Sheriff in Nancy Guthrie Case Tearfully Insists, 'You Have to Have Hope'

The lead investigator in the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie's mother Nancy Guthrie was visibly emotional while discussing the case on the Today show Friday.

"You have to have hope," People reported Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told the show's hosts and audience as his voice began to shake. "You have to have hope. Come on, this is somebody’s mom. We’re gonna find her."

Nanos has spearheaded the investigation into what happened to Nancy since she was first reported missing.

The Guthrie Family Is Pleading for Answers

The Guthries have banded together to beg for answers from Nancy's presumed captors. In a very emotional video shared on social media on February 4, Savannah and her siblings Annie and Camron addressed rumors of a ransom note and said they are ready to have a conversation about where their mother is.

"As a family, we are doing everything that we can. We are ready to talk," Savannah said in the video. "However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated. 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."

Camron followed up with a second video shared on February 5. He asked the potential kidnappers to reach out to the family directly.

"Whoever is out there holding our mother, we want to hear from you," Camron said. "We haven't heard anything directly. We need you to reach out and we need a way to communicate with you so we can move forward."

Authorities Confirmed There Is a Nancy Guthrie Ransom Note

On February 5 authorities confirmed reports that they've seen a ransom note for Nancy's return — but also revealed that at least one person has been arrested in connection with a second, fake ransom note.

"My next message is to those imposters who are trying to take advantage and profit from this situation," said FBI Agent Heith Janke. "We will investigate and ensure you are held accountable for your actions."

He added: "We believe there's no evidence to connect this to Nancy's case. It was someone that was trying to profit from it, a total imposter."

Nancy Guthrie Was Last Seen at the End of January

Nancy Guthrie was last seen at her home on January 31, 2026. Authorities previously reported that her pacemaker stopped syncing with her Apple device on Sunday February 1 — the day of her disappearance. It's believed that Nancy has cardiac and blood pressure health concerns.

Nanos previously described the conditions of the home as “very concerning.”

“We took some samples that we hope would have profile of a DNA, profile that gives us some identification as to what we’re looking at,” he explained. Nanos also said that while Nancy has “no cognitive issues,” she is not currently in good physical health.