The disappearance of Nancy Guthrie has taken a darker turn as investigators say the case is now being treated as a criminal matter. Four days after the 84-year-old vanished from her Tucson home, roughly 100 sheriff’s detectives are working the case, while her family waits for answers that have yet to come.

Authorities now say they believe Nancy did not leave on her own. “We do believe Nancy was taken from her home against her will,” the sheriff said at a press conference, confirming investigators no longer think her disappearance was voluntary. The shift has intensified fears that she may have been the victim of a violent crime.

Inside her Catalina Foothills home, police found troubling signs. Law-enforcement sources say blood was discovered along with indications of forced entry, while her phone and other personal items were left behind. Video footage later showed what appeared to be blood outside the front door, with visible drops still present even after the home was released back to the family. Investigators have not confirmed whose blood it is.

The case grew more alarming after reports of an unverified ransom message demanding millions in Bitcoin surfaced, though authorities have not confirmed its authenticity. A Ring doorbell camera near the entrance was also found missing, raising questions about whether it was deliberately removed. Investigators believe Nancy may have been taken overnight, and say her pacemaker stopped syncing around 2 a.m., a detail that could help narrow the timeline.

As the search continues, her daughter Savannah Guthrie has stepped away from work to be with her family. In a message of gratitude and hope, she wrote, “Please Pray,” and added, “We believe in prayer… in love, in hope.” Her plea echoed a growing national sentiment: bring her home.