Investigators Use Pacemaker 'Signal Sniffer' and Trace Ozark Trail Backpack in Nancy Guthrie Kidnapping Probe
Investigators—who say they believe 84‑year‑old Nancy Guthrie was kidnapped—are using a custom “signal sniffer” built by former NSA hacker David Kennedy to detect Bluetooth Low Energy pings from her pacemaker (which stopped communicating with her phone app at 2:28 a.m.), mounting the device on a low‑flying helicopter and exploring wider drone deployment after tests showed an amplified pacemaker signal can be detected well beyond the device’s nominal 10–15‑foot range. At the same time the FBI has identified the porch suspect as carrying a black 25‑liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack sold exclusively at Walmart and is working with the retailer to trace purchases and review surveillance, while agents pursue DNA from a roadside glove, evaluate alleged ransom communications and have increased the reward for information.
📌 Key Facts
- Nancy Guthrie, 84, was last seen the evening of Jan. 31 in Tucson; investigators say she was likely taken from her home, blood on her front porch has been DNA‑matched to her, and she requires daily medications and a pacemaker.
- A consolidated timeline from investigators shows Guthrie was dropped home at ~9:48 p.m.; the garage closed ~9:50 p.m.; the doorbell camera was disconnected ~1:47 a.m.; the home security system logged a motion event ~2:12 a.m.; and Guthrie’s pacemaker app stopped communicating ~2:28 a.m.
- The FBI and Pima County released infrared/porch images of a masked, apparently armed person tampering with the front‑door camera; the bureau later described the individual as roughly 5'9"–5'10" with an average build carrying a black 25‑liter Ozark Trail "Hiker Pack," and the family says they do not recognize him.
- Investigators recovered multiple gloves (one found about two miles from the home) and other unidentified DNA from Guthrie’s property; a preliminary DNA profile from the roadside glove produced an unknown‑male profile, CODIS produced no match, and law enforcement is pursuing investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) and CODIS entry while awaiting final confirmations.
- Authorities are working directly with Walmart and reviewing SKU‑level sales records and in‑store surveillance to trace purchases and video for the Ozark Trail 25‑liter backpack (a Walmart‑exclusive item seen on the porch footage) and other likely Walmart gear (mask, clothing, holster) to generate leads.
- Investigators are using a custom 'signal sniffer' to detect Bluetooth Low Energy transmissions from Guthrie’s pacemaker (which emits periodic signals); the device—developed by cybersecurity specialist David Kennedy—has been amplified and deployed on a helicopter, and officials have discussed expanded drone use to search wider areas.
- Multiple alleged ransom communications have been sent to media outlets and the family; the Guthrie children have posted videos saying they will pay for their mother’s safe return, but the FBI is vetting the messages’ authenticity, warns that deepfakes complicate proof‑of‑life verification, and some third‑party emails (including TMZ‑linked claims) have been treated skeptically as possible scams.
- The case is a large, multi‑agency operation (hundreds of detectives and FBI specialists assigned) that has generated thousands of public tips (the FBI has received >13,000; the sheriff’s office has taken >18,000 calls) and an increased FBI reward now up to $100,000; despite extensive searches, forensic work, a towed vehicle and executed warrants, no one is in custody and the investigation remains active.
📰 Source Timeline (50)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
February 18, 2026
3:38 AM
How "signal sniffer" technology is being used in the search for Nancy Guthrie
New information:
- Investigators are using a custom 'signal sniffer' device, invented by former NSA hacker David Kennedy, to detect Bluetooth Low Energy signals from Nancy Guthrie’s pacemaker.
- Kennedy says Guthrie’s pacemaker was disconnected from her phone’s app at 2:28 a.m., and the device emits a Bluetooth Low Energy signal every 2–3 minutes within a 10–15‑foot radius.
- By adding amplifiers and high‑gain antennas, Kennedy has demonstrated the signal can be detected from roughly 800 feet away, and law enforcement has already flown a helicopter at low altitude with the sniffer mounted to begin searching for the signal.
- Kennedy says a large‑scale search using 50–60 drones equipped with the sniffer could cover a 120‑square‑mile area in days to two weeks, but notes agencies don’t yet have that drone infrastructure in place.
2:46 AM
Gun store owner says FBI asked him to check firearm sales against list of names, pics in Guthrie case
New information:
- Tucson gun shop co-owner Phillip Martin says an FBI agent came in with three pages listing roughly 18–24 named individuals with photos and asked him to check whether any had bought a firearm at his store within the past year.
- Martin reports he ran each surname through his shop’s electronic records and found no matches for gun purchases during that period.
- Martin says the agent indicated investigators planned to visit additional area gun stores to see whether anyone on the list had recently acquired a weapon.
- Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos explicitly denies that authorities have narrowed the suspect pool to around 40 individuals, saying investigators have not focused on a specific group despite online claims.
12:05 AM
Genetic genealogy that caught notorious killers now used in Nancy Guthrie case
New information:
- Adds that, beyond the backpack and roadside glove leads, FBI has now confirmed use of investigative genetic genealogy on DNA from the glove and from Guthrie’s home.
- Clarifies that CODIS checks on the glove and home DNA profiles produced no matches, prompting the shift to IGG.
