Search for Nancy Guthrie: FBI shares video of armed person at front door in case’s biggest break so far
Here’s the latest
• On the ground now: Law enforcement searching for Nancy Guthrie is canvassing the Arizona neighborhood of her daughter Annie. The activity comes just hours after the FBI released surveillance footage from outside Nancy Guthrie’s front door taken the night she disappeared.
• Case’s biggest break so far: There’s been an uptick in calls to law enforcement since the doorbell camera footage — which shows a masked, armed person — was released today. Shortly after the footage was shared, “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie posted a new message from her family saying they believe their mother is still alive. Here’s what what law enforcement experts say stands out in the images.
• Tonight on CNN: Laura Coates will host a live one-hour special “The Search for Nancy Guthrie” on CNN & CNN All Access at 11 p.m. ET. Submit your questions about the investigation at CNN.com/AskLaura.
Ex-FBI agent breaks down Guthrie surveillance footage
Video released today by the FBI could hold the keys to solving the case of the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie. Former FBI special agent and CNN Senior Correspondent Josh Campbell breaks down what law enforcement could learn:
How Google played a key role in recovering the video from Nancy Guthrie’s cameras
A major breakthrough in the Nancy Guthrie case largely came down to Google’s technical expertise, a person familiar with the investigation told CNN.
The mother of “Today” host Savannah Guthrie disappeared over a week ago in Arizona. But earlier today, authorities revealed footage of a masked and armed person outside her door on the day she went missing after initially saying the video was not able to be recovered. Engineers at Google, which owns Nest, were able to recover data after several days.
The task was so technically complex that investigators didn’t know if it would be successful, the source said. An FBI official said on X that the bureau released the images within hours of obtaining them.
Read more about the technical expertise required to retrieve the video.
What has the new FBI images revealed to law enforcement experts?
The FBI has released new images from a camera at Nancy Guthrie’s house, showing a person who appears to be wearing a mask.
FBI
The FBI released several photos and videos recovered from Nancy Guthrie’s Nest-made doorbell camera that shows an armed, masked individual – one piece of evidence that can tell a larger story.
The new images can offer investigators important clues about the subject’s identity – includng how the person dressed, how they walked and other important details that could help find them.
Read more about what stood out to law enforcement experts after viewing the new evidence.
There has been activity in Bitcoin account attached to purported ransom letters, TMZ founder says
TMZ: new details about possible kidnapper in Nancy Guthrie case; says ‘there is now activity in that bitcoin account’
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Investigators looking to extract even the littlest details from new video, analysts say
The newly released surveillance video from Nancy Guthrie’s front door offers a new trove of information to investigators — including some small details that could help crack the case.
The person is seen in the video bent over, walking across square floor tiles to the door. These tiles can help the FBI determine the subject’s exact shoe size, said Wallace Zeins, a former NYPD hostage negotiator and homicide detective.
“They will take his footprint, his footstep, and they’ll be able to measure the length and width of his foot compared to the length and width of the tile, because all the tiles are the same,” Zeins said.
Next, investigators are likely trying to figure out what devices the person had when they got to the house.
Neighbor of Annie Guthrie says law enforcement asked to inspect outside property
Lorenzo Jensen, a neighbor of Nancy Guthrie’s daughter Annie, talks with CNN on Tuesday, February 10, after law enforcement came by and asked to look around the outside on his property.
CNN
Lorenzo Jensen, a neighbor of Nancy Guthrie’s daughter Annie, said law enforcement came by today and asked to look around the outside on his property.
Jensen lives behind Annie’s property, which he said he didn’t know was hers until recently.
The only other time law enforcement came to his home was about five or six days ago, when FBI agents were canvassing the neighborhood and asked if he had heard anything, Jensen said.
Law enforcement in Annie Guthrie’s neighborhood
Members of law enforcement stand at the home of Savannah Guthrie’s sister, Annie, as they canvas her neighborhood Tuesday.
CNN
Thick foliage and secluded lots make it hard for cameras to capture street, neighbor says
Jeff Lamie, Nancy Guthrie’s neighbor, appears on CNN on Tuesday, February 10.
