Nancy Guthrie latest updates: FBI releases 1st surveillance images from night of disappearance

The search for Savannah Guthrie’s 84-year-old mother is in its second week.

Savannah Guthrie and mother Nancy Guthrie on the set of the “Today” show in 2023; and new surveillance photo on Guthries porch of suspect. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images, FBI.)

The FBI on Tuesday released new surveillance photos from the night Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, disappeared.

The images show someone wearing a ski mask and gloves. In a post on X, FBI Director Kash Patel said the images came from a video that “was recovered from residual data located in backend systems.”

“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.”

Local and federal authorities are tirelessly working as the investigation stretches into a second week.

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Nancy Guthrie was reported missing from her home located just north of Tucson, Ariz., around noon on Feb. 1. An alleged ransom note that demanded $6 million in bitcoin and threatened the life of Nancy Guthrie set a deadline of 5 p.m. Monday, which has now passed. Law enforcement has not verified the authenticity of the note that was sent to several news outlets last week.

The FBI on Monday said it wasn’t aware of any contact between the Guthrie family and any suspected kidnappers. “The FBI is 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,” the FBI said in a statement.

Savannah Guthrie released a new Instagram video on Monday, pleading with followers for their help as the agonizing search for her mother — which she called a “nightmare” — continues. The news anchor asked followers, even if they’re far from Tucson, to report anything they see or hear that might seem strange to law enforcement.

“We are at an hour of desperation, and we need your help,” she concluded.

Anyone with information is encouraged to reach out to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department tipline at 520-351-4900 or the FBI tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
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FBI releases surveillance images from night of Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance

In a post on X, FBI Director Kash Patel released new images relating to the investigation of the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie.

“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,” the post states.

Sheriff’s department has no planned press briefings after FBI releases new images

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department, which has been working with the FBI in the investigation, said there are no planned press briefings following the FBI’s release of surveillance images of someone outside Nancy Guthrie’s front door the morning of her disappearance.

What we know about Nancy Guthrie’s health

Nancy Guthrie does not have cognitive issues and was characterized as “sharp as a tack” by Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos last week. He noted, however, that she does have limited mobility.

“It’s a challenge for her to get, as the family says, she couldn’t walk 50 yards by herself,” he said.

Nancy Guthrie has a pacemaker, which disconnected from its phone monitoring app in the early morning hours on Feb. 1, the same day she was reported missing.

Savannah Guthrie, flanked by her sister, Annie Guthrie, and brother, Camron Guthrie, posted an emotional video last week in which they mentioned their 84-year-old mother’s “fragile” heart and health.

“She lives in constant pain. She is without any medicine. She needs it to survive, and she needs it not to suffer,” Savannah Guthrie said in the video.

Nancy Guthrie was supposed to be at a friend’s house to watch church service the day she was reported missing

A new detail in the timeline of Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance reveals that the 84-year-old was supposed to go to a friend’s house to watch a church service streamed online the morning of the day she was reported missing, according to NBC News, which cites a source close to the family. When Nancy Guthrie didn’t arrive, that’s when friends notified the Guthrie family.

Guthrie and her friends would regularly gather together to watch the church services online, the source said.

Law enforcement expected to release surveillance photo of potential subject in Nancy Guthrie case, NBC reports

A surveillance photo showing a potential subject in the investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance is expected to be released by law enforcement officials as soon as today, NBC News reported, citing two senior law enforcement officials.

How AI might be complicating the investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance

Last week, in the first video that the Guthrie family posted since their mother Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, they acknowledged news of an alleged ransom note.

“We are ready to talk. However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated,” Savannah Guthrie said, adding that they required proof their mother was still alive.

Before the rise of AI, providing proof of life could include having a hostage take a picture while holding a newspaper with the date or talking over the phone, Joseph Lestrange, a law enforcement veteran, explained to NPR News.

But now with the prevalence of AI, it’s easy for someone to use certain modeling tools to mimic someone’s voice, or likeness in photos, videos and audio to create “deepfakes.”

“You give it the right prompts, it can pretty much make up just about anything,” Lestrange said.

While investigators haven’t revealed whether any such proof of life has been received, Lestrange explained that federal agencies have “very effective” tools to examine the authenticity of a piece of evidence, like its location data or pixels — local and state agencies might not have access to the same tools.

