TUCSON, Ariz. – Nancy Guthrie has been missing from her home in Tucson’s Catalina Foothills since the early morning hours of February 1, according to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.
At 84, she is the mother of Savannah Guthrie, one of the co-hosts on Today, and her disappearance has gained significant international attention.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos indicated that her house was considered a crime scene early on in the investigation, implying that she may have been taken from her home against her will.
While new evidence has emerged both publicly and privately, no suspects have been named or arrested by lawmakers or the FBI.
Timeline of Events
A timeline released by Sheriff Nanos shows that Nancy had dinner with family and was dropped off around 9:48 PM on January 31. Then, her garage door was recorded closing at 9:50 PM. The Google Nest Doorbell camera, however, went offline at 1:47 AM on February 1, with her pacemaker losing connection shortly after, around 2:28 AM. Nancy was reported missing around noon that same day.
Key Evidence
1. Video Evidence
Footage from a Nest camera shows a masked man carrying a loaded backpack with a holstered firearm on a doorstep.
FBI analysts have assessed that he is approximately 5 feet 9 to 5 feet 10 inches tall and of medium build. He was seen with a black Ozark Trail backpack, which is affordable, around $11 at Walmart.
Additionally, a police officer suggested that the holster, identified as a Strategy brand large hip holster (another Walmart item), appeared to fit a small semi-automatic handgun.
Walmart’s extensive surveillance systems may assist in determining when these products were purchased.
Interestingly, the camera captured the suspect obscuring the view with some plants just before the footage ended. As it turns out, the camera was not at the scene when police arrived.
The FBI’s ability to recover the video was a significant development. While there were other cameras in Guthrie’s home, it remains uncertain if more footage can be accessed to aid in the investigation.
2. DNA Evidence
A DNA sample collected from inside Guthrie’s home did not match her or her close contacts. This leads investigators to match it with gloves found within a two-mile radius of her home. The FBI mentioned that a glove collected matches the one seen in the surveillance video, containing DNA from an unidentified male. This will be checked against a federal database soon.
3. Blood Evidence
A blood stain on the front door of Guthrie’s home matches her genetic profile, but investigators haven’t determined whether it was there before her disappearance. Sheriff Nanos opted not to discuss specific evidence from the scene.
4. Pacemaker
Guthrie’s pacemaker could help trace a timeline since its connection to her smartphone was lost and might potentially lead to a trail. Authorities used advanced Bluetooth scanning technology from the air to search for signals from the device, but this search was not successful.
5. Cameras and Digital Forensics
Experts suggest that surveillance from nearby cameras, cell tower data, and other digital forensics could be crucial. This information has likely influenced how investigators approached various persons of interest, including a recent interrogation of a man from Rio Rico.
Police have collected thousands of tips related to the case, urging everyone within a two-mile radius of Guthrie’s home to submit any security footage that might show suspicious activities from January 1 to February 2. A tip led to a search of a particular residence, as well as a vehicle nearby, resulting in the temporary detention of three individuals, though they have not been charged with any crime.
The FBI is offering a $100,000 reward for information that could lead to solving the case. If you have any tips, you can contact them at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
