Tommaso Cioni, husband of Annie Guthrie and son-in-law to the missing 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, has given his first public interview since her disappearance from her Tucson home, delivering an emotional account that has reshaped public perception, silenced baseless family accusations, and provided investigators with fresh perspective on the critical evening of January 31, 2026. Speaking to Arizona reporters on February 17, Cioni recounted the final hours spent with his mother-in-law, offering a humanizing glimpse into a family now living every parent’s nightmare while reinforcing the external nature of the crime.

The sequence leading to Nancy’s abduction began ordinarily enough. On the evening of January 31, Nancy joined her daughter Annie and son-in-law Tommaso for dinner and family games at their nearby residence. Cioni drove her back to her Catalina Foothills home, arriving around 9:48 p.m. He walked her to the door, ensured she entered safely, exchanged goodnights, and returned home. That routine drop-off marked the last verified human contact before the masked intruder was captured on Nancy’s Nest doorbell camera at 2:12 a.m., tampering with the device before forcing entry. At 2:28 a.m., her pacemaker disconnected from its monitoring app, indicating she was likely moved beyond Bluetooth range or the device was disabled.

Cioni’s decision to speak came amid a torrent of online vitriol that had wrongly cast him as a central suspect. Social media threads and true crime communities amplified rumors after initial reports highlighted that he was the last person to see Nancy alive. Conspiracy theories ranged from financial motives to suggestions of a cover-up within the family, with some users dissecting body language in family statements or questioning why Cioni did not remain longer. The speculation reached such intensity that Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos felt compelled to intervene publicly on February 16, declaring: “The Guthrie family—to include all siblings and spouses—has been cleared as possible suspects in this case. They have been nothing but cooperative and gracious and are victims in this case plain and simple.”

In the interview, Cioni appeared visibly moved as he relived the evening. “We had a great time—dinner, laughter, card games, the usual family stuff,” he said. “I drove Mom home, helped her in, made sure the lights were on and she was settled. I told her I loved her, gave her a hug, and left. It felt completely normal.” His voice broke when addressing the aftermath: “The next morning Annie couldn’t reach her, and everything changed. We called the police immediately. We’ve given them every detail—our phones, our movements, everything. We’ve been polygraphed, our home searched, our lives turned inside out because we want her found.”

Cioni directly confronted the rumors: “The accusations online are devastating. They hurt Annie, they hurt all of us, and they take energy away from the real search. We’re not hiding. We’re grieving, praying, and helping however we can.” His emphasis on the mundane details of the night—dinner conversation about grandchildren, lighthearted games—countered narratives of family discord and aligned perfectly with the sheriff’s clearance. By humanizing the final interaction, Cioni helped redirect scrutiny toward the masked suspect and the physical evidence: the forced entry, the glove found two miles away with unknown male DNA, and biological traces inside the home not matching Nancy or close contacts.

The broader investigation continues unabated. More than 50,000 tips have been received, with authorities pursuing genetic genealogy on the unidentified DNA samples after no CODIS matches. A custom Bluetooth sniffer developed by ethical hacker David Kennedy is being used in aerial searches to detect the pacemaker’s signal. Ground teams, K-9 units, and drones scour the desert terrain daily. Ransom notes appeared early but led nowhere. Sheriff Nanos has stressed the family’s full cooperation, including voluntary polygraphs and property searches that corroborated their accounts.

Savannah Guthrie, along with Annie and brother Camron, has kept the public updated through heartfelt videos. In her latest, she appealed directly to anyone with knowledge: “It’s never too late to do the right thing. You’re not lost or alone.” The family’s unity, amplified by Cioni’s statement, has helped quell destructive speculation and refocus national attention on the intruder.

Cioni’s confession—raw, unscripted, and deeply personal—served as a pivotal moment. By sharing the ordinary beauty of that last evening, he underscored the randomness of the tragedy and the family’s genuine victimhood. His regretful reflection—”I wish I’d stayed longer, walked her all the way in, something”—resonated widely, reminding everyone how quickly normalcy can shatter.

As the search reaches day 19, obstacles remain: an elderly woman with heart conditions missing in harsh terrain, no direct DNA matches in CODIS, and the possibility of a sophisticated or unknown perpetrator. Yet Cioni’s words have injected clarity and empathy into a case clouded by suspicion. They remind investigators—and the public—that behind the headlines are real people enduring unimaginable pain.

The nation continues to rally, with vigils, reward funds, and widespread sharing of appeals. Authorities urge anyone with information to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or Pima County Sheriff’s Office. In the quiet aftermath of a routine goodnight, Tommaso Cioni’s honest voice may prove the turning point that brings Nancy Guthrie home.