared that she traveled to the dinner via Uber and was later dropped off at home by her family.

Her garage door opened at approximately 9:48 p.m. and closed at 9:50 p.m. local time. It marked the last time Nancy was seen.

Feb. 1: Nancy is reported missing

Savannah Guthrie and her mother, Nancy Guthrie, on the ‘Today’ set in 2023.

Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty

Nancy’s disappearance was first reported on Feb. 1, after a friend from Nancy’s church noticed she was not at service and called one of her adult children, as Nanos shared in a press conference. Then, at 11:56 a.m. Nancy’s family went to her house to check on her.

Nanos said that a 911 call was made to the PCSD at 12:03 p.m., and patrols arrived on the scene at 12:15 p.m. He noted that though the department gets these kinds of calls “often,” Nancy’s case stood out “because of what was described to us at the scene and what we found and located just in looking at the scene.”

The PCSD launched an urgent search for Nancy, whom they described as a “vulnerable adult.” In the press conference that day, Nanos said that Nancy is considered “not in good physical health.”

He noted that she has “no cognitive issues,” but she does have “some physical ailments that limit her ability to move around.”

Savannah’s friend and colleague Jenna Bush Hager added later that Nancy takes daily medication, which she needs “for survival.”

Nanos shared that Nancy’s Ring doorbell camera disconnected at 1:47 a.m. on Feb. 1. Shortly after, the software detected a person on camera at 2:12 a.m., and Nancy’s pacemaker app also indicated it had disconnected from her phone at 2:28 a.m.

Feb. 2: A sheriff says Nancy’s investigation is being treated as a “crime”

Missing-person poster for Nancy Guthrie.

Pima County Sheriff’s Department

During a press conference on Feb. 2, Nanos shared that the missing persons case was being investigated as a crime.

The sheriff noted that they had reason to believe Nancy was “of great sound mind” and “did not leave on her own.”

A local sheriff in Arizona told PEOPLE that investigators had found “biological DNA” evidence at Nancy’s home. While they didn’t specify its nature, law enforcement confirmed that the DNA evidence belonged to Nancy.

Nanos told PEOPLE that in addition to utilizing a search and rescue team and reviewing surveillance footage, investigators “have taken what we believe is biological DNA-type evidence and we are submitting it to our labs.”

Savannah was absent from the Feb. 2 broadcast of Today, which began with her co-anchor Craig Melvin announcing Nancy’s disappearance before reading a statement from the Guthrie family.

That same day, Savannah acknowledged her mom’s disappearance directly in an Instagram post, urging her followers to pray for the safe return of her “beloved mom.”

Nanos spoke to PEOPLE on Feb. 2 about the investigation and the Guthrie family’s reaction, saying, “They’re devastated like anyone would be.”

Feb. 3: A source tells PEOPLE that blood was found at Nancy’s home

Savannah Guthrie and her mother, Nancy Guthrie, on April 17, 2019.

Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty

Several days after Nancy was reported missing, a source told PEOPLE that blood was found at her home.

PEOPLE confirmed that a trail of what appeared to be drops of blood could be seen on the front steps of her Arizona home, as well as remnants of an apparent Ring camera that has been removed from the front door area.

The PCSD did not respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment about the apparent blood trail.

Feb. 4: Savannah and her siblings send a video plea to potential abductor

Savannah Guthrie (center) and her siblings, Annie and Camron.

Savannah Guthrie/Instagram

Savannah posted a video on Instagram of herself with her siblings, Annie and Camron, in which they spoke out to their mother and her potential abductor. They captioned the post, “Bring her home.”

“We too have heard the reports about a ransom letter in the media,” the Today host said. “As a family, we are doing everything that we can. We are ready to talk. However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated.”

Savannah added, “We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you and we are ready to listen. Please, reach out to us.”

She also expressed concerns about Nancy’s health: “She is 84 years old. Her health, her heart is fragile. She lives in constant pain. She is without any medicine. She needs it to survive. She needs it not to suffer.”

In an interview that aired on the Today show on Feb. 4, Nanos said that authorities remained hopeful that Nancy was still alive.

“We have nothing else to go on but the belief that she is here,” Nanos said. “She’s present. She’s alive, and we want to save her.”

Feb. 5: Police confirm blood was found on Nancy’s porch

Chris Nanos speaks to the media on Feb. 3, 2026, in Tucson, Ariz.

