Shocking new developments have emerged in the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, the mother of NBC’s Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie. Authorities have obtained and are analyzing fresh Ring camera footage captured approximately five miles from Nancy’s Tucson-area home — footage that shows a man carrying and wearing backpacks strikingly similar to those seen in earlier surveillance video from the night she vanished.
The new clip, timestamped around 1:52 a.m. on February 1, captures the individual attempting to open a locked gate. The timing is critical: it occurred just minutes after Nancy’s Nest doorbell camera disconnected at 1:47 a.m. and roughly 20 minutes before motion was again detected at her residence at 2:12 a.m. Investigators believe the individual in the Ring video may be connected to the armed, masked person who appeared on Nancy’s porch and deliberately tampered with her security camera.
The original doorbell footage — recovered by the FBI from residual backend data after initial access issues — remains one of the most disturbing pieces of evidence in the case. It shows a masked figure wearing gloves, a backpack, and what appears to be a holstered handgun approaching Nancy’s front door. The individual first tries to block the camera lens with a gloved hand, then rips vegetation from the yard to obscure the view. The footage does not show what happened inside the home, but authorities have confirmed Nancy was taken against her will. Blood found on her porch tested positive for her DNA, and she relies on multiple daily medications, raising grave concerns about her health and survival without them.
The FBI Phoenix Field Office recently released a forensic description of the suspect based on analysis of the Nest camera material: a male approximately 5’9″ to 5’10” tall with an average build, wearing a specific black 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack. This exact backpack model has become a key identifier as investigators urge the public to come forward with any information.
Intensifying the urgency, law enforcement has focused search efforts near Nancy’s Catalina Foothills residence. FBI agents and Pima County Sheriff’s deputies have been seen combing desert terrain, rocky areas, and vegetation around her property and nearby neighborhoods. They have recovered multiple items, including pairs of black gloves, which have been sent for DNA and forensic testing. While it’s unclear if these gloves belong to the suspect, they represent tangible evidence being meticulously processed.
The investigation has expanded dramatically since Nancy’s disappearance was reported on February 1. After family members discovered her missing — her phone, purse, and other belongings still inside the home — authorities quickly escalated the case. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department, working alongside the FBI, has received thousands of tips, including over 4,000 calls in a single 24-hour period following the release of the initial doorbell images and video.
Neighbors have reported heavy police presence, with agents knocking on doors and requesting surveillance footage from specific dates — including January 11 (9 p.m. to midnight) and January 31 (morning hours) — suggesting investigators are looking for suspicious vehicles or individuals who may have been scouting the area weeks before the abduction. Ring users in the vicinity received official requests through the Neighbors app to review and submit any relevant clips.
Adding to the anguish, the family has publicly indicated willingness to pay ransom, though the authenticity of several reported ransom notes remains unconfirmed. At least one note demanded payment in bitcoin, with some reports suggesting multiple communications have been received. Despite these messages, no verified contact between the family and a kidnapper has been publicly acknowledged, and no arrests have been made.
Experts reviewing the available footage have noted several apparent mistakes by the suspect — from failing to fully disable the camera system to visible movements that left identifiable clues — leading some former investigators to describe the perpetrator as potentially inexperienced or amateurish. Yet the presence of a firearm and the deliberate targeting of the security system point to premeditation.
The case has gripped the nation, largely because of Savannah Guthrie’s high-profile status. She and her siblings have made emotional pleas on social media, urging anyone with information to contact authorities. The FBI has increased its reward to $100,000 for information leading to Nancy’s location or the arrest of those responsible.
As the search enters its second week, questions continue to mount: Who is the masked individual? Why target an 84-year-old woman in a quiet neighborhood? Was this a planned abduction or an opportunistic crime gone wrong? And most urgently — is Nancy Guthrie still alive?
Law enforcement remains cautiously optimistic, emphasizing that every tip, every frame of video, and every recovered item could be the break needed to bring Nancy home. For now, the discovery and analysis of this new Ring camera footage represent one of the most promising leads yet in a case filled with heartbreak and uncertainty.
