Person Detained in Nancy Guthrie Kidnapping Investigation
Law enforcement officials have detained a person for questioning in connection with the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of "Today" show host Savannah Guthrie. The detention occurred during a traffic stop south of Tucson, Arizona, on Tuesday, according to the Pima County Sheriff's Department.
Surveillance Footage Released
Hours before the detention, the FBI released surveillance videos showing a masked individual wearing a handgun holster outside Guthrie's front door on the night she vanished from her Arizona home. The footage, less than a minute in total length, depicts a person in a ski mask and backpack approaching the door, tilting their head away from a doorbell camera, holding a flashlight in their mouth, and attempting to cover the camera with a gloved hand and part of a plant torn from the yard.
FBI Director Kash Patel stated the "armed individual" appeared to have tampered with the camera, though it remains unclear whether a gun was present in the holster. The videos were recovered from "back-end systems" after investigators spent days attempting to access lost or corrupted images.
Search Operations Intensify
Authorities conducted a court-authorized search Tuesday night at a location in Rio Rico, approximately an hour's drive south of Tucson. The community of Rio Rico, with a population of 20,000, is about 15 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. Investigators have been active near Guthrie's neighborhood, blocking her driveway with vehicles and conducting door-to-door inquiries in areas where her daughter Annie Guthrie resides.
Former FBI agent Katherine Schweit commented on the surveillance footage, noting that even fully covered individuals can reveal identifiable characteristics such as girth, facial shape, or glimpses of eyes and mouth, which could generate valuable leads.
Family's Desperate Appeals
Savannah Guthrie and her siblings have released multiple video statements pleading for their mother's safe return and indicating willingness to pay a ransom. In a recent video, Savannah Guthrie expressed desperation, stating, "We are at an hour of desperation. We need your help." The family has posted the surveillance images on social media, quickly garnering thousands of comments.
Authorities have described Nancy Guthrie as mentally sound but with limited mobility, requiring several medications. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has repeatedly expressed concern that she could die without them. Guthrie was last seen at home on January 31 and reported missing on February 1, with DNA tests confirming blood on her porch as hers.
Investigation Challenges
Initial investigation efforts were hampered by technical issues. The doorbell camera at Guthrie's home was disconnected early on February 1, and while software recorded movement, Guthrie did not have an active subscription, making footage recovery difficult. Sheriff Nanos initially stated none of the footage could be accessed, but officials persisted in their efforts.
FBI spokesperson Connor Hagan confirmed on Monday that the agency was unaware of any ongoing communication between Guthrie's family and suspected kidnappers and had not identified any suspects. The FBI has begun posting digital billboards about the case in major cities from Texas to California.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reported that President Donald Trump viewed the surveillance footage with "pure disgust" and encouraged anyone with information to contact the FBI. The case continues to grip the nation as authorities work to determine Guthrie's fate and bring those responsible to justice.
