The FBI releases the first surveillance footage from the search for Nancy Guthrie, showing a masked man
Authorities investigating the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie released the first surveillance images Tuesday showing a masked man on the porch of her Arizona home the day she went missing more than a week ago.
Video released by the FBI shows a man wearing a backpack, long sleeves and pants walking up to the door of the mother’s home Today hosted by Savannah Guthrie. The photo shows a person trying to cover a doorbell camera near the front door with his gloved hand before using plants to block the camera’s view.
“The video was obtained from residual information found in background programs,” FBI director Kash Patel wrote in X, adding the footage shows “an armed man who appears to be tampering with the camera at Nancy Guthrie’s front door on the morning of her disappearance.”
Investigators were hoping home cameras would provide evidence of how she went missing, but the door camera was disconnected early Sunday morning.
And while the software data recorded the movement of the home minutes later, Nancy Guthrie did not have an active registration, so no video could be found, said Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos.
It was the first major break in an investigation that has raised more questions than answers, including whether the 84-year-old man is still alive. It comes at a time when law enforcement and his family are stepping up calls for help from the public.
So far, authorities have released few details, leaving it unclear whether the expired ransom money was genuine, and whether the Guthrie family had been in contact with the kidnappers.
Savannah Guthrie posted new surveillance photos on social media Tuesday with the caption, “We believe he’s still alive. Bring him home,” along with phone numbers for the FBI and the county sheriff. Within minutes, the post had thousands of comments.
Family videos
Guthrie and his family posted a series of videos over the past week, each striking a different tone. A recent message from Savannah Guthrie, in which she appeared alone, was very dark. “We are in a time of depression,” he said on Monday, telling the public: “We need your help.”
Authorities believe Nancy Guthrie was taken from her home just outside of Tucson. She was last seen there on January 31 and reported missing the next day after not attending church.
Today host Savannah Guthrie asked members of the public for help in a new video Monday, more than a week after her mother Nancy was kidnapped in Arizona. ‘We believe our mother is still out,’ he said in a video posted on his Instagram page hours before the ransom deadline.
A DNA test showed blood on Nancy Guthrie’s front porch matched her, and a doorbell camera was turned off early Sunday, an official said.
Authorities say Nancy Guthrie needs daily medication for high blood pressure and a heart condition, including a pacemaker.
Investigators have been at his property several times over the past few days and plan to continue working Tuesday as they expand the investigation and follow up on new leads, the sheriff’s department said.
Three days after the search began, Savannah Guthrie and her two siblings sent their first public appeal to the captors, telling them “we want to hear from you and we’re ready to listen.” In the recorded video, Guthrie said her family is aware of media reports about the ransom note, but they want proof that their mother is alive.
“Please touch us”, they said goodbye.
Law enforcement officials declined to say whether the letters sent to multiple media outlets were credible, but said all tips are being investigated.
The next day, Savannah Guthrie’s brother again told the captors to reach out “so we can move forward.”
NBC anchor Savannah Guthrie told her mother’s potential captors, Nancy Guthrie, on Saturday that the family is willing to pay for her safe return.
“Whoever is out there that caught our mother, we want to hear from you. We haven’t heard anything yet,” said Cameron Guthrie.
Then last weekend the family posted another video – one that was cryptic and created more speculation about Nancy Guthrie’s fate. “We got your message, and we hear you. We’re asking you now to bring our mother back to us so we can celebrate with her,” said Savannah Guthrie, flanked by her siblings.
“This is the only way we will have peace. This is very important to us, and we will pay.”
Until then, the family’s first three videos spoke directly to the kidnappers. But just before Monday’s deadline in a letter that aims to make it happen, Savannah Guthrie urged people across the country to be aware “wherever you are, even if you’re far from Tucson, if you see something, if you hear something.”
His opportunity to go public comes as much of the country is closely following the events surrounding the longtime host of the NBC morning show.
The FBI this week began posting digital billboards in major cities from Texas to California.
Connor Hagan, a spokesman for the FBI, said Monday that the agency was not aware of any ongoing communication between Guthrie’s family and the alleged kidnappers.
Authorities also have not identified any suspects or persons of interest, he said.
“Someone has that one piece of information that can help us bring Nancy home.”
