The host of the Today show in the US has found herself at the centre of a distressing news story after her 84-year-old mum suddenly vanished.

Savannah Guthrie, who was born in Melbourne but grew up in Arizona, was not at  the anchor’s desk when the show opened with the disappearance of her mother.

Nancy Guthrie was reported missing on Sunday (local time) after she failed to go to church. She was last seen about 9.30pm Saturday.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told People that investigators believed Nancy was “taken from her home against her will, possibly in the middle of the night”.

“Taken against her will includes possible kidnapping or abduction,” said Nanos.

“We have an 84-year-old woman who went to bed Saturday night and come Sunday morning, she’s gone.

“We know, at least we believe, and I believe we know, she did not walk out of that home on her own.”

Nanos said Nancy’s “physical mobility was quite limited” and mentally she was “sharp as a tack”.

“And that too is concerning that here you have this lady who’s got all her wits about her, she knows what’s going on.

“So yeah, somebody came into that home, and I believe took her out there without her permission. It was against her will.”

Nanos said Nancy, who lived alone, was of sound mind.

“This is not dementia-related. She’s as sharp as a tack. The family wants everyone to know that this isn’t someone who just wandered off,” Nanos said.

He said she needed daily medication.

Nancy was last seen about 9.30pm on Saturday (local time) at her home in the Tucson area.

Nanos said a family member received a call from someone at church saying Nancy Guthrie wasn’t there, leading family to search for her at her home and then calling emergency services.

Her family reported her missing about noon on Sunday.

Searchers were using drones and search dogs to look for Nancy Guthrie, Nanos said.

Search and rescue teams were supported by volunteers and Border Patrol and the homicide team was also involved, he said. It is not standard for the homicide team to get involved in such cases, Nanos said.

“This one stood out because of what was described to us at the scene and what we located just looking at the scene,” Nanos said on Sunday. He was not ruling out foul play.

Nanos said search crews worked hard but had since been pulled back.

“We don’t see this as a search mission so much as it is a crime scene,” he said.

Savannah Guthrie issued a statement through NBC on Monday (local time).

“On behalf of our family, I want to thank everyone for the thoughts, prayers and messages of support,” she said.

“Right now, our focus remains on the safe return of our dear Nancy.”

Today opened Monday’s show with the disappearance of the co-anchor’s mother, but Savannah Guthrie was not at the anchor’s desk.

Nanos said Savannah Guthrie was in Arizona. She grew up in Tucson and graduated from the University of Arizona.

The ABC reports that Savannah Guthrie was born in Melbourne when her father was stationed there for work.

Nancy Guthrie appeared in a November 2025 story her daughter did about her hometown. Over a meal, Savannah asked her mother what made the family want to plant roots in Tucson in the 1970s.

“It’s so wonderful. Just the air, the quality of life,” Nancy said.

“It’s laid back and gentle.”

-with AAP