Police Conduct Warrantless Searches in Nancy Guthrie Kidnapping Investigation
The son-in-law of missing Tucson grandmother Nancy Guthrie has not been seen publicly for over a week, yet law enforcement authorities have been able to search his Arizona home multiple times without obtaining a warrant. Tommaso Cioni, the Italian schoolteacher who was the last person to see Nancy Guthrie before her disappearance in the early hours of February 1, has reportedly been staying at a separate $1.2 million mansion within a gated community while investigators continue their probe.
Consent-Based Searches Under Supreme Court Precedent
Despite Cioni's absence from the $675,000 ranch-style home he shares with his wife Annie Guthrie (sister of NBC anchor Savannah Guthrie), Pima County Sheriff's deputies have conducted several searches of the property, including a nighttime examination on Saturday. Annie Guthrie has been present during these searches, granting officers access to the marital residence.
This warrantless access is legally permissible under established Supreme Court rulings. Two landmark cases have established that police can search a shared residence when one occupant consents, even if another resident might object. The 2006 Georgia v. Randolph decision determined that when co-occupants disagree about police access at the time officers arrive, the objecting party's refusal takes precedence. However, the 2014 Fernandez v. California ruling clarified that if an objecting resident is not physically present, their absence does not prevent another occupant from consenting to a search.
Investigation Intensifies With New Evidence
The search activity at the Cioni-Guthrie residence comes as investigators have released chilling new footage showing a masked figure tampering with Nancy Guthrie's security system on the night of her disappearance. The individual, whose gender remains unclear but appears to have facial hair, was captured on camera removing a Nest doorbell device from Nancy's front door while wearing latex gloves.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that technical teams worked to recover this previously inaccessible footage from backend systems, revealing the suspect had what appeared to be a holstered firearm and used a penlight during the tampering. Investigators have also removed a floodlight from Nancy's property after revelations that a ransom note specifically referenced this fixture.
Timeline of Disappearance
Nancy Guthrie had dinner at her daughter Annie's home on January 31 before Cioni drove her back to her $1 million residence in Tucson's Catalina Hills neighborhood around 9:45 PM. Cioni reported watching his mother-in-law enter through her garage before departing. The investigation has revealed several critical subsequent events:
- Nancy's doorbell camera was disconnected at approximately 1:45 AM
- Security cameras detected movement less than thirty minutes later
- Her pacemaker stopped transmitting data to connected devices shortly after
- Drops of blood found on her front porch were confirmed to be hers
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has stated he has not ruled out anyone, including Cioni, as potential suspects in the ongoing kidnapping investigation. The sheriff's department indicated that investigative activity is expected to continue through Tuesday as they process evidence collected from multiple locations.
Savannah Guthrie has shared the haunting security footage images on her Instagram account with the plea: "We believe she is still alive. Bring her home." The Guthrie family has maintained a public presence throughout the investigation, with both Savannah and Annie appearing in videos appealing to Nancy's kidnappers for her safe return.
