The investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of TODAY show anchor Savannah Guthrie, has pivoted from a desperate search-and-rescue mission into a harrowing criminal inquiry centered on the family’s inner circle. As of mid-February 2026, the quiet suburbs of Tucson, Arizona, have become the backdrop for a story that feels more like a scripted thriller than a local tragedy. Recent reports, spearheaded by veteran journalist Ashleigh Banfield, suggest that the primary focus of law enforcement has shifted toward a surprising figure: Tommaso Cioni, Nancy’s son-in-law. This development has transformed a community’s collective grief into a state of stunned disbelief as the layers of familial connection are scrutinized under the harsh light of forensic evidence.
The timeline of the disappearance begins on the evening of Saturday, January 31. Nancy Guthrie was last seen at her home in the Catalina Foothills, an area known for its scenic views and quiet prestige. According to initial reports, Nancy’s daughter, Annie, had spent the evening with her mother, reportedly sharing a final dinner before departing. The following morning, the alarm was raised when Nancy failed to appear for her customary Sunday church service—a deviation from her routine that immediately signaled to her congregation and family that something was terribly wrong. By the time the Pima County Sheriff’s Department arrived at the residence, the scene they encountered was described by Sheriff Chris Nanos as “concerning,” eventually leading to the declaration of the home as a crime scene.
Ashleigh Banfield, citing highly placed law enforcement sources, broke the news that 50-year-old Tommaso Cioni—the husband of Savannah’s sister, Annie—had been identified as a prime suspect in what is now being treated as a kidnapping and homicide. The implications are staggering. Cioni and his wife were among the last known people to have contact with Nancy. While it remains unclear if Cioni was physically present during the Saturday evening dinner, his connection to the events of that night has become the focal point of the Pima County Sheriff’s Department’s investigation. The transition of a family member from a grieving relative to a potential perpetrator is a pivot that has left the Guthrie family in an unimaginable state of emotional turmoil.
The physical evidence currently being processed by investigators points toward a calculated effort to obscure the truth. One of the most chilling details emerging from the crime scene is the state of the security infrastructure at Nancy’s Tucson home. Reports indicate that every surveillance camera on the property had been systematically damaged or disabled prior to the incident. This level of premeditation suggests an intruder who was not only familiar with the layout of the home but also specifically aware of the locations of its security vulnerabilities. For an 84-year-old woman with limited mobility, the disabling of these “eyes” on her home stripped away her final layer of protection, leaving her entirely isolated in the middle of the night.