The FBI has been conducting an extensive search along roadways near the Arizona home of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie, who has been missing for ten days. The search in the Catalina Foothills area near Tucson comes after a man was detained and later released following hours of questioning in connection with the investigation.
In a separate development, an anonymous note demanding one Bitcoin (approximately £53,000) was reportedly sent to the Guthrie family, claiming to provide the name of the individual involved. The note has not been formally authenticated. Meanwhile, Carlos Palazuelos, a 27-year-old delivery driver, told reporters he was the person detained during a traffic stop in Rio Rico but insisted he was innocent.
Authorities have released previously inaccessible still images and a 44-second video from Nancy Guthrie's doorbell camera, showing a masked individual wearing gloves and a backpack approaching her home on the morning of her disappearance. The person appeared to tamper with the camera, waving what looks like a plant and dismantling the device.
The FBI has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of Nancy Guthrie or the arrest and conviction of those involved. Detectives have searched her home, declared a crime scene, and the surrounding area, with drone footage showing agents examining a septic tank. Savannah Guthrie has made public appeals for her mother's safe return.
