Savannah Guthrie’s Mother: FBI Uses Signal Sniffer, DNA in Search
- The search for Nancy Guthrie, mother of “Today” show co-host Savannah Guthrie, has entered its third week, and investigators are employing increasingly sophisticated technology in their efforts to...
- The deployment of this technology, confirmed by law enforcement sources, represents a novel approach to missing person investigations, though not without its challenges.
- Typically, that signal goes a few feet,” explained Jim Jones, a cybersecurity and digital forensics expert and associate professor at George Mason University.
The search for Nancy Guthrie, mother of “Today” show co-host Savannah Guthrie, has entered its third week, and investigators are employing increasingly sophisticated technology in their efforts to locate the 84-year-old. Among the tools now being utilized is a “signal sniffer,” a device designed to detect the faint electronic emissions from Ms. Guthrie’s pacemaker.
The deployment of this technology, confirmed by law enforcement sources, represents a novel approach to missing person investigations, though not without its challenges. While pacemakers don’t broadcast a GPS signal, modern devices utilize Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to transmit data about heart performance. These transmissions, though weak and irregular, can potentially be detected by specialized equipment.
“It’s going to be a quite weak signal. Typically, that signal goes a few feet,” explained Jim Jones, a cybersecurity and digital forensics expert and associate professor at George Mason University. “You’re kind of pulling out all the stops and saying, well, this might work, and it might.” The signal’s limited range and the sporadic nature of transmissions make detection difficult, but investigators are hoping the technology will provide a crucial lead.
The signal sniffer is being mounted on helicopters and flown at low altitudes over the area where Ms. Guthrie was last seen in Tucson, Arizona. The challenge lies not only in the signal’s weakness but also in its lack of a unique identifier. “The signal’s not going to carry an overt identifier. It’s not going to say, you know, I’m Nancy’s pacemaker. So they’re going to possibly detect a lot of signals,” Jones added. In other words investigators will need to sift through a considerable amount of electronic noise to isolate the signal from Ms. Guthrie’s device.
The use of signal sniffers in missing person cases isn’t entirely new. These devices are often employed to detect low-power electronic signals from various sources, but applying the technology to locate a pacemaker is considered a more experimental tactic. Tracy Walder, a former CIA and FBI agent, described the signal sniffer as a “new” and “somewhat experimental” form of technology.
Alongside the technological search, traditional investigative methods are continuing. The FBI is currently analyzing male DNA found on a black glove discovered near Ms. Guthrie’s home, attempting to match it to DNA found inside the residence. “If they’re able to match the DNA from inside that residence with the glove they found on the outside, then that’s where you got the home run,” said Jason Pack, a retired FBI special agent.
Investigators are also focusing on a black 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack seen in surveillance footage from Ms. Guthrie’s Nest doorbell camera. Sheriff Chris Nanos of Pima County, Arizona, stated the backpack is sold exclusively at Walmart and represents one of the most promising leads in the case. Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage and purchase records from Walmart stores, both online and in physical locations, to identify the purchaser of the backpack. The suspect in the footage was also wearing a facemask and gloves.
The Pima County Sheriff’s office has confirmed that Ms. Guthrie’s family has been cleared as suspects in her disappearance, following an emotional plea from Savannah Guthrie over the weekend. Investigators are currently sifting through more than 50,000 tips received since Ms. Guthrie went missing on .
The use of a signal sniffer highlights the increasing intersection of technology and law enforcement in missing person investigations. While the success of this particular tactic remains uncertain, it demonstrates a willingness to explore innovative solutions in challenging cases. The limited range and irregular transmission patterns of pacemaker signals present significant hurdles, but investigators are hoping that even a faint signal can provide a crucial clue in the search for Nancy Guthrie.
Matthew Sorell, a digital forensic expert from Adelaide University, explained that tracking individuals through implanted devices is becoming increasingly common. “Whether it’s a mobile phone or a smart watch or a plug-able device,” Dr. Sorell said, investigators are increasingly looking to these sources for location data.