A crucial piece of surveillance footage has dramatically escalated the investigation into the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, mother of NBC Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie. A dashcam mounted on a neighbor’s vehicle parked directly across from Nancy’s home in the Catalina Foothills neighborhood of Tucson captured a hooded man lingering suspiciously near her property for more than 60 minutes—beginning around 8:20 p.m. on Saturday, January 31, 2026—well over an hour before Nancy was last seen on her own security camera at approximately 9:40 p.m.
The footage, voluntarily submitted to the Pima County Sheriff’s Office within hours of Nancy being reported missing, shows the individual wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled low, obscuring his face. He is seen walking slowly along the sidewalk in front of the Guthrie residence, pausing repeatedly to glance toward the house, then retreating a short distance before circling back. At several points he stops near the driveway, appears to check his phone or watch, and once leans against a nearby tree as if waiting or observing. The man never approaches the door or attempts entry during this period, but his prolonged presence—lasting until roughly 9:25 p.m.—has been described by investigators as “highly concerning” and “not consistent with innocent behavior.”
Sheriff Chris Nanos addressed the new evidence during a press briefing on February 3, stating: “This individual was in the immediate vicinity of the residence for an extended period leading up to the time frame when Mrs. Guthrie is believed to have been taken. We consider this person a person of interest at this stage, and we urgently need the public’s help in identifying him.” The sheriff emphasized that the man’s actions do not match those of a casual passerby or neighbor out for an evening walk. “He returns to the same spot multiple times, lingers, looks toward the house repeatedly. That is not normal conduct in a quiet residential area at that hour.”
The dashcam clip is relatively clear despite the low-light conditions: the figure is approximately 5’10” to 6’1″ tall, medium build, wearing dark clothing including what appears to be black or navy pants and sneakers. No vehicle is seen associated with him in the footage, though investigators are checking nearby street cameras and additional private surveillance to determine whether he arrived by car and parked out of frame. The absence of visible tattoos, distinctive logos, or other identifying marks on his clothing has made immediate recognition difficult, but forensic video enhancement teams are working to clarify facial features beneath the hood and analyze gait for potential future matches.
This new footage dovetails with earlier findings that have already shifted the case toward a targeted abduction. Nancy’s own indoor security camera captured her walking calmly down a hallway at 9:40 p.m. before she abruptly disappears from view—no visible struggle, no audible disturbance, just sudden absence. Combined with the discovery of a small folded paper bearing cryptic symbols in her wallet with all cash and cards untouched, the prolonged presence of the hooded man strongly suggests premeditation. The back door—normally double-locked—was found ajar, a living-room chair slightly displaced, and her cellphone missing from its charging station, all pointing to someone who entered with purpose rather than opportunistically.
The timeline now forms a chilling sequence: the unknown man begins loitering around 8:20 p.m.; family members drop Nancy off after a visit around 9:45 p.m.; her internal camera shows her alive and moving at 9:40 p.m.; by the time relatives check on her at noon the next day (February 1), she is gone, the house disturbed, and no trace of her remains. The 60+ minutes of observed surveillance prior to her last sighting has led detectives to theorize the individual may have been waiting for the optimal moment—possibly after confirming she was alone or asleep.
Search efforts continue at full intensity. K-9 teams, drones with thermal imaging, helicopters, ground crews, and hundreds of volunteers have scoured the Catalina Foothills, nearby washes, desert trails, and remote areas within a 25-mile radius. Nancy’s critical need for daily heart medication means every hour increases the medical risk; authorities believe she has now been without her prescriptions for over 72 hours.
Savannah Guthrie, who has been in Tucson since Sunday supporting family and law enforcement, spoke briefly outside the sheriff’s substation: “We are grateful for every tip, every piece of footage, every prayer. My mother is strong, she is loved, and we will not stop until she is safely home.” Her emotional plea has kept national attention riveted, with the Today Show airing segments urging viewers to share any information.
Neighbors in the normally serene Catalina Foothills—where large lots and mountain views create a sense of seclusion—have been deeply shaken. Several have reviewed their own cameras and submitted clips showing the same hooded figure walking farther down the block earlier in the evening, suggesting he may have been conducting reconnaissance. One resident reported seeing a dark sedan parked without lights on a side street around 8:15 p.m., though no clear connection has been confirmed.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Office has released a still image from the dashcam footage, showing the man’s silhouette and general build. They are asking anyone who recognizes the clothing, gait, or general appearance—or who may have seen a similar individual in the area that evening—to contact the tip line immediately. “This person may hold the key to locating Nancy,” Sheriff Nanos said. “Even small details matter.”
The combination of the cryptic note in the wallet, the untouched cash, the sudden disappearance from internal camera view, and now this extended pre-incident surveillance has transformed the case from a puzzling missing-person report into what increasingly looks like a sophisticated, planned operation. Investigators are working with federal partners, including the FBI, to analyze the footage for behavioral patterns, cross-reference with known offenders, and explore whether the symbols on the note could be linked to organized groups or individuals with a specific agenda.
For Nancy’s family, the hooded figure represents both terror and a thread of hope—if he can be identified, he may lead directly to her. The once-peaceful cul-de-sac home now stands behind yellow tape, its motion lights still activating at dusk as if expecting her return. In the silence of the Catalina Foothills, the community waits, watches, and prays that the man caught on that neighbor’s dashcam will soon be named—and that Nancy Guthrie will be found alive.