Savannah Guthrie says in video: ‘We are at an hour of desperation, and we need your help’

Savannah Guthrie pleaded for help from followers in an Instagram video on Monday.

She thanked everyone for all the prayers and love their family has felt, including their mom. “We believe somehow, some way, she is feeling these prayers and that God is lifting her even in this moment and in this darkest place,” Guthrie said in the video. “We believe our mom is still out there. We need your help. Law enforcement is working tirelessly around the clock trying to bring her home, trying to find her. She was taken and we don’t know where, and we need your help.”

Guthrie asked followers to report anything that seems strange to law enforcement. “We are at an hour of desperation, and we need your help,” she concluded.

FBI releases photos of potential subject in Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance

FBI Director Kash Patel shared new photographs from a doorbell camera of a potential subject in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie. (Courtesy of Kash Patel on X).

WASHINGTON (TNND) — Federal authorities have released the first surveillance photos showing a “potential subject” as the investigation continues in the disappearance and alleged kidnapping of the mother of “TODAY” show host Savannah Guthrie, Nancy Guthrie.

FBI Director Kash Patel shared the photos and two videos in a post on X Tuesday afternoon.

Over the last eight days, the FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department have been working closely with our private sector partners to continue to recover any images or video footage from Nancy Guthrie’s home that may have been lost, corrupted, or inaccessible due to a variety of factors – including the removal of recording devices,” Patel wrote.

Patel said the video was recovered from residual data located in backend systems. The video and photos show a person wearing a backpack, long sleeves and pants walking up to the door and attempting to conceal the camera with a glove. The person then turns and grabs some plants and places them in front of the camera.

Investigators had been hopeful that cameras at the home would turn up some evidence about how she went missing, but the doorbell camera was disconnected early Sunday. And while software data recorded movement at the home minutes later, Nancy Guthrie didn’t have an active subscription, so none of the footage could be recovered, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos had said.

FBI Director Kash Patel shared new photographs and video from a doorbell camera of a potential subject in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie. (Courtesy of Kash Patel 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 said.

Anyone with information should call 1-800-CALL-FBI or visit http://tips.fbi.gov.

Nancy Guthrie has been missing since Sunday, February 1, after she did not show up for church services. She was seen the night before, around 9:45 p.m., after having dinner at her daughter, Annie Guthrie’s, home in Tucson, Arizona.

FBI Director Kash Patel shared new photographs and video from a doorbell camera of a potential subject in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie. (Courtesy of Kash Patel on X).
On Monday, the FBI said they are unaware of any communication between Savannah Guthrie and potential kidnappers after over a week passed since her mother went missing. They also have not identified any suspects or persons of interest in the case. In a video posted to social media Monday afternoon, Savannah Guthrie said her family is in “an hour of desperation.”

“Please. bring her home. we need you. she needs you. all of you,” the video caption reads.

Three news outlets received alleged ransom letters and at least one made monetary demands with deadlines set for the ask. The first deadline passed on Thursday and the second deadline passed on Monday evening. It was unclear if the notes were authentic.

The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for any information or tips related to the case.

DNA tests showed blood on Guthrie’s front porch was a match to her, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said. Investigators said they have no proof of life but hope she’s “still out there.” Nancy Guthrie needs daily medication for reported high blood pressure and heart issues, including a pacemaker.

Law enforcement remains on scene at Nancy Guthrie’s home and will continue to search the area on Tuesday, “including the expansion of the search and follow-up on new leads,” the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said.

The timeline of Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department shared the following timeline of Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance last Thursday:

Saturday, Jan. 31

5:32 p.m. — Nancy takes an Uber to her daughter Annie Guthrie’s nearby home for dinner
9:48 p.m. — Nancy’s family drops her off at home and the garage door opens
9:50 p.m. — The garage door closes

Sunday, Feb. 1

1:47 a.m. — The doorbell camera disconnects
2:12 a.m. — Software detects a person or animal on camera, but no video is available
2:28 a.m. — Nancy’s pacemaker app disconnects from her phone
11:56 a.m. — Nancy’s family goes to the home to check on her after receiving a call that she was not at mass that morning, an unusual occurrence
12:03 p.m. — Nancy’s family places a 911 call to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department to report her missing
12:15 p.m. — Authorities arrive at Nancy’s home