Just hours after the FBI released footage of a masked “person of interest” on Nancy Guthrie’s doorstep, authorities detained the person south of Tucson.
Search for Nancy Guthrie enters 10th day, new images emerge
The search for Nancy Guthrie, the mother of “Today” host Savannah Guthrie, is in its 10th day.
Arizona authorities say a person has been taken into custody in connection with the alleged kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie on February 10, just hours after authorities released surveillance footage of a possible masked suspect on the doorstep of an 84-year-old’s home.
Law enforcement has not identified the person in custody or whether it is the same person seen in black-and-white surveillance footage from Guthrie’s home outside Tucson, Arizona. FBI Director Kash Patel called the person in the video a “person of interest,” but the person in custody has not been characterized as such.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed late Friday night that a person in custody in Arizona is being questioned in connection with the investigation into the incident involving Savannah Guthrie’s mother.
A woman who identified herself as the detainee’s mother-in-law told CNN on Tuesday night that the man had “nothing to do” with the Guthrie incident and urged investigators to search his home, saying he had “nothing to hide.”
Here’s what we know so far:
“It has nothing to do with that.”
A woman who said she was the mother-in-law of the person being questioned told reporters, referring to the Guthrie incident, that her daughter’s husband had “nothing to do with it.”
Her interview took place as investigators searched her property south of Tucson near the Mexican border.
She directed investigators to search the house.
“You can go and check the house, there’s no one there,” she said, adding that investigators said they targeted her property after receiving a tip.
The woman said her son-in-law works as a delivery driver in the Tucson area.
Where was the person detained?
The Pima County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the person authorities were questioning on Feb. 10 was taken into custody south of Tucson. Guthrie’s home is just north of the city.
Pima County Sheriff’s Office officials announced late Tuesday night that the department and the FBI Evidence Response Team are conducting a court-authorized investigation into Gasle’s disappearance in Rio Rico, Arizona, about 90 miles south of Tucson and near the Mexican border.
Authorities did not provide details of the search, but said it would take several hours.
How was the person detained and why?
Authorities said they detained the person during a traffic stop in connection with the Guthrie incident.
The sheriff’s office did not share any information about what led the officer to stop the person on the street.
When was the person taken into custody?
ABC News first reported the news shortly after 7 p.m. local time in Arizona, citing unnamed law enforcement officials.
Pima County Sheriff’s Office officials did not respond to questions from USA TODAY about when he was taken into custody, saying only “earlier today.”
Are you the person in the video?
Law enforcement in Arizona has not yet said whether the person being questioned is the same person seen in the video recently released by the FBI.
USA TODAY has reached out to local authorities, the Department of Justice and the FBI for additional information.
Who is in the video?
Authorities have not identified the masked person seen in the footage outside Guthrie’s home, but Patel described him as a “person of interest.”
“We’re confident that we’re looking at what we call a person of interest,” Patel said of surveillance footage taken from a Google Nest doorbell camera that appears to have been disabled. “However, as with any investigation, you are a person of interest until you are removed or you are found to be the actual culprit or participant.”
Patel added: “That’s the stage we’re at right now.”
When was Guthrie last seen?
Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today anchor Savannah Guthrie, has not been seen since Saturday, January 31st. She was first reported missing the next day, February 1st.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Office said they believe she was taken from her home outside Tucson against her will.
Contributed by Anthony Robredo
