Tommaso Cioni was the last known person to see 84 year old Nancy Guthrie before she vanished from her home in the Catalina Foothills area north of Tucson, Arizona, according to law enforcement sources and family reports in the ongoing investigation into her disappearance. The detail emerged as authorities continue to treat the case as a suspected abduction and work to piece together the timeline of events leading up to the moment she was reported missing earlier this month.
Nancy Guthrie, the mother of television journalist Savannah Guthrie, was last seen alive on the evening of January 31 when she was driven home after a family dinner by Cioni, who is married to Savannah’s sister, Annie Guthrie. Investigators have said Cioni dropped Nancy Guthrie at her residence at around 9 :45 p.m. that night, ensuring she entered the home before leaving. Cioni’s account has formed a key part of the early timeline that authorities have built as they seek to determine what happened between that moment and when she did not show up for a scheduled church service the next morning.
Friends at the local St. Philip’s in the Hills Episcopal Church became concerned when Nancy Guthrie failed to attend the service on Sunday morning, February 1. Church members and family who expected to see her that day checked her home and, finding no sign of her, called emergency services to report her missing. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department subsequently responded, and in public statements law enforcement described the circumstances as suspicious and inconsistent with a voluntary departure from the property given her age, physical limitations and the absence of personal items including her phone, car and daily medication.
Sheriff Chris Nanos has said that the residence was processed as a criminal scene, and detectives have been sifting through forensic evidence, including potential signs of forced entry, DNA samples and other physical traces that could point to what happened inside the home. Authorities have not publicly detailed the nature or extent of that evidence but have reiterated that what they observed led them to believe that Nancy Guthrie did not simply walk away.
From the outset, the sheriff’s office has been careful to cast a wide investigative net, treating all leads seriously while avoiding premature conclusions. In addition to the sequence involving Cioni’s last sighting of her that Saturday night, officers have canvassed the surrounding neighbourhood for surveillance footage, sought tips from the public, and collaborated with federal partners, including the FBI, in analysing digital data and other investigatory avenues.
Investigators have also acknowledged that the family itself has been cooperative throughout. Savannah Guthrie and her sister Annie have remained in close contact with law enforcement, and the family has made public appeals for information and prayers for Nancy’s safe return. Savannah Guthrie, a co-anchor of NBC’s “Today” show, took a leave from her broadcasting duties as the search efforts intensified and shared a message with supporters expressing gratitude for the outpouring of concern and asking for continued belief in her mother’s safety.
The fact that Cioni was the last known person to see Nancy Guthrie has drawn attention in media reports, but authorities have expressly declined to label him as a suspect or person of interest. Sheriff’s officials have stressed that identifying the last confirmed sighting is a necessary part of reconstructing the timeline and narrowing the window of possible events, not an indication of culpability.
As the investigation unfolded, law enforcement has pursued other lines of inquiry as well. Public appeals have focused on securing video footage from home security cameras, doorbell systems and dashcams from the night of January 31 through the early hours of February 1 in order to track movements in and around the area. Investigators have also examined calls and digital signals to determine whether any electronic activity from Nancy Guthrie’s phone or accounts can help establish her last known locations or contacts.
Alongside the search and investigative work, authorities have had to contend with the emotional and logistical challenges posed by high public interest in the case, both locally in Tucson and nationally given Nancy Guthrie’s profile through her daughter’s career. Sheriff Nanos has encouraged patience and cooperation from the public while warning against speculation or unfounded theories that could interfere with the work of detectives.
Some reports have suggested possible ransom communications or other messages purporting to provide details about Nancy Guthrie’s whereabouts, but law enforcement has not authenticated any such communications or confirmed they are connected to those responsible, if there are identifiable responsible parties at all. Messages received by media organisations were forwarded to authorities as potential leads, but the sheriff’s office has emphasised that its focus remains on verifiable evidence.
An ongoing concern for both the family and investigators has been Nancy Guthrie’s health and wellbeing. Officials have noted that she requires daily medication, and being without it for an extended period could pose serious risks to her condition. That concern has underscored the urgency of the case and highlighted why authorities have rejected the possibility that she wandered off on her own.
In the days since her disappearance was reported, community response in Tucson has been significant. Local volunteers, neighbours, clergy and civic groups have rallied around the family with vigils, prayer services and organised efforts to disseminate information. Tip lines established by law enforcement have received numerous calls, and a reward has been offered for information leading to a resolution in the case.
Despite those efforts, as of the latest updates investigators have not located Nancy Guthrie or made any arrests. They have not disclosed whether they have identified any persons of interest or if there are suspects under review, saying only that the inquiry remains active with detectives following up on leads and refining timelines.
The fact that Cioni was the last known person to see her has been treated as one piece of a larger puzzle rather than a defining clue in isolation. In complex investigations of missing persons, especially where foul play is suspected, establishing who was last with the individual is a routine and important step that helps narrow the window in which the suspected crime occurred. Law enforcement officials have reiterated that they are working methodically, relying on physical evidence, digital records, witness accounts and tips from the public to build a coherent picture of what took place after Nancy Guthrie was driven home that Saturday night.
As the case unfolds, authorities have asked anyone with information, no matter how minor it may seem, to contact investigators. They have warned that even small pieces of evidence, such as time stamped footage or unusual activity reported by neighbours, could prove crucial in locating Nancy Guthrie and determining what happened in the hours after she was last seen entering her home. For now, the investigation continues as both law enforcement and the family await answers in one of the most puzzling and high profile missing person inquiries in the region.
