A person has been detained in Arizona in connection with the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of US television host Savannah Guthrie. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department said deputies had detained a subject during a traffic stop south of Tucson and were questioning them in relation to the investigation.
The development came hours after the FBI released images of an armed man in a ski mask tampering with the door camera at Nancy Guthrie’s home near Tucson on the morning she vanished. FBI Director Kash Patel said the images, previously inaccessible, had been recovered from residual data in back-end systems.
Savannah Guthrie issued an emotional plea for help earlier this week, saying the family was at “an hour of desperation”. Authorities have not confirmed the authenticity of a ransom demand reportedly made by the kidnappers, but the Guthrie family said they would pay to ensure her safe return.
The FBI has not yet identified a suspect. Efforts to contact the kidnappers have reportedly stalled, with officials stating there has been no further communication. The bureau said it was sending additional agents to Tucson, where Nancy Guthrie’s blood was found outside her home.
The family’s pastor, Michael Rudzena, described Nancy as a “strong woman” and “fiercely loving”. Authorities believe she was taken from her home on 1 February. The doorbell camera had been disconnected, hindering initial investigations.
