Local and national law enforcement has been investigating the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie for almost two weeks, after the 84-year-old disappeared from the home in Tucson, Arizona, earlier this month.
Nancy Guthrie, the mother of NBC host Savannah Guthrie, was reported missing in Pima County, Arizona, on February 1, having been seen last at her Tucson home on January 31.
Law enforcement declared the home a “crime scene” and said they did not believe Nancy Guthrie left the home on her own.
Below, Newsweek has outlined the key developments in the case as the search to find her continues.
A doorbell camera at Guthrie’s home was disconnected in the early hours of the morning and data from her pacemaker app showed the app was disconnected from her phone.
Local police were called to her home after friends expressed concerns that she hadn’t attended church. Upon arriving at her home, police officials realized she was missing, prompting an urgent search.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos called a press conference, declaring that Guthrie’s home was a “crime scene” and called on the community to help with their investigation. He said that he believed Guthrie was abducted and did not leave her home willingly.
Nanos also said Guthrie needs daily medication, and it could be fatal if she did not take this every 24 hours.
Local Arizona outlet 13 News and TMZ said they received alleged ransom notes about Guthrie. Investigators investigated their veracity and more ransom notes were reported in the days that followed, with deadlines to respond to them passing.
Nanos said at a press conference that blood was found on the porch of Guthrie’s home. He confirmed it belonged to Guthrie and said investigators were awaiting results from further samples.
FBI officials removed a camera from the roof of Nancy Guthrie’s home and towed a car from her garage as part of their continued investigation, according to multiple reports.
Having previously called for support and help from the public, Savannah Guthrie and her siblings posted a video on Instagram, directly addressing those believed to be holding her mother amid the reports of unverified ransom notes. She indicated she would pay a ransom to secure the safe release of her mother.
“We received your message and we understand,” she said. “We beg you now to return our mother to us so we can celebrate with her. This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us and we will pay.”
The FBI released video and still images recovered from a camera outside Guthrie’s front door in the early morning hours on the day of her disappearance in a bid to help the invesitgation.
Local police searched the house of a man who was detained in connection with Guthrie’s disappearance and released images from this search operation. He was later released and was not charged, according to multiple reports.
The man, Carlos Palazuelos, identified himself while speaking to reporters outside his home in Rio Rico. Palazuelos told Fox News that he was a local delivery driver who works in Tucson and that he was innocent.
Investigators recovered a black glove on a dirt or walking path near Guthrie’s home.
Meanwhile, TMZ reported that it had received another note in connection with the case demanding one Bitcoin (estimated value: $67,000) be paid for information on the possible abductor.
Nanos blocked the FBI from accessing key evidence in the case, Reuters reported on Thursday, citing a U.S. law enforcement official with knowledge of the case. But Nanos hit back and said this claim was “not even close to the truth.”
Later, the FBI released new details about the potential suspect in the case and identifying details and said it was doubling the reward to $100,000 for information leading to Guthrie’s location.
“The suspect is described as a male, approximately 5’9″ – 5’10” tall, with an average build. In the video, he is wearing a black, 25-liter ‘Ozark Trail Hiker Pack’ backpack,” the FBI said in its X post in part.
Law enforcers continue investigating Guthrie’s disappearance. The FBI has offered a reward of up to $100,000 and people are urged to call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) with any information.
