Cioni, the Italian-born AP Biology teacher at BASIS Oro Valley School, was the last confirmed person to see Nancy alive. On the fateful evening of January 31, 2026, the family enjoyed dinner and games at Annie and Tommaso’s home. Around 9:45 p.m., Cioni drove the frail pensioner — who battles heart issues, relies on a pacemaker, and needs daily medications — back to her nearby single-story desert residence. He waited until she was safely inside before leaving.
But by morning, Nancy never showed up for church. Alarmed relatives rushed over and discovered a horror scene: drops of her blood on the porch (DNA confirmed), the front-door Ring camera mysteriously disconnected at 1:47 a.m., and her pacemaker app dropping off her phone at 2:28 a.m. — the chilling moment experts believe she was snatched against her will.
Sheriff Chris Nanos, visibly strained at repeated press briefings, has repeatedly stressed that “everybody’s still a suspect” — including family members — as standard procedure in foul-play disappearances. But rumors exploded earlier this week when journalist Ashleigh Banfield, citing an “impeccable” law enforcement source on her podcast, declared Cioni “may be the prime suspect now.” She pointed to his vehicle reportedly impounded for forensic tests and federal agents swarming Annie and Tommaso’s home.
Sheriff Nanos slammed the claims as “reckless,” insisting no official suspect or person of interest has been named. Yet today’s custody move — coming amid a fresh ransom message under FBI review — has the public reeling. Insiders say detectives are laser-focused on clarifying timeline discrepancies, poring over digital forensics from family phones, and grilling Cioni about any inconsistencies in witness accounts.
Cioni, described by colleagues as a dedicated educator pᴀssionate about science, music (he plays bᴀss in local band Early Black), and the outdoors, has no criminal record. His LinkedIn paints a picture of a family man committed to teaching and life with Annie and their son. But in this high-stakes probe, even the most ordinary details are under the microscope.
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The nightmare began when Nancy vanished from her upscale Catalina Foothills home — a peaceful enclave of sprawling desert properties dotted with saguaro cacti and mountain views. Ransom notes soon flooded in, demanding millions in Bitcoin with escalating ᴅᴇᴀᴅlines. One pᴀssed without contact or proof of life, ratcheting up terror for the family. A second looms, details sealed тιԍнт.
Adding to the chaos, a California hoaxer, Derrick Callella, was nabbed February 5 for fake texts to Annie and Tommaso pretending to be the kidnapper. He admitted watching the case on TV and trying to “see if the family would respond” — but authorities insist he’s unrelated to the real demands or Nancy’s fate.
The FBI jumped in early, posting a $50,000 reward for tips leading to Nancy’s recovery or arrests. Drones buzz overhead, K-9 teams scour rugged terrain, helicopters circle — but the 84-year-old grandmother, without her vital heart meds, is in grave danger. Every hour without her could be fatal.
Savannah Guthrie, the beloved Today co-anchor who’s America’s morning comfort, has been front and center with gut-wrenching pleas. In the latest video released Saturday, she stood tearfully with siblings Annie and Camron: “We received your message and we understand. We beg you now to return our mother… This is very valuable to us, and we will pay.“
The family clings to hope amid the frenzy. Annie and Tommaso were spotted driving low-key in Tucson days ago, trying to evade the spotlight. Now, with Cioni in custody, the case has taken its darkest turn yet.
Sheriff Nanos urged the public: “If you have any information, no matter how small, contact us. We want Nancy home safely.“
As floodlights illuminate the crime scene once more and the search enters its brutal seventh day, one question burns: Did the answers lie within the family all along? Or is this another cruel false lead in a nightmare that refuses to end?
Nancy Guthrie — kind, faithful, fiercely loving — remains out there somewhere. Time is running out.
