Person Detained for Questioning in Nancy Guthrie Abduction Case
An Individual Has Been Detained
BREAKING: Person Detained for Questioning in Nancy Guthrie Abduction Case
TUCSON, Ariz. — In a significant development in the search for missing 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, law enforcement officials have confirmed that an individual has been detained for questioning in connection with her abduction, just hours after the FBI released chilling surveillance footage of a masked, armed man approaching her front door on the night she disappeared.
The Detention
According to sources briefed on the investigation, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, working alongside the FBI, detained an individual late Tuesday in a location south of Tucson. Law enforcement is now preparing to search a location associated with the detained person. However, authorities have not confirmed whether this individual is the same person seen in the newly released surveillance footage showing an armed man at Guthrie’s door.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has declined to release additional information at this time, stating only that the investigation remains active and ongoing.
FBI Releases Suspect Images
The detention follows a major breakthrough in the case earlier Tuesday, when FBI Director Kash Patel released still images and video footage of an “armed individual” captured by Nancy Guthrie’s doorbell and security cameras around the time investigators believe she was abducted in the early morning hours of February 1, 2026.
The footage shows a person wearing a ski mask, gloves, and a jacket, carrying a backpack with a holstered handgun visible at their waist, approaching Guthrie’s front door. The images were recovered through a collaborative effort between the FBI, local law enforcement, and private sector technology partners, after being previously inaccessible due to removed recording devices and data corruption issues.
“We believe she is still alive. Bring her home,” Savannah Guthrie posted on Instagram alongside the released images, adding in a follow-up post: “Someone out there recognizes this person. We believe she is still out there. Bring her home.”
The Abduction
Nancy Guthrie, mother of NBC “Today” show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, was reported missing on February 1, 2026, after failing to appear at her scheduled church service. The 84-year-old widow, who lived alone in the Catalina Foothills community north of Tucson, had been dropped off at her home by family members around 9:48 p.m. on January 31 following a dinner and game night with relatives.
According to the detailed timeline released by Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, a series of disturbing events unfolded in the early morning hours:
1:47 a.m.: Guthrie’s doorbell camera disconnected
2:12 a.m.: Camera software detected movement (though no footage was saved due to lack of subscription service)
2:28 a.m.: Guthrie’s pacemaker monitoring app disconnected from her phone
When family members checked on her later that morning, they found her missing along with her phone and essential medications. Bloodstains found on the front porch were later confirmed through DNA testing to belong to Guthrie.
Ransom Notes and Family Pleas
The case has been complicated by the emergence of at least two ransom notes sent to media outlets, including TMZ and local Arizona television station KOLD-TV. The first note demanded millions of dollars in cryptocurrency, while a second message contained sensitive information but did not specify a ransom amount.
The Guthrie family has made multiple emotional public appeals directed at the alleged kidnappers. In a video statement released February 7, Savannah Guthrie, alongside her siblings Annie and Camron, addressed the captors directly: “We received your message and we understand. We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her. This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay.”
Ongoing Investigation
The FBI has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to Nancy Guthrie’s recovery and/or the arrest and conviction of those responsible. Digital billboards featuring Guthrie’s image have been deployed across multiple states to aid in the search.
President Donald Trump has directed federal law enforcement to provide full assistance to local authorities, personally calling Savannah Guthrie on February 4 to offer additional resources.
Despite the detention of a person of interest, Nancy Guthrie’s whereabouts remain unknown, and no suspect has been formally charged in connection with her abduction. Authorities continue to operate under the belief that she may still be alive, though her physical condition remains a significant concern given her age, limited mobility, and need for daily medication that can be fatal if missed.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department continues to urge anyone with information about Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance to contact the FBI or local law enforcement immediately.
This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available