Authorities Reveal New Details About Suspect in Nancy Guthrie Case

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Authorities have more information in the search for Savannah Guthrie’s mom Nancy Guthrie.

After security camera footage surfaced of someone in a ski mask going near the 84-year-old’s house, the FBI has now shared details about the person they’re looking for.

The FBI announced on February 12th that they’ve confirmed new details about the person suspected in the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie. This information came after experts from the FBI’s technology team analyzed video from a doorbell camera.

The latest information includes a photo of the suspect and images of a backpack. Authorities describe the suspect as a man around 5’9” to 5’10” tall with an average build. He was seen in a video carrying a black ‘Ozark Trail Hiker Pack’ backpack with a capacity of 25 liters.

The FBI is now offering a $100,000 reward – up from $50,000 – for information that helps find Nancy Guthrie or leads to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance.

The Phoenix office announced yesterday that they were thoroughly searching the Catalina Foothills, north of Tucson, for Nancy, but haven’t provided any new information about what they’ve found.

On February 10th, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department briefly questioned a man before releasing him, according to MS NOW, which reported information from the police.

Since Nancy was reported missing on February 1st, her children, Savannah, Annie Guthrie, and Camron Guthrie, have released several videos asking anyone who might have taken her to get in touch and “talk.”

In a video posted to Instagram on February 5th, Camron made a direct appeal to whoever is currently holding their mother. They stated they haven’t received any direct communication and are asking for contact so they can begin to resolve the situation.

Authorities also continue to investigate potential ransom notes sent to TMZ and other outlets.

Read on for a full timeline in the case of Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance.

(TopMob and MS NOW are both part of the Versant Media family.) 

Nancy Guthrie, mother to Annie, Camron, and Savannah Guthrie, was last seen at her home in Tucson, Arizona, around 9:30 p.m. on January 31st, according to police reports.

Oh my gosh, I was so worried when I heard about Nancy! Apparently, her family reported her missing on February 1st. A friend of hers noticed she hadn’t been at church that morning – can you imagine?! – and let her family know. They searched everywhere on her property for almost an hour, but when they couldn’t find her, they had to call the police. I just hope she’s okay, I’m so concerned!

I remember Sheriff Chris Nanos explaining how the investigation started, with homicide detectives immediately going to the victim’s home. He walked us through the very first steps they took.

We usually don’t need to involve the sheriff in situations like this, but the details coming out of the house are really troubling,” he said at a press conference on February 2nd. “This case was different because of what officers described finding, and what we actually discovered at the scene.

This isn’t how things usually work,” Nanos explained. “Normally, our homicide detectives are called to investigate when someone dies. In this case, we sent them based solely on the information the surveyors provided.”

After looking into the situation, officials stated they thought something criminal happened at Nancy’s house.

During a press conference on February 2nd, Nanos stated that investigators now believe they have identified a crime scene after processing the area. He asked for the public’s assistance, noting that the community has a history of helping to solve difficult cases and he hoped they would do so again.

The sheriff pointed out that Nancy had trouble walking on her own – she couldn’t even walk 50 yards without help – which led him to suspect something wasn’t right about her disappearance.

He stated definitively, “We know she didn’t simply leave on her own.” He elaborated that evidence at the location suggests she didn’t leave voluntarily.

The search for Nancy is still ongoing, and officials are concerned because she requires daily medication to stay healthy, and she probably doesn’t have it with her.

During a press conference on February 2nd, Nanos explained that an 84-year-old woman is facing serious health issues and needs medication urgently. Without it within 24 hours, her condition could become life-threatening.

We’re asking anyone with information about this case – if you’ve seen or heard anything at all – to please get in touch. Call 911. We want to avoid another tragedy and really need the public’s help.

Although Nancy has faced some health challenges, Dr. Nanos highlighted that her thinking and mental skills remain sharp.

According to Dr. Nanos, Nancy Guthrie is mentally alert and this isn’t a case of dementia. She’s very sharp and aware. The family wants to emphasize that she didn’t simply wander off, and any physical limitations she has are simply due to her age.

With the search for Nancy still underway, Nanos expressed his hope that she will be found safe.

“I hope we find her safe and sound,” he emphasized, “but we cannot ignore what’s in front of us.”

The day after Nancy was reported missing, the anchor of the Today show shared how deeply her family is suffering.

Speaking for my family, I want to express our gratitude for all the kind thoughts, prayers, and messages we’ve received,” she said on February 2nd in an interview with NBC’s morning show. “Our top priority right now is bringing Nancy home safely.”

She expressed gratitude to law enforcement for their efforts in the investigation and asked anyone with relevant information to reach out to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.

Once Savannah Guthrie learned her mother, Nancy, had been reported missing, her colleagues on the Today show publicly expressed their support.

Jenna Bush Hager shared on the February 2nd episode of Today with Jenna & Sheinelle that she is personally close to Nancy and expressed her affection for her.

She continued, saying they were keeping Savannah and her family in their thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Meanwhile, Sheinelle Jones emphasized the importance of community during this difficult time. 

She said the show’s request for viewers to help with the investigation felt like a perfect example of the community coming together. She emphasized that even seemingly insignificant details could be important, and encouraged anyone with information to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s department.

She added, “So we’re sending our prayers but we’re also sending our collective action.”

Before concluding the segment, both hosts continued, “We love you, Savannah.”

And Sunday Today anchor Willie Geist also urged fans to keep an eye out for Nancy.

On February 2nd, he posted on Instagram asking anyone with information about the whereabouts of Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy, to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department in Arizona. He also included the sheriff’s department’s phone number, stating that she was missing.

