Chris McDonough, a retired homicide detective from Southern California, explained to NewsNation, “Detaining someone doesn’t equate to an arrest. It allows authorities to conduct interviews and collect forensic evidence without placing the individual in custody.”
The residential location police blocked off is approximately 1.9 miles from Nancy Guthrie’s house. Several FBI vehicles arrived at the scene of the SWAT activity, according to NewsNation senior national correspondent Brian Entin, who was the first member of the media there.
Neighbor Peter Molk called the commotion “unbelievably absurd.”
“It’s making everybody nervous. It’s just surreal, and we just can’t imagine how the family is processing all this,” he said.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department said no media briefing was expected overnight, but a written statement would be issued.
Earlier in the day, NewsNation learned a sheriff’s department airplane was in the air. Around the same time, a mobile command center was seen leaving the sheriff’s office.
FBI zeroing in on suspect in Guthrie case
The FBI is zeroing in on a description of the person they say kidnapped 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie nearly two weeks ago from her Arizona home, even as there is continued activity at the home.
A crew of pool cleaners was able to access the home Friday, escorted in by sheriff’s deputies, but there has otherwise been less activity at the house than in previous days.
Authorities say the suspect is a man with an average build, about 5 feet, 10 inches tall.
The developments came hours after investigators set up a tent at Guthrie’s Tucson home and brought in a forensic height chart, specialized equipment that can use surveillance images to estimate a person’s height.
Federal and local officers have been canvassing door-to-door in her neighborhood, as well as her daughter Annie’s neighborhood, where Guthrie had dinner hours before disappearing.
(NewsNation)
A screen grab from a video shows an armed individual appearing with camera at Nancy Guthrie’s front door the morning of her disappearance in Arizona, United States on February 12, 2026. (Photo by Pima County Sheriff’s Department/Anadolu via Getty Images)
After a forensic review of doorbell‑camera footage, investigators say the suspect appears to be a man between 5-foot-9 and 5-foot-10 with an average build, wearing a black 25‑liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack. (FBI)
After a forensic review of doorbell‑camera footage, investigators say the suspect in the Nancy Guthrie case appears to be a man between 5-foot-9 and 5-foot-10 with an average build, wearing a black 25‑liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack. (FBI)
After a forensic review of doorbell‑camera footage, investigators say the suspect in the Nancy Guthrie case appears to be a man between 5-foot-9 and 5-foot-10 with an average build, wearing a black 25‑liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack. (FBI)
A screen grab from a video shows an armed individual appearing with camera at Nancy Guthrie’s front door the morning of her disappearance in Arizona, United States on February 12, 2026. (Photo by Pima County Sheriff’s Department/Anadolu via Getty Images)
TMZ gets third email in Nancy Guthrie case seeking money for info
TMZ received a third email Friday from a man claiming to know the identity of Nancy Guthrie’s kidnapper, demanding $100,000 from the FBI in exchange for information and warning this would be the final contact.
The sender raised the demand from one Bitcoin, worth approximately $65,000, to match the FBI’s doubled reward of $100,000. The person proposed depositing $50,000 in Bitcoin immediately into their account in exchange for “the name of the main individual along with his information for you to track,” according to the email.
The use of the phrase “main individual” suggests for the first time that more than one person may be involved in Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, TMZ founder Harvey Levin told NewsNation.
The sender said they would not touch the initial $50,000 payment until an arrest is made, at which point they would expect the FBI to deposit the remaining $50,000.
The person wrote they are “gambling, both for his safety and his possible freedom,” language Levin interpreted as suggesting the sender may be “close to the flame” and worried about being implicated.
The three tip emails are separate from an initial ransom note TMZ and two Tucson television stations received on Feb. 1 and Feb. 2, which demanded millions of dollars in Bitcoin and set two deadlines that have now passed. That note contained a different Bitcoin address.
Levin said the ransom note “stands on its own separately” from the three emails claiming to have information about the kidnapper’s identity.
FBI increases reward, releases description of masked suspect at Nancy Guthrie home
Released by the FBI, the photos and video show a masked individual appearing to tamper with the camera at Guthrie’s front door.
Guthrie did not have a subscription for her Nest camera, so the footage was not initially available to investigators, but the FBI stated it was recovered from backup servers.
On Thursday, the FBI increased its reward to up to $100,000 for information leading to the location of Nancy Guthrie or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance.
After a forensic review of doorbell camera footage, investigators say the masked suspect appears to be a man between 5-foot-9 and 5-foot-10 with an average build, wearing a black 25‑liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack — a model sold exclusively at Walmart.
Sheriff: Unknown DNA found at Guthrie crime scene does not match family
Investigators have recovered several gloves during the search. On Wednesday, a black glove was located on a roadway about a mile and a half from Guthrie’s home. Authorities have not confirmed whether they believe it is connected to the case. The sheriff’s office says reports that a glove was found inside the residence or on the property are inaccurate.
In a Friday statement, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said all evidence requiring forensic analysis is being sent to the same out‑of‑state laboratory used since the beginning of the case — a decision made in coordination with local FBI leadership.
Officials also say DNA belonging to someone other than Guthrie or those in close contact with her has been collected from the property, though they are not disclosing where it was found.
No suspect vehicle has been identified. Authorities are reviewing all video submitted and will send another request through the Neighbors App for footage captured between Jan. 1 and Feb. 2, 2026, showing any suspicious people or vehicles.
The FBI says it has received more than 13,000 public tips since Feb. 1 and is operating a 24‑hour command post where examiners and agents screen each lead for credibility and actionable information.
Nancy Guthrie reported missing on Feb. 1
Police released images showing an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie’s front door the morning of her disappearance. (FBI)
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos went over the timeline of the case, noting that Guthrie’s garage door closed at 9:30 p.m. local time Saturday. At 1:47 a.m. Sunday morning, the doorbell camera disconnected. At 2:12 a.m., a person was detected on camera, but no video is available. At 2:28 a.m., Guthrie’s pacemaker disconnected from her phone. (NewsNation)
“Today” show co-host Savannah Guthrie made an appeal Wednesday to whoever is allegedly holding her missing mother, saying her family has heard reports of a ransom letter but needs proof Nancy Guthrie is alive before they can negotiate. (NewsNation)
NewsNation’s “Missing” series looks at the active case of Nancy Guthrie. (NewsNation)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – MAY 04: Australian-born presenter, Savannah Guthrie poses alongside her mother Nancy Guthrie during a production break whilst hosting NBC’s “Today Show” live from Australia at Sydney Opera House on May 4, 2015 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Don Arnold/WireImage)
TODAY — Pictured: Savannah Guthrie and mother Nancy Guthrie on Thursday, June 15, 2023 — (Photo by: Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images)
Savannah Guthrie and mom Nancy on set of the “Today” show on April 17, 2019. (Photo by: Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)
TODAY — Pictured: Savannah Guthrie and mom Nancy, Jenna Bush Hager on Wednesday, April 17, 2019 — (Photo by: Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)
Guthrie’s family, including daughter and TV anchor Savannah Guthrie, has released a video pleading for the public’s help in identifying the kidnappers.
Investigators believe Nancy Guthrie was kidnapped overnight before being reported missing on Feb. 1. A timeline from the sheriff’s office shows that she was dropped off at home by an Uber driver shortly before 10 p.m. on Jan. 31.
At 1:47 a.m. on Feb. 1, Guthrie’s doorbell camera disconnected. At 2:12 a.m., software detected a person on camera. At 2:28 a.m., Guthrie’s pacemaker disconnected from her phone.
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to Guthrie’s recovery or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance.
Anyone with “actionable information” is asked to contact 1
