President Donald Trump has issued a warning of the harshest federal punishment for the individuals responsible for the abduction of Nancy Guthrie, should she not be returned alive. In a recent interview with the New York Post, the President stated that the abductors could face "very, very severe—the most severe" consequences, implying the possibility of capital punishment.
The White House, upon NBC News' request for comment, directed inquiries to the New York Post interview. Nancy Guthrie, 84, was last seen on January 31, 2026, after being dropped off at her home in the Catalina Foothills near Tucson, Arizona. Her absence was reported when she did not show up for a scheduled virtual church service the following day.
Now in its third week, the investigation has seen no arrests, though the FBI recently discovered a glove two miles from Guthrie's residence, matching the attire of a person spotted on a doorbell camera on the day of her disappearance. Preliminary DNA testing on the glove has detected an unknown male's presence, adding a new lead to the tens of thousands that have been pouring in.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, together with the FBI, has been processing roughly 40,000 to 50,000 tips. The FBI has increased the reward to $100,000 for information that leads to locating Nancy Guthrie or the arrest and conviction of her abductors. The suspect is described as a male, roughly 5'9" to 5'10" tall, of average build, seen carrying an 'Ozark Trail Hiker Pack' backpack and wearing a ski mask and holstered pistol.
Sheriff Nanos has dismissed theories of a burglary gone wrong, emphasizing that the evidence points to a deliberate kidnapping. Despite the discovery of ransom notes sent to multiple media outlets and acknowledged by the Guthrie family, the motive remains unclear. Savannah Guthrie, in a video statement, indicated that the family is willing to engage with the abductor.
The Guthrie family has been ruled out as suspects, with Sheriff Nanos condemning any speculation to the contrary as cruel. The FBI has recently shared new identifying details about the suspect, intensifying the search for Nancy Guthrie and her abductors.
