Nancy Guthrie Investigation: FBI doubles reward to $100K for Savannah Guthrie's missing mother Nancy Guthrie. New suspect details released as search enters second week in Arizona.
New Suspect Details Released in Nancy Guthrie Kidnapping Case (Image: X)
FBI investigators have doubled the reward to $100,000 for information leading to Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of "Today" show host Savannah Guthrie, who was abducted from her Arizona home February 1, as authorities release new suspect details and deny reports of investigative conflict.
The FBI is seeking a male approximately 5'9" to 5'10" tall with an average build who was recorded on surveillance footage at Nancy Guthrie's residence the morning she vanished. The suspect was wearing a distinctive black, 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack at the time of the incident. Authorities believe Guthrie was abducted from her Catalina Foothills home, and despite more than 13,000 tips received from the public, investigators have not identified her location or the alleged abductor's identity.
Pima County Sheriff's Department investigators combing the foothills around Guthrie's neighborhood have recovered multiple gloves submitted for DNA testing. Sheriff Chris Nanos told NBC News affiliate KVOA that "a number of gloves have been found in a large area around the house." Residents living within two miles of Guthrie's home have been asked to submit surveillance footage showing cars and people from approximately one month before her disappearance. Authorities have also collected cheek swabs from various individuals encountered during the investigation, providing DNA samples from people investigators are interested in, though no official suspects have been identified.
Sheriff Chris Nanos is strongly denying news reports that he prevented FBI access to key evidence. Nanos told CNN in a phone interview Friday that investigators from his office and the FBI jointly decided to send evidence for DNA analysis to a Florida laboratory that contracts with the Pima County Sheriff's Department, rather than splitting materials between multiple facilities.
"Nobody was ever blocked. It's just crazy stuff," Nanos said. "We go out and we work together. All the leads are followed up on. We're working side by side."
One law enforcement official confirmed to CNN that Nanos had blocked evidence access, while another federal official said the stories were overblown and that investigative teams were working well together.
Nanos reported Friday that the doorbell video of the suspect has generated substantial leads, telling CNN that authorities have "a bunch of leads to go out on this morning." He described the investigation as frustrating but hopeful.
"This is like a roller coaster," Nanos said. "We got some good leads. We remain hopeful."
The FBI has processed more than 13,000 tips since February 1. Investigators are also analyzing the recovered gloves for DNA connections to the case.
Catalina Foothills residents express heightened fear following the release of surveillance footage showing the suspect approaching Guthrie's home. Nicollete Daly described the video as deeply disturbing.
"Seeing that monster come onto the porch is, like, I mean, it's horrible," Daly said. "My mom lives here in town. She lives alone — now I'm worried as heck about her."
Daly added, "I'm scared to be alone," reflecting neighborhood anxiety as the search continues.
Derrick Callella, charged with allegedly sending a fraudulent ransom note to the Guthrie family, will be arraigned today at 4 p.m. local time in federal court. He faces accusations of texting a fake ransom demand requesting money in exchange for information about their missing mother.
A: Nancy Guthrie was last seen at her Arizona home on February 1.
A: The FBI doubled the reward to $100,000 for information leading to Nancy's location or an arrest.
A: No. The suspect is described as 5'9"-5'10" male with average build wearing an Ozark Trail Hiker backpack.
Disclaimer: This information is based on inputs from news agency reports. TSG does not independently confirm the information provided by the relevant sources.
