Authorities investigating the case of Nancy Guthrie have reportedly uncovered new information regarding the suspect featured in a recent alarming doorbell surveillance video.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos informed CBS News that investigators suspect the clothing and face mask worn by the individual in the video were bought at Walmart, and efforts are underway to identify the specific brand.
The FBI had previously indicated that the individual seen on the surveillance footage is a man of average build, estimated to be between 5 feet 9 inches and 5 feet 10 inches tall.
Moreover, police indicated that the suspect’s backpack, identified as a black Ozark Trail hiker, is exclusively available at Walmart.
While authorities are still trying to establish whether these items were procured online, in Arizona, or elsewhere, Nanos mentioned that they have spent several days examining security footage from local Walmart stores.
Reports suggest that Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie, was abducted from her home in Tucson late at night, with her disappearance dating back to February 1.
Nanos highlighted that the backpack serves as one of the most promising leads in the investigation.
Walmart has provided investigators with purchase records related to Ozark Trail hikers, covering both online and in-store transactions over the previous months, including those made outside the Tucson area, Nanos stated.
While CBS News did contact Walmart’s corporate office for a comment, the spokesperson declined to provide any statements.
Investigators suspect that the face mask worn by the suspect was black, although it appeared lighter in the video, likely due to the infrared technology of the camera.
The FBI reiterated that the individual seen in the surveillance video is of average build and approximately 5 feet 9 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall.
Nanos mentioned that DNA evidence has also been collected, and while a body was retrieved from Guthrie’s property during the ongoing investigation, it has not yet led to identifying any suspects.
Various law enforcement agencies spent significant time searching homes within a three-mile radius of Guthrie’s residence. Nanos explained to CBS affiliate KOLD that this operation was executed in response to following up on leads related to a search warrant that did not result in any arrests. However, further details about the findings and what led authorities to these locations remain undisclosed.
On Tuesday, the FBI released footage and images captured by Guthrie’s doorbell security camera. In a statement, they noted that the man in the footage was armed.
FBI Director Kash Patel shared on social media that efforts were being made to recover images and video footage from Guthrie’s home that may have been lost or damaged, stating that some video was retrieved from residual data on backend systems.
