Savannah Guthrie’s Mother: FBI Uses ‘Signal Sniffer’ in Search
- Tucson, Arizona – Federal and local authorities are intensifying the search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Savannah Guthrie, host of NBC’s ‘Today’ show, deploying specialized technology...
- On February 14, 2026, authorities began utilizing a ‘signal sniffer’ – a rare device designed to detect the radio frequency emissions from Ms.
- Guthrie disappeared from her home in Tucson’s Catalina Foothills on February 1.
Tucson, Arizona – Federal and local authorities are intensifying the search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Savannah Guthrie, host of NBC’s ‘Today’ show, deploying specialized technology in an effort to locate her after more than two weeks. The search, now entering its third week, has involved a multi-agency task force including the FBI and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.
On , authorities began utilizing a ‘signal sniffer’ – a rare device designed to detect the radio frequency emissions from Ms. Guthrie’s pacemaker. The device was mounted on a Pima County Sheriff’s Department helicopter and flown at low altitude over the Tucson area in an attempt to pinpoint her location. According to former FBI special agent Maureen O’Connell, the technology requires close proximity to the pacemaker to function effectively, as the signals emitted are brief and of limited range.
The search was prompted after Ms. Guthrie disappeared from her home in Tucson’s Catalina Foothills on . Investigators discovered that her Nest doorbell camera had been disconnected at approximately on the night of her disappearance, with an unidentified masked individual seen yanking the camera from the door frame. Shortly after, at around , the connection to Ms. Guthrie’s pacemaker monitoring app was also severed.
The masked individual is described by authorities as approximately 5’9” to 5’10” with an average build and was observed carrying a 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack. The individual also attempted to conceal the camera by ripping flowers from Ms. Guthrie’s entranceway.
A significant operation took place on Friday, involving a federal search warrant executed at a residence in the Catalina foothills. Four individuals were detained during the raid, but were subsequently released without arrest, and no evidence related to Ms. Guthrie’s disappearance was found. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos confirmed that “no sign of Nancy was found” during the search.
Earlier investigative efforts, including a search of the septic tank on Ms. Guthrie’s property, also yielded no results. Despite the lack of immediate progress, authorities continue to pursue numerous leads, having received tens of thousands of tips from the public since releasing footage of the masked individual.
While the investigation continues, DNA recovered from Ms. Guthrie’s property has been confirmed not to match her or anyone known to be in close contact with her. Investigators also discovered several gloves in areas ranging from two to ten miles from Ms. Guthrie’s home, though Sheriff Nanos stated he could not confirm whether these gloves were connected to the case.
On Friday evening, federal agents conducted a traffic stop on a gray Range Rover, and a SWAT team executed a search warrant on a nearby house. Sheriff Nanos indicated that one man briefly detained during the raids had been considered a “person of interest,” but was later released. The individual reportedly owns the Range Rover that was searched and towed as part of the investigation and was cooperative with authorities.
Sheriff Nanos has faced scrutiny regarding the handling of the investigation, with reports suggesting potential missteps in crime scene management and inconsistent public statements. He has denied allegations of withholding evidence, specifically concerning the decision to send DNA samples to a private lab in Florida rather than the FBI’s forensics facility in Quantico, Virginia.
Savannah Guthrie has reportedly communicated to Sheriff Nanos that she is utilizing her own resources in the search for her mother, coinciding with the FBI increasing the reward for information leading to Ms. Guthrie’s whereabouts to $100,000. Sheriff Nanos acknowledged the intense scrutiny surrounding the case, stating he is unaccustomed to the level of public attention it has garnered.
The investigation remains active, with authorities continuing to track leads and analyze evidence. The use of the ‘signal sniffer’ represents a novel approach in the search, highlighting the dedication of law enforcement to utilizing all available resources in the hope of locating Nancy Guthrie. Sheriff Nanos has expressed concern that the search could take “years” to resolve, but remains committed to pursuing all avenues of investigation.