February 17, 2026
10:00 AM
What we know about the evidence in the Nancy Guthrie search so far
New information:
- Investigators now explicitly link not just the backpack but also the suspect’s mask and clothing in the Nest video to likely Walmart purchases, while stressing those garments are not exclusive to Walmart.
- Sheriff Nanos provides more detail on the Nest infrared imagery, explaining that the black mask appears lighter because of the camera’s IR system.
- The FBI publicly quantifies the glove search: 16 gloves collected, with only one glove near a roadside field about two miles from Guthrie’s home yielding an unknown male DNA profile and visually matching those in the video.
- Authorities disclose that additional unidentified DNA has been collected somewhere on Guthrie’s property, not just from the roadside glove, though they decline to say where.
February 16, 2026
9:13 PM
Nancy Guthrie kidnapping investigators work with Walmart for backpack leads
New information:
- Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos says the suspect’s backpack has been definitively identified as a 25-liter Ozark Trail 'Hiker Pack' sold exclusively at Walmart.
- Investigators are now formally working with Walmart management to develop leads tied to that exclusive backpack.
- Sheriff’s office clarifies that while other clothing items might have been bought at Walmart, only the backpack is confirmed as Walmart-exclusive and the rest is speculative.
- The FBI has received preliminary DNA results from a glove found near Guthrie’s home and is awaiting official confirmation.
3:53 PM
Investigators reviewing retail sales records for clues in Nancy Guthrie case
New information:
- Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told CBS News that investigators are reviewing surveillance footage and purchase records at retail stores, including Walmart, where they believe the suspect bought clothing and a face mask.
- The retail records review is explicitly focused on matching the suspect’s mask and clothing seen in Guthrie‑case surveillance footage to specific in‑store purchases.
- CBS frames this as a current, active line of inquiry in the multi‑agency investigation, rather than just a possibility.
2:37 PM
Investigators focus on suspect's mask, clothing in Nancy Guthrie case
New information:
- Sheriff Chris Nanos told CBS that investigators specifically believe the suspect’s clothing and face mask were purchased at Walmart.
- The CBS segment re‑emphasizes that the mask, clothing, and backpack are central evidentiary focuses for identifying the suspect, tying them to Walmart’s product lines.
9:00 AM
Guthrie suspect's mask, clothing believed to be from Walmart, sheriff says
New information:
- Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos says investigators believe the suspect’s mask and clothing, as well as the Ozark Trail backpack, were likely purchased at Walmart, and they are working to identify each brand.
- Walmart has provided investigators with records of all recent Ozark Trail Hiker backpack purchases, both online and in‑store, from beyond just the Tucson area.
- Investigators have spent several days reviewing surveillance video at local Walmarts to match potential purchasers to the suspect.
- FBI clarifies that the suspect’s face covering is believed to be black, with its lighter appearance in Nest footage attributed to infrared imaging.
- Sheriff Nanos confirms additional DNA has been collected at Guthrie’s property but has not yet yielded a suspect, and a recent search warrant at a residence less than two miles away produced no arrest.
3:01 AM
FBI: DNA recovered from glove found near Guthrie home that appears to match glove worn by suspect
New information:
- FBI says a glove containing DNA was found about two miles from Nancy Guthrie’s home in a roadside field and that it appears to match the gloves worn by the masked person seen on her porch camera.
- The glove has produced preliminary DNA results; the FBI is awaiting official confirmation.
- Article confirms law enforcement sealed off a nearby road Friday night, towed a Range Rover from a restaurant lot, and states no arrests have been made.
- Savannah Guthrie released a new Instagram video appealing directly to the abductor or anyone holding her mother, saying, “It is never too late to do the right thing.”
3:00 AM
Burglary theory in missing Guthrie case 'ridiculously rare' says law enforcement source
New information:
- FBI says in a statement that the DNA-bearing glove appears to match the glove worn by the masked person seen tampering with Guthrie’s doorbell camera.
- The glove was found about two miles from Guthrie’s home in a roadside field and shipped to a private lab in Florida, which has already produced a preliminary DNA profile.
- The profile is undergoing quality-control review before being uploaded to CODIS, indicating an imminent search against national DNA databases.
- An internal law-enforcement source disputes new media reports that investigators now think Guthrie’s disappearance was a 'burglary gone wrong,' saying that is not the unit’s working theory.
- Sheriff Nanos explicitly says the 'burglary gone wrong' claim 'did not come from us' and that while it is one of many possibilities, his office will not speculate about motive.
1:43 AM
Savannah Guthrie posts new video: "It is never too late to do the right thing"
New information:
- CBS reports that the Ozark Trail 25‑liter Hiker Pack backpack identified by the FBI is sold exclusively at Walmart, narrowing the retail source of the suspect’s pack.
- Sources tell CBS that investigators have specifically reviewed video at at least one Walmart location in Tucson as part of the search for the kidnapping suspect.
- The FBI publicly confirms it received preliminary DNA results from a black glove found near Guthrie’s home on Saturday and is preparing to enter the 'unknown male profile' into the national CODIS database after confirmation.
- Savannah Guthrie’s latest Instagram message emphasizes the family’s continued hope and explicitly appeals to the abductor’s conscience, asserting 'we believe in the essential goodness of every human being.'
- