Police Collaborate with Walmart to Track Suspect in Nancy Guthrie Kidnapping Through Backpack Clues

Investigators delving into the case of missing “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie’s mother are collaborating with Walmart executives to generate new leads. This initiative stems from the discovery that the suspect’s backpack, a key piece of evidence, is a product sold solely at Walmart stores, according to a statement from the Pima County Sheriff on Monday.

Nancy Guthrie, aged 84, was last spotted at her residence in Arizona on January 31, with her disappearance officially reported the following day. Authorities have revealed that blood stains were discovered on her porch, and although ransom notes were dispatched to media outlets, the deadlines for payments have already expired.

The FBI has made public surveillance footage showing an individual, whose face is obscured by a mask, equipped with a handgun holster at Guthrie’s Tucson home on the night she went missing. The footage captured by a porch camera depicts a person clad in a ski mask, long pants, a jacket, gloves, and carrying a backpack.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos communicated to The Associated Press that the only clothing item conclusively identified is the 25-liter “Ozark Trail Hiker Pack” backpack.

“This specific backpack is a Walmart exclusive, and we are actively collaborating with Walmart management to uncover additional clues,” Nanos stated.

The suspect’s clothing “may have been purchased from Walmart but is not exclusively available at Walmart,” the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement Monday. “This remains a possibility only.”

Investigators on Sunday announced that a glove discovered near the Guthrie home has been sent for DNA testing. The FBI said that it received preliminary results Saturday and was awaiting official confirmation. The development comes as law enforcement gathers more potential evidence and as the search for Guthrie’s mother heads into its third week. Authorities previously said they had not identified a suspect.

The FBI said the suspect in the surveillance footage is a man about 5 feet, 9 inches tall with a medium build.

Authorities have expressed concern about Nancy Guthrie’s health because she needs vital daily medicine. She is said to have a pacemaker and have dealt with high blood pressure and heart issues, according to sheriff’s dispatcher audio on broadcastify.com.