Jan Sonnenmair/Getty

During the Feb. 5 press conference, FBI Agent Heith Janke confirmed that blood found on the exterior porch of Nancy’s Arizona home matches her DNA.

That same day, KOLD anchor Mary Coleman appeared on CNN‘s Erin Burnett Outfront and shared that an alleged ransom note was emailed to the news station. It reportedly regarded Savannah’s mother’s disappearance with “sensitive information” that “only someone who is holding her for ransom would know.”

Coleman said that they immediately sent the information to the sheriff’s department and that authorities are “still looking into the legitimacy” of the ransom note.

Agent Janke confirmed the ransom note during the press conference and said the author allegedly set a deadline of 5 p.m. that evening.

“If a transfer wasn’t made, the second demand was for next Monday,” he said. “I’m not going to go beyond that.”

He also announced that a $50,000 reward was being offered for anyone who comes forward with information leading to Nancy’s recovery or the arrest of anyone involved in her disappearance.

Feb. 9: Sources tell PEOPLE that alleged ransom notes demanded two different multi-million dollar sums with deadlines

Savannah Guthrie and her mother, Nancy Guthrie.

savannahguthrie/Instagram

Multiple sources who were familiar with the situation told PEOPLE that the first apparent ransom note believed to be tied to Nancy’s disappearance demanded two multi-million dollar payments and set a looming deadline.

The letter, sent to Arizona television stations KOLD and KGUN, allegedly demanded $4 million in bitcoin due Feb. 5, and if that was not met, an increased demand of $6 million by Feb. 9, the sources said.

After the deadline passed on the evening of Feb. 9, federal authorities said they were “not aware” of any contact between the Guthrie family and unidentified suspects.

Feb. 10: Authorities release images and video of an armed subject in connection with Nancy’s disappearance

A masked alleged suspect outside of Nancy Guthrie’s home.

Pima County Sheriff’s Department

Authorities released new images and video of an armed subject in relation to Nancy’s disappearance, with Nanos writing on X that authorities recovered the footage from “residual data located in backend systems.”

“Working with our partners — as of this morning, law enforcement has uncovered these previously inaccessible new images showing an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie’s front door the morning of her disappearance,” the statement read.

Feb. 12: FBI releases additional information about the alleged suspect

In a post on X, the FBI shared additional details about the man in the doorbell camera footage. He’s described as approximately 5’9” – 5’10” tall with an average build and was seen wearing a black, 25-liter ‘Ozark Trail Hiker Pack’ backpack in the video.

The FBI also increased its reward to $100,000.

Feb. 16: Police clear Nancy’s family as possible suspects

Savannah Guthrie and mom Nancy, Jenna Bush Hager on Wednesday, April 17, 2019.

Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Nanos shared in a statement on Feb. 16 that the Guthrie family, including all siblings and spouses, had been cleared as possible suspects in Nancy’s kidnapping. They had never been officially identified as suspects by police.

“The family has been nothing but cooperative and gracious and are victims in this case,” the sheriff said. “To suggest otherwise is not only wrong, it is cruel. The Guthrie family are victims plain and simple.”

Feb. 19: Authorities say Nancy’s kidnapper may have had an accomplice

A spokesperson for the Pima County Sheriff’s Department told PEOPLE on Feb. 19 that they haven’t ruled out the possibility that more than one suspect could be involved.

“The sheriff has said all along that while investigators are working to identify the person seen on doorbell video, they are not ruling out that that was the only person involved,” the spokesperson said.

March 12: Police say they believe they know “why” Nancy was kidnapped

Nancy Guthrie ; In an aerial view, a law enforcement vehicle is stationed outside of Nancy Guthrie’s residence on February 11, 2026 in Tucson, Arizona.

Savannah Guthrie/Instagram; Brandon Bell/Getty

In an interview with NBC News, Nanos revealed that investigators believed they knew the motive behind Nancy’s kidnapping. However, he declined to share specific details about it.

“We believe we know why [the kidnapper] did this and we believe that it was targeted, but we’re not 100% sure of that,” the sheriff said, noting that it would “be silly” to tell people that they were safe from another potential strike.

Nanos continued, “I think day one, we had some strong beliefs about what happened and those beliefs haven’t diminished. I’m not going to get into those theories. We have our beliefs. Everybody else has theirs.”

