RIO RICO, Ariz. (AP) – A significant breakthrough occurred in the investigation into the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie, as a person was detained for questioning on Tuesday. This follows the release of surveillance videos by the FBI, showing a masked individual armed outside Guthrie's front door the night she disappeared from her home in Arizona.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that the individual was apprehended during a traffic stop south of Tucson, although details regarding this person's identity and the exact location remain undisclosed. The FBI directed any inquiries to the sheriff's office. A delivery man, who was also interviewed by KNXV-TV, claimed he was wrongly detained on suspicion of kidnapping but was released after several hours; however, local and federal authorities have not confirmed this information.
As part of the ongoing investigation, authorities conducted a court-authorized search in Rio Rico, around an hour's drive south of Tucson. This search was anticipated to last several hours. Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie, disappeared on February 1. The case has garnered national attention, particularly as authorities seemed to be making little progress in uncovering the circumstances of her disappearance or identifying those responsible.
Savannah Guthrie, along with her siblings, has released multiple video statements pleading for their mother's safe return and expressing a willingness to pay a ransom. According to Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, Nancy is mentally sound but has limited mobility and relies on several medications, raising concerns for her wellbeing without access to those medications.
Surveillance footage released earlier on Tuesday depicted the individual in a ski mask with a backpack, who approached Nancy's front door. The person attempted to obscure the doorbell camera while sneaking right before the camera view, holding a flashlight in their mouth. The series of videos, amounting to less than a minute, provided the public and investigators with their first visual evidence of the person outside Guthrie's residence, but did not reveal what transpired afterward or confirm whether Nancy is still alive.
FBI Director Kash Patel commented that the "armed individual" appeared to have tampered with the camera, although it remains unclear if a weapon was visible in the holster displayed in the footage. The FBI managed to recover these videos after overcoming initial issues with accessing the data from security cameras at the site, as connectivity issues had initially complicated the situation.
Meanwhile, authorities cordoned off the area around Guthrie's driveway and conducted door-to-door inquiries in the neighborhood where her daughter, Annie Guthrie, resides. Investigators have maintained for over a week that they believe Nancy was taken against her will. She had last been seen at her home on January 31 and was reported missing the following day. Authorities also revealed that blood found on her porch was indeed Nancy's.
Despite the harrowing nature of the situation, the exact nature of any ransom demands remains ambiguous, and there has been no confirmed communication between the Guthrie family and the alleged kidnappers. Savannah Guthrie expressed desperation in her public pleas, emphasizing the family's belief that their mother is still alive while seeking assistance from the public.
The enduring mystery surrounding Nancy's disappearance has captivated the nation, with increasing media coverage. The FBI has intensified public outreach regarding the case, as digital billboards are being displayed across major cities in Texas and California, aiming to gather more information and leads. The family's heartfelt video appeals have called for the safe return of Nancy Guthrie and voiced their willingness to cooperate with any requests that could expedite her return.
