Federal investigators are at a new critical stage in the investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie and have released surveillance images of a masked person in front of her Arizona home just prior to her disappearance.
The new evidence has ramped up the hunt and renewed public interest in a case that has left investigators and Guthrie’s family looking for answers.
Nancy Guthrie, 84, the mother of television journalist Savannah Guthrie, was reported missing after she did not show up for her usual Sunday activities.
When they couldn’t reach her, her family grew concerned and discovered that she had apparently vanished without a trace from her home in the Tucson area.
Investigators began to examine the property and several things were found that immediately raised concern.
Authorities confirmed the blood outside the front entrance matched Nancy Guthrie’s DNA.
They also said her doorbell camera had been intentionally disabled in the early morning hours before she vanished.
At about the same time, Guthrie’s bedside pacemaker monitoring device lost contact with her phone, a timeline that investigators believe could be closely tied to the suspected abduction.
Detectives searched the property for several days looking for any evidence they could find. Their work eventually led to one of the biggest breakthroughs in the investigation.
The FBI released surveillance images from residual system data of a masked individual approaching Nancy Guthrie’s front door in the early morning hours.
Detectives said the suspect was seen wearing gloves, a backpack and what looked like a holster as he tried to cover or disable the doorbell camera at the home before he went out of sight.
Investigators have not publicly identified the person in the images and are continuing to seek public assistance in identifying the person. Authorities said they have made no arrests and have not named any suspects in the case.
The investigation continued and Savannah Guthrie and her siblings made an emotional plea to whoever was responsible for their mother’s disappearance to let her come home safely.
In a public message, the family made a direct appeal for Nancy’s safe return, saying their only priority was getting their mother home. Their plea underscored the emotional toll the disappearance has taken on the family as investigators continue to chase down every lead possible.
The FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department are still treating the case as a suspected kidnapping-for-ransom investigation. Investigators have received a number of ransom related communications in recent months.
Some of the messages have been identified as fraudulent attempts to capitalise on the family’s situation, but officials say other communications are under active investigation and have not been ruled out.
Investigators have repeatedly warned the public not to purchase rumours circulating online. Since Nancy Guthrie disappeared, a lot of fake stories have been spread on social media, including made-up stories about evidence found at several locations.
Those reports have not been confirmed by law enforcement, which continues to urge the public to focus on information released through official investigative updates.
There has been extensive forensic work behind the scenes of the investigation. Detectives have collected physical evidence from the property, reviewed surveillance footage from neighbouring neighbourhoods, interviewed possible witnesses and examined electronic data that could help determine what took place in the hours surrounding Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance.
Officials also asked residents who live near the area to check home security cameras, dashboard cameras and any recordings taken during the overnight hours in hopes that additional footage could help piece together the suspect’s movements.
Nancy Guthrie hasn’t been seen in months, but investigators say the case is still active.
The FBI continues to offer a reward for information leading to the safe return of Nancy or the arrest and conviction of those responsible. Authorities say every credible lead is being thoroughly investigated, with more evidence still being analysed as the search goes on.
The wait for answers for the Guthrie family has been filled with uncertainty, but they continue to express hope that someone who knows what happened will come forward.
Officers are trying to identify the masked man caught on surveillance video. Authorities say the help of the public could prove crucial in solving one of Arizona’s most high-profile missing-person cases.
Anyone with information about the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie is asked to call the FBI or the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. Authorities have continued to stress even seemingly small details can help investigators piece together the events of her disappearance and move the investigation one step closer to resolution.