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Masked Suspect Identified in Nancy Guthrie Disappearance as FBI Releases New Evidence

Updated (45 articles)
  • A joint appearance by Nancy (L) and Savannah (R) Guthrie on NBC's Today programme
    Image: BBC
    A joint appearance by Nancy (L) and Savannah (R) Guthrie on NBC's Today programme (Getty Images) Source Full size
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    Image: BBC
    Source Full size

Night of 31 January disappearance triggered immediate search. Nancy Guthrie, 84, left her Catalina Foothills home around 21:30 local time after family dropped her off, and she vanished later that night, prompting a 911 call and a multi‑agency search that began on 31 January [1]. Police and the FBI responded quickly, canvassing the neighborhood and interviewing neighbors. Over 13,000 tips have been logged since the incident [1].

Security systems disabled and pacemaker link severed early February. At 01:47 on 1 February the home’s doorbell camera was disconnected and removed, and at 02:28 the Bluetooth connection between Guthrie’s implanted pacemaker and her phone was broken [1]. Investigators view both actions as deliberate attempts to obscure surveillance and health‑monitoring data. Family members reported the anomalies, raising suspicion of an organized intrusion.

FBI footage shows masked man with backpack near home. Released video captures a masked, armed male covering the doorbell camera lens with plants; he is estimated 5 ft 9‑10 in (175‑177 cm) tall, carries a 25‑litre Ozark Trail hiker pack, and appears to wear clothing purchased at Walmart [1]. The suspect is seen walking around the property shortly after the disappearance. Authorities have circulated the image nationally to solicit identification.

Glove DNA yields male profile distinct from victim. Sixteen gloves were recovered from the scene, one located two miles from the house; DNA from that glove produced a preliminary male profile that does not match Guthrie and aligns with the suspect seen on video [1]. Additional unknown DNA was also found inside the residence, indicating multiple individuals may have been present. Analysts are comparing the profile to national databases for a match.

Detentions, searches, federal reward, and presidential involvement. Police detained a man on 10 February but released him hours later; another individual identified only as Carlos publicly denied involvement [1]. A nearby home was searched on 13 February and a traffic stop conducted, yet no arrests followed. The FBI offers a $100,000 reward, President Donald Trump ordered federal assistance, and investigators examined several ransom‑note claims, including a fake note that led to a California arrest [1].

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Timeline

Jan 31, 2026 – Nancy Guthrie, 84, leaves her Catalina Foothills home by Uber at 5:32 p.m., is dropped off at daughter Annie’s house, and returns around 9:48‑9:50 p.m.; the garage door closes at 9:50 p.m., and she is last seen entering the house that night [5][10][11].

Feb 1, 2026 (early morning) – At 1:47 a.m. the home’s doorbell camera is removed, motion is logged at 2:12 a.m. without video, and her pacemaker app loses connection at 2:28 a.m.; forensic testing later confirms blood on the front porch matches Guthrie [2][5][11][21].

Feb 2, 2026 – Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos declares the residence a crime scene, holds a press conference confirming forced‑entry signs and emphasizing that Guthrie could not have left voluntarily because of limited mobility and daily medication needs [25][28][29][30].

Feb 3, 2026 – Sheriff Nanos refuses to narrow the timeline to preserve tips, investigators release 911 audio describing Guthrie’s critical heart condition, and search teams deploy drones, K‑9 units, and Border Patrol assets while noting the pacemaker’s loss of signal around 2 a.m. [21][17][23][24].

Feb 4, 2026 – President Donald Trump announces on Truth Social that he is directing all federal law‑enforcement agencies to assist; the FBI joins the search after forced‑entry evidence is found, and Savannah Guthrie steps down from hosting the 2026 Milan‑Cortina Winter Olympics to focus on the case [20][18][19][27].

Feb 5, 2026 – Savannah Guthrie posts emotional Instagram and Facebook videos pleading for proof of life and urging the public to call with tips; the family releases a second video appeal, the FBI offers a $50,000 reward, forensic analysis confirms the porch blood belongs to Guthrie, and a glove recovered two miles away yields an unknown male DNA profile [12][13][14][15][16][11][6].

Feb 5, 2026 (later) – FBI Phoenix chief Heith Janke warns that AI‑generated deepfake videos cannot be trusted, citing a December IC3 advisory about fake ransom media; a California man, Derrick Callella, is arrested for sending a fraudulent Bitcoin ransom demand unrelated to the disappearance [6][1].

Feb 6, 2026 – Pima County police operate under the belief that Guthrie is still alive and continue an all‑hands‑on‑deck search using dogs, drones, helicopters, and a DNA sample from a glove found two miles away; former FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer flags four unanswered polygraph questions, and Sheriff Nanos reiterates his conviction that the victim survives despite no suspect [1][4][7][6].

Feb 6, 2026 (evening) – Savannah Guthrie issues a direct Instagram plea for “undeniable proof of life,” warning kidnappers that modern AI can fabricate convincing images and videos, while the FBI reiterates that any such media must be verified [6].

Feb 6, 2026 (briefing) – Authorities schedule a follow‑up briefing for Thursday at 1 p.m. ET to update the public on leads and the ongoing investigation [13].

Feb 16, 2026 – Police detain a man on Feb 10 and conduct additional searches, but no arrests are made; the FBI raises the reward to $100,000, sets a second Bitcoin‑payment deadline for the upcoming Monday, and reports over 13,000 tips have been received [2].

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