Nancy Guthrie Disappearance: Search Warrants Served, No Arrests Made in Tucson Kidnapping
- The search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of “Today” host Savannah Guthrie, continues with authorities pursuing multiple leads but still no arrests made.
- Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos confirmed to 13 News that the search warrant was the result of tracking down a lead, but yielded no immediate arrests.
- On Friday, authorities focused on a silver Range Rover SUV parked outside a restaurant approximately two miles from the home that was searched.
The search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of “Today” host Savannah Guthrie, continues with authorities pursuing multiple leads but still no arrests made. A flurry of activity unfolded Friday night as law enforcement executed a search warrant at a home in Tucson, Arizona, and investigated a vehicle near a restaurant, all in connection with the case.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos confirmed to 13 News that the search warrant was the result of tracking down a lead, but yielded no immediate arrests. This follows a week of intense investigation since Guthrie was reported missing on after failing to appear at a scheduled church service with a friend. The case quickly escalated with reports of ransom notes, some deemed credible due to specific, unpublicized details about Guthrie’s home.
On Friday, authorities focused on a silver Range Rover SUV parked outside a restaurant approximately two miles from the home that was searched. Agents photographed the vehicle and, using a tarp to shield the interior from view, opened the trunk, according to reports. The contents of the trunk remain undisclosed.
The investigation took a turn earlier this week with the release of security footage showing an armed individual approaching Guthrie’s home on the night of her disappearance, , at approximately 1:47 a.m. The individual was clad in a balaclava, gloves, and a backpack and was seen tampering with a Nest camera. This footage provided the first significant visual lead in the case.
Authorities briefly detained a man in Rio Rico, a community about 12 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border, following the release of the security footage. He was questioned and his family’s home was searched, but he was subsequently released and has not been accused of any wrongdoing.
Adding another layer of complexity, TMZ reported receiving a letter from someone claiming knowledge of Guthrie’s abduction and demanding the $100,000 FBI reward in Bitcoin. The letter’s author expressed distrust of the FBI, opting to communicate through the celebrity news outlet. According to TMZ founder Harvey Levin, the letter contained a veiled threat, stating, “The manhunt of the main individual that can give you all the answers be prepared to go international.”
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has been tight-lipped about specific evidence, but confirmed Friday that they have recovered gloves, some found near Guthrie’s home, which are currently undergoing forensic testing. They have also discovered DNA evidence at the scene that does not belong to Guthrie or her family, and are working to identify its source.
The case is particularly concerning given Guthrie’s medical condition. She was reportedly taken from her home without her heart medication, raising concerns about her well-being and the urgency of the search. The lack of information regarding her current health status adds to the anxiety surrounding the investigation.
The initial ransom notes received by news outlets were treated as legitimate, and a subsequent note was sent directly to the Guthrie family. Authorities have indicated that the note, in particular, felt credible due to its inclusion of details about a damaged property and the placement of an accessory within the home that had not been publicly released. This suggests the author may have had inside knowledge of the situation.
Adding a unique technological dimension to the search, authorities have been utilizing a high-tech Bluetooth scanner mounted on law enforcement helicopters to detect Guthrie’s pacemaker signal. The helicopters fly low, in grid patterns, at a slow pace to maximize signal detection. Fox News Digital spotted one of these helicopters near Guthrie’s home on , just three days after her disappearance.
As the investigation enters its second week, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department continues to pursue all available leads, balancing the urgency of the situation with the need for careful and thorough investigation. The case remains a high priority, and authorities are appealing to the public for any information that may assist in locating Nancy Guthrie.