Additional Coverage:
- Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance: A complete timeline of the case so far (businessinsider.com)
Mother of “Today” Host Savannah Guthrie Still Missing After 12 Days; Abduction Suspected
TUCSON, AZ – Twelve days have passed since Nancy Guthrie, mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie, mysteriously vanished from her Arizona home, leaving authorities and family members with more questions than answers regarding her disappearance.
Eighty-four-year-old Nancy Guthrie, who has limited mobility, a pacemaker, and requires daily medication for a heart condition, is believed to have been abducted from her residence in the dead of night.
A crucial piece of evidence has emerged from her missing Nest doorbell camera: recovered photos and videos show a fully masked, armed individual tampering with the device on the night she disappeared.
The case has garnered national attention, fueled by reports of purported ransom notes and emotional video pleas from Savannah Guthrie and her siblings.
Below is a timeline of events, compiled from information released by the FBI and local law enforcement, detailing the developments in the search for Nancy Guthrie.
The Night Nancy Guthrie Vanished
On January 31, at approximately 5:30 p.m. MST, Nancy Guthrie had dinner with her family. She was dropped off at her ranch-style home in the Catalina Foothills, just outside Tucson, shortly before 10 p.m. that evening.
“We know that because we have the garage door open at approximately 9:48 p.m.,” stated Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos. “At 9:50 p.m., that garage door closes.” He added, “It’s at that time we assume that Nancy’s home and probably going to bed.”
Doorbell Camera Goes Dark
At 1:47 a.m. on February 1, Nancy Guthrie’s doorbell camera disconnected, according to police. At 2:12 a.m., the doorbell software detected a person on the camera. Initially, investigators could not retrieve this footage as Nancy Guthrie did not have a subscription to store her doorbell feed.
However, a breakthrough occurred when authorities, with assistance from “private sector partners,” successfully recovered some doorbell footage from “residual data located in backend systems,” as announced by FBI director Kash Patel on X.
Sixteen minutes after the doorbell camera detected a person, police reported that Nancy Guthrie’s pacemaker app disconnected from her phone.
Family Discovers Disappearance, Calls 911
Sheriff Nanos reported that Nancy Guthrie’s family went to check on her at 11:56 a.m. on February 1 after she failed to appear for church. A sheriff’s department spokeswoman later clarified that Nancy Guthrie was expected at a friend’s house to watch a livestream of a church service but never arrived.
Following a frantic search of her home, family members called 911 at 12:03 p.m. on February 1 to report her missing. Authorities arrived minutes later, at 12:15 p.m., discovering Nancy Guthrie’s doorbell camera removed and drops of blood on the front porch, which later matched her DNA.
Purported Ransom Notes Emerge
In the days following her disappearance, purported ransom notes were sent to various local and national media outlets. One note reportedly included a monetary demand with two deadlines, according to FBI Phoenix’s special agent in charge, Heith Janke, at a February 5 press conference. The deadlines have since passed.
Authorities have not publicly verified the authenticity of these notes but are taking them “seriously.” A California man was arrested on February 5 and charged with sending a fake ransom demand to the Guthrie family.
Savannah Guthrie Pleads for Mother’s Return
Savannah Guthrie released her first video message on February 5, pleading for her mother’s safe return. In the Instagram video, she appeared alongside her siblings, Annie and Camron Guthrie, and directly addressed those who might have her mother.
“We, too, have heard the reports about a ransom letter in the media,” Savannah Guthrie stated. “As a family, we are doing everything that we can.”
She continued, “We are ready to talk. However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated.
We need to know, without a doubt, that she is alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you, and we are ready to listen.
Please, reach out to us.”
A second plea was issued on February 6, with Camron Guthrie urging “whoever is out there holding our mother” to contact the family directly. “We haven’t heard anything directly,” he said.
“We need you to reach out, and we need a way to communicate with you so we can move forward. But first, we have to know that you have our mom.
We want to talk to you and we are waiting for contact.”
On February 7, in another Instagram video with her siblings, Savannah Guthrie addressed the abductors, stating, “We received your message and we understand.” She added, “We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her.
This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay.”
As the search entered its ninth day without major developments, Savannah Guthrie posted a fourth Instagram video on February 9, appealing to the public for assistance. “We are at an hour of desperation, and we need your help,” she said, emphasizing, “We believe our mom is still out there.” She urged the public to report anything “strange” to law enforcement.
Breakthrough in the Case with Released Footage
On day 10 of Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, the FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department released videos and images of a person of interest. The black-and-white footage, recovered from the Nest doorbell camera, shows a masked, armed individual at the front door the night she was taken.
The person, wearing a backpack and gloves, appears to use a flashlight held in their mouth while attempting to block the camera lens with plants. The exact time the footage was recorded was not immediately clear.
Earlier, on February 10, an FBI spokesperson stated that the agency was “not aware of any continued communication between the Guthrie family and suspected kidnappers, nor have we identified a suspect or person of interest in this case at this time.”
Savannah Guthrie shared these images and videos on Instagram, reiterating, “We believe she is still alive. Bring her home.” She added in another post, “Someone out there recognizes this person.”
Man Briefly Detained for Questioning
Hours after the doorbell camera footage was released, Arizona authorities briefly detained a man for questioning. The man, identified as a local delivery driver named Carlos Palazuelos, told reporters he had no knowledge of Nancy Guthrie or the case.
“I don’t know anything,” he stated, according to video posted on X. “I hope they get the suspect because I’m not it.”
“Persons of Interest” and Thousands of Tips
FBI Director Kash Patel told Fox News on February 10 that law enforcement had made “substantial progress” in the case over the past 36 to 48 hours. “I do believe we are looking at people who, as we say, are persons of interest,” Patel said. “But as you know, with any investigation, you are a person of interest until you are either eliminated or you are actually found to be the culprit or the culprits involved, and that’s the stage we’re at right now.”
Early in the investigation, the FBI offered a reward of up to $50,000 for information related to Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance. By February 11, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department reported receiving nearly 18,000 tip calls, with over 4,000 of those calls coming within 24 hours of the doorbell footage release.
Read More About This Story:
- Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance: A complete timeline of the case so far (businessinsider.com)