Why Authorities Believe Something Went Wrong At Savannah Guthrie's Mother's Home

Authorities investigating the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie's mom, Nancy Guthrie, say mounting evidence inside her Tucson home points to a troubling possibility.

Items left behind, mobility limitations, and witness accounts have shifted the case from concern to alarm.

As the search widens with federal support, investigators and family alike fear the beloved matriarch did not leave voluntarily during the unfolding mystery.

Law enforcement officials believe the circumstances surrounding Nancy Guthrie's disappearance are far from ordinary.

According to a source close to the family, nearly all of her personal belongings were discovered inside her home, a detail that immediately raised red flags.

The source told the Daily Mail, "Her stuff was left behind at the house: keys, ID, purse, phone. Everything," painting a picture that contradicted the idea of a voluntary departure.

The source added further context, explaining, "It's not a situation where she voluntarily went away, because she didn't take any of the things you would normally take if you voluntarily went out."

Those details have weighed heavily on investigators, who say such omissions are inconsistent with routine behavior, particularly for someone of Nancy's age and physical condition.

Those closest to the case say the concerns extend well beyond missing personal items.

A source emphasized that Savannah Guthrie herself doubts her mother would have simply left on her own.

Savannah "doesn't believe that her mom just went out of her own accord," the insider said, echoing sentiments shared by authorities.

That belief was reinforced publicly when Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos addressed reporters.

He confirmed the seriousness of the situation by stating, "We do in fact have a crime scene."

The declaration marked a turning point in how the disappearance was being treated and underscored why law enforcement believes something may have gone terribly wrong inside the home.

Sheriff Nanos expanded on the concerns by highlighting Nancy's physical limitations.

He said, "She is very limited in her mobility. She did not just walk out of there."

The statement added urgency to the investigation, suggesting that the scenario of Nancy leaving alone was increasingly implausible.

Nanos continued by revealing there were additional factors at play, stating, "There are other things at the scene that indicate she did not leave on her own."

While officials have not publicly detailed those findings, the remarks fueled speculation and concern as homicide detectives joined the investigation and federal agencies became aware of the case.

Community members have also shared unsettling details.

Neighbor Paul Arnaud said he learned Nancy disappeared shortly after returning home from a church function on Saturday night.

Alarm bells rang when she failed to appear for Sunday service the following morning.

Arnaud recalled, "We heard that the front door was left open."

He added that the lack of answers has deeply troubled those living nearby.

"So a lot of us are worried that it was an abduction because they did a thorough search throughout the entire day and early evening of the entire area, and they could not find her," he said.

Another source echoed those fears, explaining, "I don't think they can say [what happened] yet, but it sounds like it was bad."

The same source stressed, "It's not like she was mentally unwell and wandered out, if you know what I mean."

As the search intensified with drones, aircraft, Customs and Border Patrol assistance, and homicide detectives involved, Savannah Guthrie addressed the public directly.

She was absent from work but released a statement expressing gratitude and urgency.

"I want to thank everyone for the thoughts, prayers, and messages of support. Right now, our focus remains on the safe return of our dear mom," she said per the Daily Mail.

She continued by urging the public to help authorities, stating, "We thank law enforcement for their hard work on this case and encourage anyone, anyone with information to contact the Pima County Sheriff's office at 520-351-4900."

Behind the scenes, NBC News staff held a prayer circle, while colleagues expressed visible emotion on air, noting that Nancy left without the medication she needs to survive.

Nancy Guthrie, a widow since 1989, is remembered as a devoted mother of three, including Savannah and her older siblings Annie and Camron.

She had recently visited her daughter at the "Today Show" Studios in New York City, a reminder of the close bond now driving a desperate search.

As authorities continue to investigate, the unanswered questions surrounding her disappearance only deepen the sense that something went wrong inside her home.