CNN
The thick desert foliage and secluded lots in the neighborhood where Nancy Guthrie lives makes it difficult for many people’s cameras to capture the street, said Jeff Lamie, her neighbor.
How Nancy Guthrie’s neighbors are supporting each other
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Officials see uptick in calls after release of images showing person at Nancy Guthrie’s door
Officials are seeing an increase in calls after the FBI released images of a person at Nancy Guthrie’s front door the night she disappeared, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department told CNN’s Jake Tapper.
Investigators are combing through leads as they continue to search for Savannah Guthrie’s 84-year-old mother.
Watch more: Tapper explains why the video of armed person at Guthrie’s door is so critical in the clip below.
Why video of armed person at Guthrie’s door is so …
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Absence of gear in photo could have a couple explanations, former FBI agent says
An image shared by FBI Director Kash Patel shows the subject in video recovered from the doorbell camera.
FBI
The FBI shared several videos and photos of a person who approached Nancy Guthrie’s home and appeared to tamper with a doorbell camera. But one photo shared by FBI Director Kash Patel appears to show the masked individual not wearing a backpack or holster, contrasting other images that do show the gear.
Technical expertise from Google helped with obtaining images, source says
Tuesday’s breakthrough in the Nancy Guthrie case came in large part thanks to technical expertise provided by Google, a person familiar with the investigation told CNN.
Google, which owns Nest, was able to recover data from the Nest-made doorbell camera at Guthrie’s front door.
The recovery process took several days and was so technically complex that investigators didn’t know whether it would be successful, the source said.
Nest has not yet commented.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the government has been “working closely with our private sector partners” to recover imagery from the cameras at Guthrie’s home.
Do you have questions about the investigation? CNN’s Laura Coates will answer them tonight
Tonight on CNN, Laura Coates will present a live one-hour special, “The Search for Nancy Guthrie.” The special will air on CNN and CNN All Access at 11 p.m. ET.
The special will include fresh reporting from the Tucson, Arizona, crime scene and analysis from former top FBI officials, profilers and forensic analysts.
Coates and her team will also be answering questions about the investigation. You can submit yours in the form below:
FBI director visited Arizona command post while in town for unrelated visit, official says
FBI Director Kash Patel visited an Arizona command post dedicated to the search for Nancy Guthrie yesterday, according to an official familiar with the matter.
Patel was in Tucson on an unrelated trip that was previously scheduled, FBI Phoenix public affairs officer Brooke Brennan previously told CNN.
Apparent kidnapping was “highly premeditated” but “poorly planned,” ex-FBI agent says
Retired FBI supervisory special agent Steve Moore appears on CNN on Tuesday to discuss newly released video of an individual at Nancy Guthrie’s door.
CNN
The apparent kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie was “highly premeditated” but “poorly planned,” retired FBI supervisory special agent Steve Moore said about the newly released video of an individual at her door.
Suspect’s daily routine has been “disrupted,” former FBI profiler says
As authorities appeal to the public for tips on the armed individual seen on video outside Nancy Guthrie’s home before her disappearance, experts say one area where public assistance may be key is in identifying anyone they know even partially resembling the masked subject whose usual life routines have now also been altered.
The person’s everyday routine will have likely been disrupted since the kidnaping had occurred, said Gregg McCrary, a former FBI profiler.
“His normal routine, going to work, going to the coffee shop, doing whatever — highly unlikely that has remained the same,” McCrary said. “He’s got a victim to take care of.”
Why it matters: Tips from the public have been instrumental in solving past kidnapping cases. If a member of the public notices differences in the behavior and lifestyle patterns of someone who may look like the suspect, experts say that could be important information for investigators.
NBC: Guthrie family does not recognize person in new images
The FBI has released new images from a camera at Nancy Guthrie’s house, showing a person who appears to be wearing a mask.
FBI
FBI releases surveillance images of masked person at Nancy Guthrie’s front door. What’s new today
The FBI released images and videos of a person at Nancy Guthrie’s front door amid the ongoing search for the 84-year-old mother of “Today” host Savannah Guthrie. Here’s what we know.
What the video shows: The video appears to show the masked individual tampering with the camera. At one point, the person picks up what appear to be plants from the front yard and covers the camera with them, the video shows.
