New footage, DNA on a glove and a public plea from Savannah Guthrie have renewed focus on the search for Nancy Guthrie, who was taken from her Tucson-area home on Feb. 1
Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance on Feb. 1 has become a high-profile, fast-moving investigation. Officials from the FBI and local sheriff’s deputies have released surveillance footage and said DNA leads could be pivotal, while repeatedly urging the public to come forward with any information that might identify the person seen on camera.
What the footage shows
Short, grainy black-and-white footage recorded at 1:47 a.m. captures a single figure approaching Guthrie’s porch. The person is dressed in a balaclava and gloves, carrying a backpack, and appears to have a holstered handgun at the front of their body.
At one point the figure notices the camera and tries first to cover the lens by hand, then with foliage from the yard.
Masked faces make identification harder, but investigators stress that cover-ups don’t erase other clues. The way someone walks, the particular cut of a jacket, or a distinctive backpack can trigger recognition among neighbors, coworkers or relatives.
That’s why authorities are circulating the clip widely and asking anyone who recognizes the clothing, gait or other details to contact tip lines.
Forensic work and evidence handling
Investigators say physical and biological evidence remains central. A glove recovered about two miles from Guthrie’s home contained DNA that appears consistent with the gloves seen on the footage. That profile hasn’t matched anything in CODIS, but detectives call the find a significant lead. Additional samples taken at Guthrie’s residence are undergoing testing.
Police emphasize the basics of good forensics: careful logging, secure storage and unbroken chain of custody. Those steps don’t make for headlines, but they’re essential if a lead becomes an arrest and the case goes to court.
Searches, detentions and retail traces
Since the disappearance, law enforcement has carried out several investigative actions in the Tucson area: detentions for questioning, search warrants at a local home, and analysis of recovered items. No arrests have been announced.
Detectives are also following retail and transaction leads. Clothing and accessories seen in the video — notably the backpack and face covering — appear to match items sold by a national retailer. Authorities are working with stores to trace purchases and review surveillance and payment records where legal process allows. Those records, tied to timestamps and forensic evidence, could help turn an anonymous image into an identified person.
Family statements and a ransom demand
Officials have publicly cleared Guthrie’s immediate family as suspects and describe them as cooperative. Her daughter Savannah Guthrie, a television journalist, has publicly pleaded for her mother’s safe return, asking anyone holding Nancy to “do the right thing.”
Investigators also received identical ransom notes demanding $6 million in bitcoin, sent to news organizations shortly after the disappearance. Authorities treated the notes with caution: they referenced details—specific damage and the placement of an item in the home—that had not been widely publicized. Still, there’s no confirmed proof the note-writer currently has Guthrie.
Community role and public appeals
This case highlights the power of local knowledge. Small observations — the sighting of a distinctive backpack, a comment about a person’s walk, or the time someone saw a vehicle in a neighborhood — can become crucial when combined with forensic results. Police are asking residents to check their doorbell and security cameras, preserve any unedited footage, and pass information to official tip lines rather than sharing potentially contaminating evidence privately.
What the footage shows
Short, grainy black-and-white footage recorded at 1:47 a.m. captures a single figure approaching Guthrie’s porch. The person is dressed in a balaclava and gloves, carrying a backpack, and appears to have a holstered handgun at the front of their body. At one point the figure notices the camera and tries first to cover the lens by hand, then with foliage from the yard.0
What the footage shows
Short, grainy black-and-white footage recorded at 1:47 a.m. captures a single figure approaching Guthrie’s porch. The person is dressed in a balaclava and gloves, carrying a backpack, and appears to have a holstered handgun at the front of their body. At one point the figure notices the camera and tries first to cover the lens by hand, then with foliage from the yard.1
What the footage shows
Short, grainy black-and-white footage recorded at 1:47 a.m. captures a single figure approaching Guthrie’s porch. The person is dressed in a balaclava and gloves, carrying a backpack, and appears to have a holstered handgun at the front of their body. At one point the figure notices the camera and tries first to cover the lens by hand, then with foliage from the yard.2
