FBI releases description of suspect in Guthrie disappearance
The suspect is described as a male, 5 feet 9 inches tall to 5 feet 10 inches tall, with an average build, according to the FBI.
The investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s whereabouts reached the two-week mark on Saturday, February 14, as law enforcement seeks answers.
Today anchor Savannah Guthrie’s missing mother was last seen on January 31 at her home near Tucson, Arizona. The FBI is calling the incident a kidnapping. Authorities believe the 84-year-old mother of three was “abducted” from her home in the early hours of February 1st.
The reward for information leading to Guthrie’s location or the arrest and conviction of those involved in her abduction has been doubled to $100,000.
President Donald Trump spoke to reporters on Friday, Feb. 13, commenting on the investigation, saying “progress has been made,” adding: “Either someone knew what they were doing or they were an amateur. Either way, it’s not a good situation.”
Since the investigation began, law enforcement has collected more than 13,000 tips, released doorbell camera footage of the suspect, recovered DNA that did not belong to Nancy Guthrie from her property, and reviewed several ransom notes sent to news organizations. Here’s what you need to know:
What is the suspect’s description?
The FBI said the unidentified person seen in the recovered doorbell camera footage is a man, approximately 5 feet 9 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall and of average build. The video showed the suspect carrying a black 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack.
On February 10, FBI Director Kash Patel released surveillance footage showing an “armed” man wearing a mask and gloves tampering with the mother’s supposedly disabled Google Nest doorbell camera.
In two videos, the person appears to be wearing a mask and gloves, holding a flashlight in his mouth and trying to hide the camera with leaves. In another clip, the person is seen walking home wearing a dark zip-up jacket, light pants and a backpack, looking down and carrying what appears to be a holstered weapon on his hip. Mr Patel described the man as “armed”.
During an appearance on the “Today” show on February 13, NBC correspondent Tom Winter said that the backpack is a private label brand sold exclusively to Walmart. Winter said if the backpack was recently purchased, police could subpoena the retailer for a list of people in the greater Tucson area who recently purchased the backpack.
What kind of DNA are authorities analyzing?
DNA recovered at the scene included dried blood droplets found on the Spanish tile front door of the home on February 3, which the sheriff’s department later confirmed was Nancy Guthrie’s blood.
Other evidence includes several gloves found in the area that were sent for DNA analysis.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department announced Friday that the closest glove was found about three miles from the scene. Law enforcement also collected DNA from Nancy Guthrie’s home that did not belong to the 84-year-old or people she had close contact with. The sheriff did not say where the DNA was collected.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told NBC affiliate Arizona.,KVOA, Authorities told investigators they “don’t even know the true value” of the gloves.
Who is leading the investigation?
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI are both investigating Nancy Guthrie’s kidnapping, but a Reuters report has fueled speculation that there may be friction between the two agencies over who is leading the charge.
Reuters reported on Thursday about the disagreement over the handling of evidence, citing “U.S. law enforcement officials familiar with the case,” but Nanos said in an interview with NBC affiliate KVOA published Friday that “it’s not even close to the truth.”
He acknowledged that he objected to the bureau’s attempt to send “one or two” gloves to a nearby lab, but said the FBI ultimately agreed that it “made more sense” to centralize the evidence at a private lab in South Florida known as DNA Laboratories International. “There’s no altercation there. There’s no fight. The sheriff didn’t stop anything. This is always a case where we both work very closely together.”
At a press conference on February 5, when asked who was leading the investigation, Nanos said, “There are no egos here” and “we accept anyone’s help.”
When was the last time you saw Savannah Guthrie’s mother Nancy?
Nancy Guthrie had not been seen since January 31, and her family reported her missing the next morning.
A source close to the family told NBC News that after she didn’t show up at a friend’s house to watch church services online as usual on February 1st, she called her daughter Annie, who lived nearby.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Office said they believe she was taken from her home against her will.
What was in the ransom note? Who received it?
KOLD reporter Mary Coleman told CNN on February 3 that the ransom note received by multiple news organizations, including Arizona-based news stations KOLD and TMZ, allegedly included a deadline, amount, and specific details that only Guthrie’s kidnappers could know. Both news outlets reported that the letter included a demand for millions of dollars in Bitcoin.
Janke said the memo shared with the media set the deadline for payment as 5 p.m. on Feb. 5, and the second deadline listed in the memo was Monday, Feb. 9.
Janke said the memo included details about Nancy Guthrie’s Apple Watch. The note also included details about the clothes she was wearing on the night of her disappearance, according to CBS News.
What did Savannah Guthrie say?
Savannah Guthrie and her siblings, Annie and Camron, posted several videos on social media pleading for their mother’s safety..
On February 12, she shared a touching home video of her mother and sister Angie as children, as well as a family photo of her siblings as children. “Our wonderful mom. 💛,” the journalist captioned an Instagram post on Thursday, February 12. “We will never give up on her. Thank you for your prayers and hope.”
On February 4, she responded to reports of a ransom letter, saying, “We are doing everything we can as a family. We are ready to talk.”
“But we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated. We need to know without a shadow of a doubt that she is alive and that you have her. We want and are ready to hear from you. Please contact us,” said Savannah Guthrie.
Contributors: Melina Khan, Brendan Morrow, KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY; arizona republic staff
