Neighborhood Association issues appeal over memorial items outside Nancy Guthrie’s Arizona home

One hundred days after Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, her Arizona neighborhood association is asking supporters to stop leaving flowers and memorial items outside her home, citing safety and upkeep concerns as the search for the 84-year-old continues.

In a newsletter sent on Monday, May 11, Will Pew, president of the Catalina Foothills Association, said the growing number of tributes outside the home in Tucson, Arizona, has begun to impact the surrounding community.

He said residents near the home have been “particularly affected” and left “on edge,” as increased foot traffic from outside visitors has brought disruption to local streets. 

Pew also noted reports of behavior from non-residents that he described as “disrespectful of neighbors and the surrounding area.”

While acknowledging that the memorial items were left with good intentions, Pew said warmer temperatures, wind, and animals attracted to the offerings have created ongoing maintenance and safety issues in the neighborhood.

Instead of leaving items at the home, Pew encouraged supporters to make donations to World Vision, a global Christian humanitarian organization he said Nancy “loves.”

“Nancy has been a resident of our neighborhood for over 50 years,” Pew wrote, adding that she and her family are deeply rooted in Tucson and the Catalina Foothills community. 

“As with most of us who have lived here for decades, Nancy and her family are rooted in Tucson… and are all suffering while waiting for any news of her whereabouts.”

He concluded by urging residents to respect the family’s privacy, writing, “Our homes may be relatively far apart, but we, as neighbors, are closer than ever.”

Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie, disappeared on Feb. 1. 

Authorities believe she was abducted from her home during the night after surveillance footage reportedly showed a masked man outside her door.

Investigators have said evidence, including blood found outside the home and mixed DNA samples are still being analyzed. No suspects have been publicly identified.

The FBI is offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to her recovery or an arrest, which has since been increased to $1 million by Guthrie’s family.

Savannah Guthrie has repeatedly spoken publicly about her mother’s disappearance, sharing emotional messages and urging her safe return as the search continues.