The disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, mother of Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, has taken its most devastating turn yet. On February 19, 2026, authorities revealed that DNA belonging to Nancy’s son-in-law, Tommaso Cioni, was recovered from the interior of a black Toyota RAV4 towed from her Tucson driveway just hours after she vanished on February 1. Even more disturbing: a factory-installed dashcam in the rental vehicle captured clear audio—and partial night-vision video—of the abduction itself.

Cioni, 46, married to Savannah’s younger sister Annie, has been a frequent visitor to Nancy’s Catalina Foothills home since her husband’s death in 2021. The Italian-born architect had been interviewed early in the investigation as routine family protocol. Until yesterday, no public indication existed that he was under suspicion.

The vehicle—a rental Cioni picked up in Phoenix on January 28 and returned February 3—was towed February 2 after neighbors flagged it as abandoned with keys in the ignition. Initial processing focused on fingerprints and trace evidence; the DNA hit came from epithelial cells on the driver’s headrest, steering wheel, and center console. Multiple samples matched Cioni’s profile with high statistical certainty.

The real bombshell emerged when forensic technicians restored data from the car’s dashcam, which records continuously for insurance purposes. Despite partial battery failure, a seven-minute segment beginning at 2:07 a.m. on February 1 survived. The audio is stark and unmistakable: a car door opens, footsteps on gravel, then Nancy’s startled voice—“Tommaso? What are you doing here so late?”—followed by Cioni’s calm reply: “I just need to talk, Nancy. It’s important.”

What follows is chaos: furniture scraping, Nancy crying “No—stop!”, repeated ripping of duct tape, muffled screams, and pleas identical to those later found on the hidden microphone in Daisy’s collar. Night-vision frames show a figure matching Cioni’s height (6’1″) and build moving through the living room. The footage ends with the trunk slamming and the engine starting—consistent with the tracker’s southeasterly movement pings until 2:42 a.m.

Cioni was taken into custody shortly after the DNA confirmation and dashcam restoration. He is currently held on suspicion of kidnapping, assault, and related felonies; formal charges are pending grand jury review. His attorney released a short statement: “Mr. Cioni is cooperating fully and strongly maintains his innocence. The presence of DNA in a vehicle he rented days earlier is not proof of criminal activity. We are confident the complete facts will exonerate him.”

Financial threads quickly emerged as a possible motive. Nancy’s estate, valued at approximately $4.8 million including her home, investments, and life insurance, underwent a trust amendment in late 2025 that reportedly reduced distributions to Annie and Tommaso’s family branch due to concerns over excessive spending. Bank records show Cioni had accumulated over $180,000 in credit-card debt and recently inquired about loans secured against future inheritance. The ransom notes—demanding Bitcoin and containing intimate household details—now appear to investigators as a possible attempt to misdirect attention away from family involvement.

The hidden microphone in Daisy’s collar—containing Nancy’s terrified plea “I’ll give you whatever you want”—almost certainly required access only someone close to the household would have. Cioni had stayed at the residence multiple times in recent months, including a week-long visit in December 2025 when he helped with minor home repairs. The device’s purchase in mid-December through an anonymous crypto wallet aligns suspiciously with that timeline.

Savannah Guthrie has not issued a public statement since the news broke, though sources close to the family describe her as “completely devastated” and cooperating fully with authorities. The rest of the Guthrie family has gone silent on social media. The $500,000 reward for information leading to Nancy’s safe return remains active, though investigators now privately acknowledge the focus has shifted dramatically from external suspects to internal family dynamics.

Forensic teams continue enhancing the dashcam footage, attempting to recover deleted segments and improve night-vision clarity. The black glove found 250 yards from the home, broken foliage on the welcome mat, blood drops on the porch, and now the vehicle’s interior DNA and audio recording form an increasingly airtight chain of evidence. If the voice match and partial visual identification hold in court, the case could move swiftly toward prosecution.

The revelation has stunned the nation. What began as a terrifying stranger abduction now appears rooted in familial betrayal and financial desperation. The audio of Nancy’s pleas—first heard on the dog collar microphone, now corroborated by dashcam—has left millions heartbroken. A gentle elderly woman who loved her family and her dog is still missing, and the person who may have taken her is someone she trusted.

As the investigation accelerates, the urgent appeal remains: Nancy Guthrie is medically fragile, without critical medications, and time is running out. If you have any information—however small—contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or Pima County Sheriff’s Department at 520-351-4900 immediately.

For Savannah Guthrie and her family, this is no longer just a national mystery. It is a personal tragedy of unimaginable proportions. Somewhere, Nancy is waiting to be found. Every second counts.