Law enforcement agencies are releasing updates on the Nancy Guthrie case.
Pima County, Arizona, Sheriff Chris Nanos revealed new developments in the disappearance of Guthrie, the mother of Today anchor Savannah Guthrie, in an interview with NBC News. While the sheriff “absolutely” believes they are close to solving the case and hopes Guthrie is alive, NBC reported that a specialized team from the homicide division is working with the FBI in the search.
One of the key clues in the case is the backpack the suspect was wearing when he was captured on video outside Guthrie’s home. The black 25 liter “Ozark Trail Hiker Pack” backpack turned out to be a private label brand sold only at Walmart. Experts say authorities could use that information to subpoena retailers for lists of people in the greater Tucson, Arizona, area who have recently purchased the item.
But Nanos said the suspect may have purchased it elsewhere. “We now know that it probably wasn’t purchased from Walmart,” he told NBC News correspondent Liz Kreutz. “That new backpack is a Walmart exclusive, but who’s to say I didn’t buy it and put it up on eBay? … That’s what we’re looking at.”
Nanos told NBC that investigators in the case have not yet determined what the suspect was wearing in surveillance video and photos previously released by the FBI. The Pima County Sheriff’s Office previously said they were looking into the possibility that the clothing was purchased at Walmart.
The suspect was seen approaching Nancy Guthrie’s home and using the Nest doorbell camera, and is described as a “male, approximately 5’9″ to 5’10” tall, of average build. Investigators have not yet ruled out multiple suspects.
Nanos also commented on surveillance footage obtained by Fox News Digital that shows cars passing through Guthrie’s neighborhood between midnight and 6 a.m. on Feb. 1. One of the recordings was recorded about eight minutes after Nancy Guthrie’s pacemaker was last synced to her iPhone, the newspaper noted. USA TODAY has not verified the footage.
“Look, what I’m saying is this: Like any other piece of evidence, we’re aware of it and we’re investigating it,” he said, adding that he had not yet identified the car. “We are investigating that vehicle as well as hundreds of thousands of other vehicles that were traveling at that time.”
Nancy Guthrie had not been seen since Saturday, January 31st, and her family reported her missing the next morning. A source close to the family told NBC News that she regularly gathered with friends and neighbors to watch church services online, but when she didn’t show up at a friend’s house on Sunday, friends 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.
On March 2, Savannah Guthrie, her sister Annie Guthrie, and brother-in-law Tommaso Cioni were seen holding their own flowers as Pima County Sheriff’s Office deputies escorted them to a memorial near Nancy Guthrie’s home.
The three placed flowers at the memorial and hugged each other as Annie Guthrie cried softly.
Hours later, Savannah Guthrie shared a photo of the flower stand on Instagram and wrote, “We feel the love and prayers from our neighbors, the Tucson community, and the nation 💛 Please join us in praying and never stop hoping.” She also repeated her call to “take her home.”
Law enforcement is asking anyone with information to contact 1-800-CALL-FBI or the Pima County Sheriff’s Office tips.fbi.gov. (520-351-4900) or 88-CRIME.
Contributor: Edward Segarra, USA TODAY. Perry Vander, Arizona Republic
