Nancy Guthrie case update: Legal commentator demands death penalty for kidnappers as search enters ninth week

Nancy Grace, former prosecutor and television legal commentator, has publicly demanded the death penalty for whoever is responsible for the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, mother of Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie. Grace made the remarks on the Hang Out with Sean Hannity podcast, stating that the person or people responsible should face the harshest possible punishment, including the death penalty, if Nancy Guthrie is not found alive.

“Poor little Miss Guthrie could hardly walk to the mailbox…and some a-hole got her out of her bed in her little PJs, barefoot, and took her out of that house.”

“I want them to get the death penalty. That is what I want… For what they have done to Miss Guthrie, there’s no other choice. I’m still holding out a thin hope that somewhere, somehow, she could be alive,” said Grace as reported by Parade.


The comments are particularly notable because Arizona is among 27 US states that authorize capital punishment, meaning the death penalty remains a legal sentencing option under state law in cases involving severe crimes such as kidnapping and homicide, subject to constitutional standards and judicial process.

Nancy Guthrie was last seen at her home in the Catalina Foothills area near Tucson on the evening of January 31, 2026, and was reported missing the following day after failing to attend a scheduled virtual church service. Evidence at the scene, including blood matching her DNA and a disabled doorbell camera, suggests she was taken against her will, and authorities continue to classify the case as a criminal investigation.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, has canvassed neighborhoods, reviewed surveillance footage, and analyzed forensic evidence.

Multiple ransom notes demanding payment in cryptocurrency have been received by media outlets and forwarded to investigators, though their authenticity remains uncertain.

Savannah Guthrie has publicly appealed for information and expressed the emotional toll the situation has taken, pausing her work on Today as the search continues. The family has offered a reward for information and continues to urge anyone with knowledge to come forward.

As of late March 2026, Guthrie’s whereabouts remain unknown, and no arrests have been announced. Authorities continue to evaluate leads, review thousands of public tips, and analyze new evidence to determine the circumstances of her disappearance. Law enforcement officials emphasize that even small pieces of credible information could prove crucial in solving the case and safely recovering Nancy Guthrie.