Authorities in Tucson have arrested a man on driving under the influence charges after he was allegedly observed circling the home of missing 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie up to one hundred times. The Pima County Sheriff's Department confirmed that Antonio De Jesus Pena-Campos, aged 34, was taken into custody late on Thursday evening following reports of suspicious activity near the Guthrie residence.
Dramatic Arrest Scene Captured on Camera
According to police statements, reporters first noticed Pena-Campos operating a blue Chevrolet SUV at an unusually slow pace in the vicinity of Nancy Guthrie's Tucson property. Upon arrival, law enforcement officers conducted a field sobriety test which the suspect reportedly failed. Footage obtained by media outlets shows deputies using flashlights to illuminate the vehicle's interior before Pena-Campos exited the car.
The arresting officers then administered standard impairment tests, during which Pena-Campos was observed attempting to walk in a straight line and following a small flashlight with his eyes. Following these procedures, he was handcuffed and placed into a sheriff's department cruiser for transport.
Disturbing Pattern of Behavior
Before official confirmation of the arrest, NewsNation correspondent Brian Entin reported that the driver had been repeatedly stopping outside the Guthrie property, passing by between fifty and one hundred times. A media photographer who approached the individual reportedly noticed he had a photograph of Nancy Guthrie displayed on his mobile phone.
"It is weird. There's some just like creepy people that come by," Entin commented regarding the unusual behavior. Despite the concerning circumstances, authorities have explicitly stated that Pena-Campos's arrest is not connected to Nancy Guthrie's ongoing disappearance case.
Search Enters Fourth Week Without Resolution
The arrest occurs as the search for Nancy Guthrie approaches its fourth consecutive week without substantial leads. The mother of three was last seen on January 31st after being dropped off by her son-in-law, Tommaso Cioni, following a family dinner and game night at her eldest daughter's residence.
She was reported missing the following morning after failing to appear for a scheduled church service. Security footage from her Nest doorbell camera captured an unidentified individual wearing a ski mask outside her door in the early hours of February 1st, shortly before her pacemaker ceased transmitting data to her connected devices.
Family's Emotional Appeals Continue
Nancy Guthrie's children, including Today Show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, have made multiple emotional public appeals for information regarding their mother's whereabouts. In a recent video posted to her Instagram account, Savannah acknowledged for the first time that her mother might not be alive.
"We need to know where she is, we need her to come home," she stated tearfully. "We also know that she may be lost, she may already be gone. She may have already gone home to the Lord that she loves."
The Guthrie family has increased their reward offer to one million dollars for information leading to Nancy's safe return. Savannah has posted explanatory videos detailing how tipsters can submit anonymous information to the Federal Bureau of Investigation while remaining eligible for the substantial cash reward.
Investigative Resources Being Reorganized
According to sources familiar with the investigation, the FBI is currently scaling back its nearly month-long intensive search operation for Nancy Guthrie. Agents are establishing a new command post located more than one hundred miles from Phoenix, while some personnel will remain stationed in Tucson to continue investigative work.
Authorities emphasize that this operational adjustment does not indicate any reduction in investigative commitment. Agents were recently observed conducting additional searches of portions of the Guthrie property that had been examined previously, as part of procedures to return the residence to family control.
The Pima County Sheriff's Department and FBI continue their collaborative investigation into Nancy Guthrie's disappearance, though few viable leads have emerged despite extensive efforts. The case remains active with no confirmed connections to Thursday's DUI arrest near her home.