March 16: Investigators ask neighbors about surveillance footage from 20 days before Nancy was kidnapped

NewsNation’s Brian Entin shared on X that Nancy’s neighbors were asked by investigators about surveillance footage from Jan. 11 and Jan. 24. Authorities previously requested video from Ring doorbell camera users from Jan. 11 between 9 p.m. and midnight, as well as footage from Jan. 31 between 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Exactly why detectives are honing in on those two key dates remains unclear.

May 8: A human bone was found near her home but had no connection

On May 8, investigators revealed that they found remains around seven miles from Nancy’s home the day prior, a spokesperson for the Tucson Police Department told PEOPLE in a statement at the time.

However, they later determined that the human bone was a “prehistoric anthropological investigation” and didn’t appear to be related to the crime.

May 14: Nanos says the investigation is focused on “thousands and thousands” of videos

Nanos explained to PEOPLE that they are still actively investigating the crime and have turned their focus towards “thousands and thousands” of videos, digital evidence and other DNA.

“Right now, I think our focus is on the tips, the leads and the evidence we have in front of us,” he shared in an interview. “Digitally — the camera footages as well as biological, the DNA and those types of things.”

He continued, “There’s thousands and thousands of video out there from intersections and Ring cameras that we have to catalog. Maybe it’s all the white trucks are over here, all the red sedans are over here; you’ve gotta have it so that when you do find a suspect … ‘Hey, the suspect is John Doe, we got him,’ now we go and say, ‘Well, what else do we know about John Doe?’ “

Nanos specifically was referring to surveillance footage from local neighborhoods and streets, as well as nearby homes and businesses.

“I know we have DNA that is unknown who the contributor or depositor is, but I think they’re getting closer to finding out who that was,” Nanos said, adding that he has “confidence in our labs.”

While Nanos said that they don’t want to “falsely accuse somebody,” he still “100% believes” that he and his team are “gonna solve this.”

“There’s frustration because people want to know,” he said. “But this is just like any other case. Sometimes you solve them within hours or days. Sometimes it takes a long time.”

June 11: Volunteers search for Nancy in Mexico after receiving an anonymous tip

A Mexico-based volunteer group conducted a search near the U.S.-Mexico border after they received an anonymous tip that claimed she was buried there, PEOPLE confirmed at the time.

On June 11, the group’s leader told local outlet El Imparcial that they were specifically searching in a stream in Mariposa, Mexico.

“In May, the tip was received. The anonymous source said she is here. Yes, we will continue searching,” the organization wrote to PEOPLE.

They searched for her remains the first time on May 16 but didn’t find anything. However, they conducted a second search on June 10 after getting additional alleged information. The searches were unsuccessful.

June 22 and June 23: A second note alleged Nancy died, while Savannah emotionally addressed the news

Savannah Guthrie cries on air on June 23.

NBC

Nearly five months after Nancy was last seen, NBC News reported that there was a second note sent to a few news outlets days after her disappearance that alleged Nancy had died.

The alleged note — which has not been released to the public — didn’t specify details about the alleged death nor did it request a payment or make an apology. The reported message was the second one linked to her case, with the first being the ransom note demanding millions of dollars in Bitcoin for Nancy’s return, according to Tucson television station KOLD News 13.

The outlet reported that authorities connected the two notes because of the way they both concealed their location.

The following morning, Savannah — who returned to Today on April 6 — became emotional on air while pleading for someone with knowledge of her mother’s whereabouts to come forward with any information.

“‘I love you guys, and I love this place,” Savannah said through tears after the morning show addressed the news. “This is unusual and unprecedented — to say the least — to be sitting here.”

She continued, “But I can’t pretend I’m not here. And so since I am, I wanted to just take the opportunity to ask people, really to beg people, to come forward. Somebody knows something.”

Savannah acknowledged that she and her family are still in “agony” and “cannot be at peace” until they have some form of resolution.

“So no matter how much I try to come out here every day and to smile and find that joy — and I will, I promise I will — this is a moment to tell you that we need your help. We’re begging for your help. And I’m not gonna miss that opportunity,” she said, while reminding the public of her family’s $1 million reward.

“Please do the right thing for us, for our family, for our children. We love our mom, and we’ll never stop looking for her ever,” she concluded.