Investigators Rule Out Cartel Links as Tip Review and Rewards Surpass $200 K

Updated 2026-02-20 09:41:30+00:00 (56 articles)

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DNA from glove tied to Nancy Guthrie abduction shows no CODIS match as investigators pursue new leads. Source Full size
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Nancy Guthrie, the mother of US broadcast journalist Savannah Guthrie, was last seen on 31 January. (Reuters) Source Full size
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Two young girls visit the memorial set up near the driveway to Nancy Guthrie’s residence on February 19, 2026, in Tucson, Arizona. Source Full size
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The home of Nancy Guthrie, the missing mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie, is seen from above, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in Tucson, Ariz. Source Full size
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FBI agents watch as a vehicle is towed from the parking lot of a restaurant on February 13, 2026, in Tucson, Arizona. Source Full size
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In an aerial view, Nancy Guthrie’s residence is seen on February 17, 2026 in Tucson, Arizona. Searches continue for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, after she went missing from her home on the morning of February 1. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images) Source Full size
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Evidence trail grows in search for Nancy Guthrie, with DNA, video and retail records guiding investigators. Source Full size
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TUCSON, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 18: Jeannie Maggard visits a memorial setup next to the driveway of the residence of Nancy Guthrie on February 18, 2026, in Tucson, Arizona. Law enforcement officials continue to search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, after she went missing from her home on the morning of February 1st. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Source Full size
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A joint appearance by Nancy (L) and Savannah (R) Guthrie on NBC's Today programme (Getty Images) Source Full size
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Source Full size
Image: BBC

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

Source Full size
Image: BBC

Nancy Guthrie, the mother of US broadcast journalist Savannah Guthrie, was last seen on 31 January. (Reuters) Source Full size
Image: BBC

Source Full size
Image: Newsweek

Two young girls visit the memorial set up near the driveway to Nancy Guthrie’s residence on February 19, 2026, in Tucson, Arizona. Source Full size
Image: Newsweek

Source Full size
Image: Newsweek

The home of Nancy Guthrie, the missing mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie, is seen from above, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in Tucson, Ariz. Source Full size
Image: Newsweek

TUCSON, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 18: Jeannie Maggard visits a memorial setup next to the driveway of the residence of Nancy Guthrie on February 18, 2026, in Tucson, Arizona. Law enforcement officials continue to search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, after she went missing from her home on the morning of February 1st. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Source Full size
Image: Newsweek

DNA from glove tied to Nancy Guthrie abduction shows no CODIS match as investigators pursue new leads. Source Full size
Image: Newsweek

In an aerial view, Nancy Guthrie’s residence is seen on February 17, 2026 in Tucson, Arizona. Searches continue for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, after she went missing from her home on the morning of February 1. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images) Source Full size
Image: Newsweek

Evidence trail grows in search for Nancy Guthrie, with DNA, video and retail records guiding investigators. Source Full size
Image: Newsweek

FBI agents watch as a vehicle is towed from the parking lot of a restaurant on February 13, 2026, in Tucson, Arizona. Source Full size

Disappearance and suspect profile confirmed across agencies Nancy Guthrie, 84, vanished from her Catalina Foothills home in Tucson between the night of Jan 31 and the early hours of Feb 1, 2026, after a family dinner. Door‑bell footage captured a masked male, 5 ft 9‑10 in tall, wearing a Walmart‑sold 25‑liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack and covering the camera with shrubbery [5][12][9]. Sheriff Chris Nanos and the FBI released the video, prompting a surge of public tips [9][5].

DNA analysis yields no CODIS match, prompting genealogy Gloves recovered two miles from the residence and DNA collected inside the home produced profiles that did not appear in the FBI’s CODIS database, indicating the suspect likely has no prior convictions [1][2][11]. Investigators have uploaded the profiles to public genetic‑genealogy databases, a process that could take from minutes to years [10][11]. The glove DNA also matches the gloves seen on the suspect in the surveillance video, reinforcing the link despite the lack of a database hit [1][9].

Hundreds of officers process tens of thousands of tips and offer $200 K+ rewards Multi‑agency teams, including the Pima County Sheriff’s Office, FBI, Border Patrol and volunteers, have reviewed between 13 000 and 50 000 leads, with nearly 5 000 tips arriving within an hour of the video release [5][9][12]. The FBI now offers a $100 000 reward, while the 88‑CRIME program added a $102 500 bounty after an anonymous $100 000 donation, bringing total incentives above $200 000 [2][4][7][11]. Sheriff Nanos emphasizes that the family has been cleared as suspects and urges the public to continue submitting information [7][12].

Outreach to Mexico and dismissal of cartel involvement FBI agents contacted officials in Sonora, Mexico, but the state attorney general confirmed no formal request had been received, and no evidence shows Guthrie was taken across the border [1][6][8]. Former FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer listed seven indicators—such as the absence of a ransom demand and the remote location of the home—that make a cartel kidnapping unlikely [1]. Both the FBI and local law‑enforcement maintain that the case remains a targeted abduction, not a transnational cartel operation [3][5].

