Search For Nancy Guthrie Sparks Concern Over Aging Adults Living Alone
The Guthrie family continues to plead with the public for information on their mother Nancy’s disappearance, as the search enters its third week. “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie made another video Sunday, saying it’s not too late to return her 84-year-old mother.
New leads: Pima County investigators believe the clothing and face mask worn by a potential suspect — seen in doorbell footage from Nancy’s home — may have been purchased at Walmart.
The person’s backpack is sold exclusively at Walmart. The company has reportedly provided records of online and in-store purchases over the past several months as authorities try to locate anyone involved.
DNA was also found on a glove, which appears to match the one worn by the individual in the video. It was recovered late last week about two miles from Nancy’s Tucson-area home.
Ruling out: The Pima County Sheriff’s Department said Monday that the Guthrie family, including Nancy’s children and their spouses, are not considered suspects in her disappearance. “To suggest otherwise is not only wrong, it is cruel. The Guthrie family are victims plain and simple,” said Sheriff Chris Nanos in a statement.
Meanwhile, President Trump told the New York Post on Monday that whoever is responsible for Nancy Guthrie’s kidnapping must release her unharmed or face the “most severe” federal penalties — including the death penalty.
RETHINKING SENIOR INDEPENDENCE
Beyond the criminal investigation, this case is sparking a broader conversation about senior safety and independence. Anyone with aging parents or grandparents can attest to the underlying fear of leaving them alone — worrying about falls, medical emergencies, or scammers taking advantage of them. For Nancy’s family, the fear has become unimaginable.
By The Numbers: More than 16 million Americans age 65 and older live alone — nearly triple the share in 1950. And Americans are living longer than ever before.
Scams & Cyber Crimes: An FBI report shows that in 2024, people over 60 lost nearly $5 billion and filed the most cyber crime complaints — mostly phishing/spoofing, extortion, and personal data breaches — of any age group. That’s a 43% jump from the year before.
Physical Risks: Alert systems like Apple Watches or other fall detection devices can notify families or first responders if an older adult suffers a traumatic event; but that doesn’t cover all types of accidents.
As more seniors live alone, concerns are growing about isolation and loneliness — and how easily something can slip through the cracks. A 2024 study found that more than one-third of Americans between ages 50 to 80 feel lonely and isolated. In Nancy Guthrie’s case, it was her church community noticing she missed Sunday service that raised alarm.
THE MO NEWS COMMUNITY WEIGHS IN
We asked the Mo News Premium community if the Guthrie story has led to any changes or difficult conversations in their families. See below for some of the responses — and join premium to become part of these conversations.
Bottom line: There’s no simple answer to protecting loved ones as they age. But it’s important to start having conversations early.
“Whatever your concern, it’s important to talk about it before it happens. Ask your parent what they would like and how you can help,” Dr. Jerimya Fox says. “You want to collaborate, not dictate. No parent ever likes to be told what to do by their child… When people feel like they are making a choice, not being told what to do, they are more likely to do it.”