A man whose stepdaughter has been missing since 2023 said he feels for the family of Nancy Guthrie—but is frustrated that some cases receive far more attention than others.
“I am sorry hearing about Nancy Guthrie going missing, and I also know exactly what her family is going through right now since my own daughter went missing in 2023,” he wrote on X.
He added that what upsets him is the level of media coverage and law-enforcement resources being directed toward Nancy’s case, arguing it is tied to her connection to a public figure.
“What I am upset about is how she is getting so much media attention, and even help from the FBI, all because of who her daughter is,” he wrote. “Since I am not rich or famous, my daughter received three missing person reports on the news over two years time. Just wish that my daughter and all those who have family members go missing have just as much media attention as Ms. Guthrie is receiving.”
Missing Since July 2023: Shanice Ogata-Staudinger
In a 2024 social media post, the man identified his missing stepdaughter as Shanice Ogata-Staudinger.
She was last seen on the morning of July 9, 2023. The Hawaii Police Department said she was picking opihi, a type of edible limpet with a relative in the area of Kahakai Boulevard and Papio Street in Pāhoa, at a spot commonly known as “Hau Bush.”
Police said Ogata-Staudinger became separated from the relative and failed to return to a planned meeting spot later that day. She has not been seen or heard from by her family since, police said.
She is described as local with a medium build, 5 feet 2 inches tall and 150 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes. She has a dollar sign symbol tattoo on her left cheek.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the police department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311.
When Did Nancy Guthrie Go Missing?
Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie, was last seen at her home in Arizona on Saturday.
Why It Matters
Nancy has been missing for several days, and her disappearance has received national attention.
Hundreds of thousands of people go missing in the U.S. each year. In 2024, the National Crime Information Center reported 533,936 missing persons cases.
The lack of media attention on certain cases—especially concerns about racial bias—has been debated for decades. Gwen Ifill described the media’s approach to covering missing persons as “missing white woman syndrome” at a panel in 2004, Columbia Journalism Review reported.
“If there’s a missing white woman, you’re going to cover that, every day,” Ifill said at the panel.
Nancy Guthrie Update: What Investigators Have Said
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said at a news conference on Monday that Nancy requires daily medication, and it could be fatal if she did not have the medication every 24 hours.
He said officials believe “that we do in fact have a crime scene, that we do in fact have a crime.”
The sheriff also said there were things at the crime scene that indicated Nancy “did not leave on her own.”
Nancy was dropped off at her house by family on Saturday night, Nanos said. The next day, someone from Nancy’s church called the family to report she was not at church. After searching on their own, the family contacted law enforcement, Nanos said.
At a news conference on Tuesday, Nanos said investigators had finished searching Nancy’s home and turned it back over to the family. He declined to say whether authorities believe her disappearance was random or targeted.
When asked whether officials were still searching for her alive, Nanos said, “We hope we are.”
DNA samples were gathered and submitted for analysis as part of the investigation.
“We’ve gotten some back, but nothing to indicate any suspects,” Nanos said.
The sheriff’s department added on Wednesday that investigators have not identified a suspect or person of interest at this time. In a Facebook post, the department said it is aware of reports circulating about a possible ransom note or notes tied to the investigation.
“We are taking all tips and leads very seriously. Anything that comes in, goes directly to our detectives who are coordinating with the FBI,” the sheriff’s department wrote.
What People Are Saying
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, at a news conference on Tuesday: “We have a lot of work in front of us. We have a job to do, and we have someone’s life who is in jeopardy, and so job number one is we got to find her and we got to work hard to do that.”
Savannah Guthrie, Today show host and daughter of Nancy Guthrie, in a video message posted on Instagram on Wednesday: “We are ready to talk. However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated. We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you and we are ready to listen. Please reach out to us.”
What Happens Next
Anyone with information related to Nancy’s disappearance is urged to contact 88-CRIME. Tips can be submitted anonymously by calling 520-882-7463, via the P3TIPS mobile app, and online at www.88crime.org.