Ransom notes remain unverified and many are proven fake Authorities have examined several cryptocurrency ransom demands, including an initial Bitcoin note and a later Monero‑focused request, but forensic analysis identified at least one note as a hoax leading to an arrest in California [4][5][7][8]. Sheriff Nanos has repeatedly stated that the family is not involved in any payment negotiations and that the notes’ authenticity is still under investigation [3][7]. The focus remains on locating Guthrie, with technology such as a helicopter‑mounted Bluetooth “signal sniffer” scanning for her pacemaker’s emissions [2][6][11].

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Timeline

Jan 31, 2026 – Nancy Guthrie, 84, leaves a family dinner in Tucson, is dropped off at her Catalina Foothills home around 9:30 p.m., and fails to appear at her virtual church service the next morning, prompting her family to file a missing‑person report the following day [29][30].

Feb 1, 2026 – At 1:47 a.m. the doorbell camera is removed, motion registers at 2:12 a.m., and her pacemaker app disconnects at 2:28 a.m.; police later find blood on the porch that matches Guthrie and recover 16 gloves, one of which contains DNA that does not match any CODIS profile [1][13].

Feb 2, 2026 – Sheriff Chris Nanos declares the residence a crime scene, stating “we do in fact have a crime scene” and urges the community to submit any camera footage or tips [24]; Savannah Guthrie thanks supporters on TODAY and repeats the tip line 520‑351‑4900 [25]; the sheriff’s office launches a door‑to‑door canvass and asks residents for any street‑facing video [28].

Feb 3, 2026 – Investigators discover forced‑entry signs and note that Guthrie’s cellphone, wallet and car remain inside, indicating a nighttime kidnapping [20]; President Donald Trump calls the case “terrible” and pledges additional federal agents [22]; the Tucson FBI joins the search, confirming DNA samples have been collected but yield no suspect leads [27]; the multi‑agency effort enters its third day, with the sheriff calling it a “race against time” because Guthrie needs daily medication [19]; local residents report heightened police presence and fear in the neighborhood [23].

Feb 4, 2026 – Savannah Guthrie posts a video demanding proof of life, saying “we are ready to talk” and warning that “voices and images are easily manipulated” [15]; she steps down from covering the 2026 Milan‑Cortina Winter Olympics to focus on the search [21]; law‑enforcement confirms a ransom‑note investigation but does not verify its authenticity, and Savannah temporarily steps back from broadcasting [4]; no suspect is identified, and NBC confirms she will miss Olympic duties [17]; President Trump reiterates his commitment to federal assistance [21].

Feb 5, 2026 – FBI Director Kash Patel joins the investigation, stating he will allocate all FBI resources and may travel to Tucson [14]; 911 audio released by NBC reveals Guthrie’s high blood pressure, cardiac issues and pacemaker, and President Trump calls Savannah to offer support and additional resources [18]; the family releases another video pleading for the kidnappers to contact them, while a cryptocurrency ransom note is forwarded to the FBI [16]; the FBI announces a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest [13].

Feb 6, 2026 – Savannah Guthrie warns that AI‑generated deepfake videos “can make videos appear very real,” cautioning that any proof of life must be verifiable [10]; former FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer highlights unanswered polygraph questions in the case [11]; the family urges the public to contact investigators, emphasizing Guthrie’s need for daily medication and the $50,000 reward [12]; police state they assume Guthrie is still alive and continue reviewing ransom notes [3].

Feb 10, 2026 – Sheriff Nanos reports that DNA from gloves and the home still yields no CODIS matches, while combined FBI and local rewards exceed $200,000 for information [5].

Feb 13, 2026 – Law‑enforcement searches a nearby home as part of the expanding investigation [1].

Feb 17, 2026 – The Guthrie siblings and spouses are officially cleared as suspects, and the sheriff notes that 40,000‑50,000 leads have been processed without identifying a perpetrator [9].

Feb 18, 2026 – Investigators launch genealogy analysis on the glove DNA, still finding no CODIS hit after testing against 26 million profiles; they also trace the distinctive Ozark Trail hiker pack to Walmart and canvass gun stores for the unique holster seen on video [8].

Feb 19, 2026 – FBI agents contact Mexican authorities in Sonora after reports that Guthrie may have crossed the border; the family enlists the Searching Mothers of Sonora nonprofit, which confirms no cartel involvement [2]; a new cryptocurrency ransom demand for roughly £4.5 million is forwarded to the FBI [2]; Google clarifies that recent spikes in Google Trends for low‑volume terms do not prove anyone searched for Guthrie’s address [7].

Feb 20, 2026 – Hundreds of officers review thousands of tips as the search enters its fourth week; combined rewards now total over $200,000, with the FBI offering $100,000 and 88‑CRIME adding $102,500 [6]; investigators employ a helicopter‑mounted Bluetooth “signal sniffer” to locate Guthrie’s pacemaker and continue analyzing Nest camera footage [6].

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