Reward: The FBI is still offering a $50,000 reward for information about Nancy Guthrie or her captor. The agency released a new missing person poster featuring the images of the subject at the door.
New video from a pleading daughter: Minutes after law enforcement released the images taken from the front porch of Nancy Guthrie’s home, Savannah Guthrie reposted the photos and video on her Instagram account with a message from her family. “We believe she is still alive. Bring her home,” Savannah Guthrie wrote.
What is the person wearing? The individual in the video is wearing a mask, gloves and a backpack. The person appears to be armed, and the “universal nylon style holster” is not the type of holster someone who regularly carries a gun would use, according to a former police captain.
A show of support: Savannah Guthrie’s husband and colleagues are rallying in support to help find the subject in the newly released images. In his first public plea, Savannah Guthrie’s husband reposted the images on Instagram and said, “Someone out there might recognize this person. Please help us. Bring her home.”
Pima County sheriff asks people to keep 911 lines open, not share “opinions or commentary”
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department asked the public to not call 911 or their non-emergency line unless they have actionable tips, saying the lines are “not the appropriate venue” for “opinions or commentary.”
“The Pima County Sheriff’s Department recognizes that members of the community may have thoughts, opinions, feelings or questions regarding the Nancy Guthrie case,” the department said in a post on X.
“We respectfully ask that only actionable tips be submitted through one of the following channels: 1-800-CALL-FBI, 88-CRIME, 520-351-4900, or tips.fbi.gov,” it said.
Masked person appears at ease in video, expert says
The masked individual seen on camera outside Nancy Guthrie’s home appeared to be at ease, according to a former assistant director of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, Chris Swecker.
“He’s not rushing,” Swecker told CNN’s Boris Sanchez, noting the video was captured in the middle of the night. “He knows he’s not being observed. So he can take his take his time.”
The person may have previously visited the home, Swecker theorized.
Now that the video has been released, the person in the video is likely feeling a bit panicked, Swecker added. “Once you get some kind of video out there, all the dominoes start to fall,” he said.
“I think this person is trying to decide whether to just hunker down or get on the move,” Swecker said. “If they get on the move, that’s an easier way to to capture them.”
Guthrie’s husband and colleagues rally in support to help find the subject in newly released images, video
Savannah Guthrie’s husband and her colleagues are echoing the “Today” show host’s pleas and urging the public to help identify the masked individual released in photos and videos by the FBI as a subject in Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance.
Guthrie posted the images of the person on her Instagram, writing in the caption that she believes her mother’s still alive. She later posted video of the person walking up to Nancy’s home and covering the doorbell camera.
Her husband Michael Feldman echoed his wife’s post, adding “Please help us.”
In the high-desert outskirts of Tucson, Arizona, where the Catalina Foothills cast long shadows over quiet homes, an 84-year-old woman vanished into the night on February 1, 2026. Nancy Guthrie, mother of NBC’s “Today” show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, was last seen when a family member dropped her off at her residence on the evening of January 31. What began as a missing persons case quickly escalated into a suspected abduction, gripping the nation with ransom notes, cryptic demands, and mounting dread. Now, on February 10—Day 10 of the ordeal—the FBI unveiled what investigators call the biggest breakthrough yet: surveillance video and photos from a Google Nest doorbell camera showing a masked, armed individual tampering with the device at Nancy Guthrie’s front door in the early morning hours of her disappearance.
The footage, recovered from “residual data in backend systems” after the camera was disconnected at 1:47 a.m., depicts a figure in a ski mask, gloves, long sleeves, pants, and a backpack approaching the porch. The person appears to hold a flashlight in their mouth while using a gloved hand—and what looks like ripped vegetation from the yard—to obscure the camera lens. A holstered handgun is visible at the waist, leading FBI Director Kash Patel to describe the individual as “armed” in a statement posted on X. “Working with our partners—as of this morning, 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,” Patel wrote, urging the public to come forward with tips.
