Sheriff Chris Nanos dismisses speculative claims about doorbell footage in the Nancy Guthrie case
The mysterious circumstances surrounding Nancy Guthrie have taken a sharp turn following the release of a new home security video. Local authorities are now facing intense public scrutiny as the community seeks answers to the contradictions raised by the recording.
As the Sheriff’s Office addresses these emerging concerns, many are questioning whether the original timeline of the case still holds up.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos countered recent press reports concerning the doorbell video in the Nancy Guthrie matter, dismissing the claims as entirely ‘speculative.’ In a recent briefing, the Sheriff remarked, ‘We are aware the doorbell images released earlier in the investigation depict a suspect in different stages of attire, including with and without a backpack.’
‘There is no date or time stamp associated with these images. Therefore, any suggestion that the photographs were taken on different days is purely speculative.’ He added: ‘This remains an active and ongoing criminal investigation.’
‘As with any investigation, conclusions will be guided by verifiable evidence and established facts. Speculation, without factual support, does not advance the investigative process.’
Following Monday’s reports from several news outlets, the sheriff’s office issued a response. Those close to the case suggest the masked person seen on camera — the individual suspected of taking ‘Today’ presenter Savannah Guthrie’s mother — visited the Tucson, Arizona home before 1 February.
Family members last saw Nancy on the night of 31 January, after she returned home from an evening of dinner and games. Concerns grew the following Sunday when she failed to show up for church, prompting a missing person report by midday.
More than a week ago, the FBI confirmed they had identified both the suspect’s height and the backpack visible in the previously released Nest footage. At the same time, the reward for information was raised to $100,000 (approximately £74,000).
‘The suspect is described as a male, approximately 5’9″ – 5’10” tall, with an average build,’ FBI Phoenix posted on X. ‘In the video, he is wearing a black, 25-liter “Ozark Trail Hiker Pack” backpack. We hope this updated description will help concentrate the public tips we are receiving. Since February 1, 2026, the FBI has collected over 13,000 tips from the public related to this case.’
The footage triggered a wave of public debate, as the potential suspect appeared with a backpack in one frame but without it in another. While the case has drawn increasing attention since Nancy vanished, Nanos has consistently urged the press to show restraint, particularly for the sake of the Guthrie family.
Last week, Nanos announced that the Guthrie family, including siblings and their spouses, had been ‘cleared as possible suspects in this case.’ He added: ‘The family has been nothing but cooperative and gracious and are victims in this case. To suggest otherwise is not only wrong, it is cruel. The Guthrie family are victims plain and simple … I’m begging you the media to honor your profession and report with some sense of compassion and professionalism.’
Despite his grievances with the press, Nanos has sat for multiple interviews throughout the inquiry. On Wednesday, he explained to ‘Today’ that he believed the person who took the 84-year-old from her home on 1 February specifically targeted her.
‘I think this was an individual who had a target for whatever reason, and he has made it tough,’ Nanos said. ‘But I’ve got some pretty tough investigators, too.’
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