Savannah’s former colleague, Hoda Kotb, also responded to the surprising announcement. She shared a heartwarming photo of Savannah and Nancy together on the Today show set. In a simple message on Instagram from February 2nd, Hoda posted a red heart and praying hands emoji.

Police have labeled Nancy’s home in Arizona a crime scene, but they don’t think the public needs to worry about their safety.

At a press conference on February 2nd, Pima County Sheriff Nanos stated he didn’t believe there was an immediate danger, but emphasized that the investigation was ongoing and much work remained.

As many of you know, I’ve been off of Today since February 1st, when my mother was reported missing. I want to assure everyone that local authorities have been keeping me updated and are focused on ensuring my safety throughout this difficult time. I appreciate all the concern and support.

I heard directly from the sheriff, and he assured me they’ve been talking to her. Apparently, she has a security team that’s been keeping them in the loop all night, but they’re not ruling anything out – they’re covering all bases, which is good to hear.

On Feb. 2, Pima County police shared a series of updates on the timeline of Nancy’s disappearance.

Investigators now think the woman was likely taken from her home against her will, potentially while she was sleeping, according to a Pima County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson on February 2nd. Detectives are investigating the possibility that she was kidnapped.

After reports surfaced that Nancy might have been taken from her home in Arizona while she was sleeping, Savannah made a heartfelt plea.

In a recent Instagram post on February 2nd, she shared her faith, writing about the power of prayer, the strength of unity, and a belief in love, hope, goodness, and humanity – and ultimately, in God.

Savannah continued, thanking everyone for keeping her mother, Nancy, in their thoughts and prayers. She described Nancy as a woman of strong beliefs and a devoted person, and asked for continued prayers, believing they would offer comfort and strength right now.

She added, “we need you.”

To conclude her plea, Savannah shared a Bible verse from Isaiah.

She shared a timeless verse from Isaiah, writing, ‘He will keep those with steadfast hearts, who trust in the Lord, in perfect peace.’ It’s a message for everyone, she explained.

Savannah continued, “Bring her home.”

Pima County Sheriff Nanos stated that DNA evidence was discovered at Nancy’s house, which is now being treated as a crime scene.

We collected some samples and are hoping they contain enough DNA to help us identify what we’re looking for, he told NBC News in a report on Today on February 3rd.

As a lifestyle expert, I followed the case closely, and two days after Nancy went missing, Nanos held a press conference to walk everyone through exactly what happened leading up to her disappearance. He laid out the timeline of events as he understood them, which helped the public understand the situation a bit better.

According to Nanos, the doorbell camera stopped working at 1:47 a.m., about four hours after she got back from a family visit. She shared this information at a press conference on February 5th.

The software identified someone at the door, but the video was automatically deleted because Nancy didn’t pay for a subscription. However, the representative assured her they were still working to recover the footage.

The sheriff explained that Nancy’s pacemaker app lost connection to her phone at 2:28 a.m. Later, at 11:56 a.m., her family found her missing, and they called 911 at 12:03 p.m. to report it to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.

About ten minutes after that, he explained that when their patrol teams arrive at a scene, they immediately begin responding with both search-and-rescue and detective units.

On February 4th, Savannah, Camron, and Annie read letters hoping to reach their mother and anyone holding her, asking for her safe return.

In a video posted to Instagram, the family stated they are doing everything possible and are willing to communicate. They emphasized concerns about the potential for manipulated media, and urgently requested undeniable proof that their loved one is alive and in the possession of those they are addressing.

My mom is the center of our world and everything to us. Her health is very delicate, and she’s constantly in pain. Right now, she doesn’t have the medication she desperately needs to stay alive and feel better.

The next day, Camron confirmed in a separate video that the family was still “waiting for contact.”

We’re asking whoever has our mother to please contact us. We haven’t received any direct communication, and we need to establish a way to communicate so we can begin to resolve this.

During a press conference on February 5th, FBI agent Heith Janke announced the arrest of Derrick Callella from California. Callella is accused of sending fake texts as part of a scheme to profit from the situation, and authorities are investigating a detailed ransom letter shared with TMZ as a serious threat. Callella has not yet entered a plea and was released on a $20,000 bond.

However, he noted, the Guthrie family was “still waiting for communication.”

On February 7th, the day officials told Today they had searched Annie’s Arizona property as a routine part of the investigation, Savannah posted a new video on Instagram suggesting they had received what they asked for.

Holding hands with Camron and Annie, she said in the video, “We got your message, and we understand. Please, bring our mother back to us so we can celebrate with her. That’s the only thing that will bring us peace.”

And if her intentions weren’t clear, Savannah added, “This is very valuable to us and we will pay.”

Investigators shared surveillance photos of a person of interest in the case on February 10th.

Footage from a camera on Nancy’s property shows a person wearing a ski mask and carrying a backpack walking up to the house. The individual then appears to punch the camera, damaging it. Police had previously noted the camera was broken when they responded to the property.

For the past eight days, the FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department have been collaborating with private companies to find any lost, damaged, or unviewable images or videos from Nancy Guthrie’s home. This effort included recovering data after recording devices were removed. The recovered video was found as leftover data within those systems, according to a statement shared with TopMob News.

“Working with our partners,” the note continued, “law enforcement has uncovered these previously inaccessible new images showing an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie’s front door the morning of her disappearance.”

Following the FBI’s release of video showing someone approaching Nancy’s house, investigators shared details describing the suspect.

According to the FBI’s Phoenix office, the suspect is a man around 5’9” to 5’10” tall with an average build. He was seen in a video wearing a black ‘Ozark Trail Hiker Pack’ backpack with a capacity of 25 liters.

The FBI is now offering a $100,000 reward – up from $50,000 – for information that helps find Nancy Guthrie or leads to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance.

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2026-02-13 03:18