The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has revealed the key reason why no surveillance footage could be recovered from Nancy Guthrie‘s Ring doorbell camera during the critical early morning hours of February 1, 2026, when investigators believe the 84-year-old mother of NBC Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie was abducted from her home in Tucson’s Catalina Foothills neighborhood.

During a press conference on Thursday, February 5, Sheriff Chris Nanos provided a detailed timeline and explained the technical limitation: Nancy Guthrie did not have an active paid subscription to the Ring camera’s cloud storage or video recording service. As a result, the camera’s footage was set to automatically overwrite (loop and cover up) old recordings, making it impossible to retrieve video from the night in question.

Specifically:

At 1:47 a.m. on February 1, the doorbell camera disconnected from the network.
At 2:12 a.m., the camera’s motion detection software registered a “person on camera,” but no video was available because of the lack of subscription. Sheriff Nanos noted that without the paid service, recordings are not saved to the cloud and are overwritten on the device itself. He added, “It just kind of loops and covers up. That’s what our analysis teams have told us,” and speculated that the detected motion “could be an animal” or a person, but without footage, it remains unclear.
At 2:28 a.m., Nancy’s pacemaker app disconnected from her phone, further narrowing the suspected abduction window.

The sheriff emphasized that even though motion was detected, the absence of a subscription meant the video was not preserved and cannot be recovered. Forensic teams have examined the device, but the overwriting process has eliminated any chance of retrieving the relevant clips. This is a common issue with Ring and similar doorbell cameras: basic models often require a subscription (like Ring Protect) for cloud storage, event history, and video playback beyond live view; without it, footage is limited or lost.

Additionally, the Ring camera itself was found missing or removed from its mount by the time investigators arrived at the home (mount left behind), which has raised questions about whether the perpetrator intentionally disabled or took it. Sheriff Nanos confirmed authorities are investigating this aspect but declined to speculate further on whether it was forcibly removed or by whom. The home had multiple cameras, and investigators are working with technology companies to review any other available footage from on-site or neighboring systems, though no breakthrough leads from surveillance have been publicly reported.

This revelation has frustrated many following the case, as doorbell cameras are often key in such investigations, but the subscription issue—combined with the device’s removal—has left a critical gap in visual evidence. Authorities continue to urge neighbors to check their own Ring, Nest, or other security cameras for footage from the evening of January 31 into February 1, particularly after 8:00 p.m., and to submit any tips.

The investigation remains active with no named suspects or persons of interest. Nancy was last seen around 9:30–9:45 p.m. on January 31 after family dropped her off post-dinner. She failed to attend church the next morning, leading to her being reported missing around noon on February 1. Evidence includes blood droplets on the porch (confirmed as hers via DNA), items left behind (cellphone, wallet, keys, medications), and her car in the driveway.

Other elements complicating the case include unverified ransom notes sent to media outlets (demanding Bitcoin), Nancy’s prior warnings about a possible threat (including a 12-second audio clip mentioning “someone who used to have a key to the house,” an old neighbor’s return after 11 years, and a note left bedside with a crossed-out line), three strange calls to her phone that night, and a suspicious unmarked white van seen nearby days earlier.

The FBI is involved, offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to Nancy’s recovery or arrests. The family—Savannah, sister Annie, and brother Camron—continues to plead publicly for her safe return, emphasizing her strength, faith, and the need for undeniable proof of life if any captor reaches out. Nancy, described as kind, funny, and fiercely loving, relies on a pacemaker and daily medications, heightening urgency.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or the Pima County Sheriff’s tip line anonymously. As the search enters its sixth day, hope persists that Nancy will be found alive amid the growing web of mysteries.