This visual evidence marks a pivotal shift in a case that has seen little concrete progress until now. The images have sparked an uptick in calls to the FBI tip line (1-800-CALL-FBI), with authorities offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to Nancy’s recovery or the arrest of those involved. Experts analyzing the footage note distinctive traits: a possible puffy jawline suggesting facial hair, an athletic build, olive complexion, and a calm, deliberate demeanor—described by former FBI profiler Mary Ellen O’Toole as “very cool, calm, and collected.” The outfit appears purposeful, not haphazard, raising questions about premeditation.
The chilling two-word statement that investigators believe completely changed the course of the search? “We’re ready.” Delivered in a family video released by Savannah Guthrie and her relatives, the phrase was part of a direct appeal to the abductor(s): “We’re ready to talk.” Aired amid reports of ransom notes demanding millions in Bitcoin, the statement signaled unconditional willingness to negotiate, sending a “clear, unconditional signal” to whoever holds Nancy. Former FBI agents analyzed it on programs like Fox’s “Hannity,” noting its urgency and the family’s belief that Nancy remains alive. The plea came after deadlines in the notes passed without proof of life, heightening fears but also prompting this public outreach that experts say could prompt communication from the perpetrator.
Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance unfolded rapidly. Reported missing around noon on February 1 after failing to answer calls, authorities found signs of forced entry and possible blood in the home—though details remain guarded. Initial statements from Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos described her as “taken against her will,” later clarifying “figuratively” from her bed but emphasizing the abduction theory. Ransom communications arrived at local media outlets, including specifics about Nancy’s Apple Watch and clothing that night, lending credibility but also complicating the investigation. The FBI has stressed no contact with kidnappers has been confirmed, and no suspect identified—until this video.
The release has ignited speculation and action. Social media exploded with shares, theories, and calls for vigilance. On X, users posted reactions ranging from heartbreak to analysis: one noted the backpack’s distinct features, urging sightings nationwide. Body language experts highlighted the subject’s gait and jawline as potential identifiers. Cybersecurity analysts suggested the tampering indicates familiarity with security systems, possibly ruling out random crime. The footage’s recovery relied on Google’s technical expertise, underscoring how modern tech can preserve evidence even when devices are disabled.
For the Guthrie family, the breakthrough offers hope amid agony. Savannah Guthrie, a familiar face on morning television, has maintained composure in public while privately enduring the unimaginable. Family statements plead for information, emphasizing Nancy’s sharpness and vitality—she’s “sharp as a tack,” per early reports. The video’s release aligns with a surge in FBI resources, including personnel from across the country assisting in Tucson. A command post operates 24/7, with SWAT and other units involved in leads.
Broader implications ripple outward. This case highlights vulnerabilities in home security—how easily a camera can be neutralized—and the power of public appeals in abductions. It also underscores the emotional toll on high-profile families: Savannah’s visibility has amplified attention, drawing national scrutiny and support. Critics question media handling of ransom details, but the focus remains on recovery.
As of February 11, 2026, the investigation intensifies. Authorities urge anyone recognizing the individual—perhaps from gait, build, or gear—to contact the FBI. The two words “We’re ready” echo as both plea and pivot, transforming a quiet disappearance into a national manhunt. In the shadow of those doorbell images, hope persists that Nancy Guthrie will come home.
Timeline of Key Developments
January 31 Evening: Nancy dropped off at home.
February 1, ~1:47 a.m.: Camera tampered with/disconnected.
February 1, Noon: Reported missing.
Early February: Ransom notes surface; blood, forced entry reported.
February 10: FBI releases video/photos; family states “We’re ready to talk.”
Ongoing: Tip surge, reward offered, search continues.
Evidence Snapshot
Detail
Description
Significance
Masked Figure
Ski mask, gloves, backpack, holstered gun
Indicates planning, armed threat
Tampering Method
Gloved hand + vegetation to cover lens
Attempt to avoid detection
Time
Early morning Feb. 1
Ties directly to disappearance
Recovery
Backend residual data via Google
Breakthrough despite disconnection
Family Statement
“We’re ready to talk”
Opens negotiation channel
The video’s stark clarity cuts through days of uncertainty, offering investigators—and the public—a face (albeit masked) to pursue. As calls flood in, the hope is that one tip turns “We’re ready” into “She’s home.”
