Nancy Guthrie Search: Man Detained After FBI Releases Tampering Video

TUCSON (Azat TV) – A man has been detained for questioning in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC News’s “TODAY” show co-host Savannah Guthrie, marking a significant development in a case that began on February 1, 2026. This detention by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department follows the FBI’s release of crucial security video and images depicting an armed individual tampering with a camera at Nancy Guthrie’s home in Tucson, Arizona, just hours before she was reported missing.

The investigation has intensified since Savannah Guthrie made a public plea for her mother’s safe return, highlighting her fragile health and urgent need for daily medication. While authorities have not yet confirmed if the detained man is the individual seen in the surveillance footage, the development offers a potential breakthrough in the search for Ms. Guthrie.

Man Detained Amid Nancy Guthrie Search

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed late on February 11 that a man was detained during a traffic stop south of Tucson. The individual is currently being questioned in connection with the Nancy Guthrie investigation, according to the department. However, officials did not immediately release additional information about the man, nor was it clear if he is the same person captured in the security video released by the FBI earlier that day. This marks the first public detention in the high-profile case.

Nancy Guthrie was last seen the night of January 31, 2026, when she was dropped off at her home outside Tucson. She was reported missing around noon on February 1 after failing to arrive at a friend’s house for a regular online church service, prompting her daughter, Annie Guthrie, to notify authorities.

Crucial Video Evidence Emerges in Guthrie Case

The FBI’s release of security footage and images provided the most significant public development in the ongoing investigation. The black-and-white images and videos show a person wearing gloves, a mask, khakis, sneakers, and a backpack, appearing to tamper with the doorbell camera at Nancy Guthrie’s front door on the morning she disappeared. FBI Director Kash Patel stated that the individual was armed.

Remarkably, investigators successfully recovered this video from Google Nest camera’s “backend systems,” despite the camera having been disconnected. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos had initially noted that the camera was disconnected and lacked a subscription for saved video, making the recovery a difficult forensic task. Former FBI agent Bryanna Fox, a criminology professor at the University of South Florida, described the video release as the agency’s “best shot” at solving the case, noting that the footage reveals defining features such as facial hair around the mouth, distinctive eyebrows visible through the mask, hand gestures, and posture. Fox also suggested the individual appeared either left-handed or ambidextrous, and that the presence of a backpack and weapon indicated premeditation.

The Guthrie family was notified about the images but stated they do not recognize the person. Following the public release of the footage, FBI officials reported a dramatic increase in tips from the public.

Savannah Guthrie’s Urgent Plea Amid Health Concerns

Throughout the ten-day search, Savannah Guthrie has made emotional appeals to the public for help in locating her mother. In an Instagram video, she pleaded, “We are at an hour of desperation, and we need your help,” emphasizing her mother’s vulnerable condition. Nancy Guthrie, who has limited mobility and uses a pacemaker, requires daily medication, which her daughter stated was not with her. Sheriff Nanos had previously confirmed that Ms. Guthrie does not have cognitive issues but noted her medication is critical and its absence “could be fatal.” Her pacemaker also disconnected from its monitoring app early on February 1.

Savannah Guthrie, flanked by her siblings Annie and Camron Guthrie, underscored her mother’s suffering without medicine. The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to Nancy Guthrie’s recovery or the arrest of those responsible. Missing person billboards have also been erected in several states, including California, New Mexico, and Texas.

Wider Response and Ongoing Search Efforts

The disappearance has garnered significant attention, with the White House, including President Donald Trump and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, expressing “pure disgust” at the security footage and encouraging anyone with information to contact the FBI. The White House also reposted the FBI’s images on social media, extending prayers to the Guthrie family.

Law enforcement efforts are ongoing, with officers seen searching the Tucson neighborhood of Annie Guthrie, where Nancy Guthrie spent the evening before her disappearance. They focused on brush areas and even residents’ backyards, asking neighbors for security camera footage. An alleged ransom demand of $6 million in Bitcoin, sent to news outlets last week, passed its deadline without verification from law enforcement, who stated they were “not aware of any continued communication between the Guthrie family and suspected kidnappers.”

The successful recovery of crucial surveillance video from a tampered system and the subsequent detention of a person for questioning represent a pivotal shift in the Nancy Guthrie investigation, moving it beyond a general missing persons case to one with concrete forensic leads and potential actionable intelligence, offering renewed hope for her family and the authorities.