New Breaks in the Search for Nancy Guthrie: FBI Releases Suspect Images, Doubles Reward and Keeps Hope Alive
TUCSON, Ariz. — Nearly two weeks into one of the most wrenching missing-person investigations in recent memory, law enforcement has released new details and surveillance imagery in the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, mother of NBC’s Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, as the family and the nation continue to hope and pray for her safe return. The FBI has now doubled the reward to $100,000 for information leading to her whereabouts or the capture of anyone responsible, and released more imagery of a person deemed a possible suspect — deepening the search and drawing fresh public attention.
The quietly determined investigation has been a national story, not just because of who Nancy Guthrie’s daughter is, but because behind the headlines are real people — a devoted family, neighbors, first responders, and a community turning grief into action as they await answers.
What We Know: The Search Enters a New Phase
Nancy Guthrie was last seen on the evening of January 31, 2026, when family members dropped her off at her home in the Catalina Foothills area of Tucson after a dinner with loved ones. When she didn’t show up for her regular church gathering the next morning, concerns grew — and by midday, family members had found she was gone and alerted authorities.
Investigators quickly concluded that she had most likely been taken against her will. Blood matching her DNA was found on the front porch, and video footage from a Nest doorbell camera showed a person, masked and gloved, tampering with the device in the early hours of February 1 — a disturbing clue that triggered a broader search effort.
In recent days, the FBI has released surveillance images and a video that appear to show the suspect approaching Guthrie’s home, a breakthrough step in what has been a painstaking search filled with unanswered questions and agonizing silence.
New Suspect Details and Increased Reward
On February 12, the FBI announced that it had increased the reward from $50,000 to $100,000 for credible tips that lead to Nancy’s return or the arrest and conviction of those responsible. Authorities also provided a clearer description of the suspect — a male of average build, approximately 5 feet 9 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall, wearing a black “Ozark Trail Hiker Pack” backpack in the doorbell camera footage.
The bureau said it has received more than 13,000 tips from the public, all of which are being carefully reviewed by agents and investigators at a 24-hour command post. Law enforcement continues to urge anyone with relevant information — no matter how small it may seem — to come forward by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submitting tips online.
While these updates have provided new leads, no official arrest has been made, and no suspect has been publicly named. One man briefly detained for questioning near Rio Rico, Arizona was later released, according to law enforcement spokespeople, and authorities stress that the investigation is ongoing.
A Timeline Full of Unanswered Questions
What happened to Nancy in the hours after she returned home on January 31 remains clouded in mystery. Investigators have constructed a timeline based on digital footprints and physical evidence:
- 9:48 p.m. Saturday: Nancy arrives home and closes her garage door.
- 1:47 a.m. Sunday: The doorbell camera is disabled.
- Around 2:12 a.m.: Motion is detected outside her home.
- 2:28 a.m.: Nancy’s pacemaker app disconnects from her phone — a sign she was moved far enough away that the connection was lost.
- Late Sunday morning: A friend reports she didn’t show up for church.
- 12:03 p.m.: Family calls 911. Deputies arrive by 12:15 p.m.
The lack of footage from that early morning period — due to the camera not having a cloud subscription — remains one of the most frustrating gaps in the investigation. But the recovered backend footage, now publicly shared, is providing some of the freshest leads in days.
Family Pleas and Emotional Impact
Throughout the ordeal, Nancy’s family has shared emotional public appeals — some raw and tearful — asking anyone who may be holding her to come forward with proof she is alive. Videos shared by Savannah, her sister Annie, and brother Camron have called on the abductors to “talk to us” and give us hope.
In one video, Savannah touched on the impact of her mother’s disappearance in simple, heartbreaking terms: “The light is missing from our lives.” The family’s pastor also spoke of Nancy as a strong, loving presence whose absence has left a hole in their community.
The emotional stakes are especially high because Nancy isn’t just missing — she has medical needs and daily medications, including a pacemaker, making her condition all the more urgent and her safe return a race against time.
Law Enforcement on the Ground
The investigation involves a collaboration between the FBI and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, which has conducted searches from Guthrie’s neighborhood to nearby roadways. In a rural region with narrow roads and thick brush, agents and deputies have canvassed every lead — from surveillance footage to household interviews.
Sheriff Chris Nanos has defended the department’s decisions and stressed that they are working cooperatively with federal partners, addressing speculation about evidence handling and lab coordination. His office has asked neighbors in a wide radius to share any video captured from Jan. 1 through Feb. 2, including vehicle traffic, pedestrians, or anything out of the ordinary.
Despite intense scrutiny and hours of investigation, both local and federal authorities emphasize that continued public help could be the key to finding Nancy.
Why This Story Resonates
What began as a quiet family morning has become a national concern — blending crime, mystery, compassion, and community involvement. Ordinary people across the country are watching closely, sharing the FBI’s released footage, and hoping a neighbor, driver, or passerby might recognize the person in the images.
The case also highlights the profound vulnerability that comes with aging and isolation — and the aching power of a family determined to keep hope alive in the face of bewildering uncertainty and fear.
For many watching from afar and for the millions who have seen Savannah Guthrie’s public pleas, this is far more than a missing-person case; it’s a story about love, fear, loss and the unyielding determination to bring someone dear back home.
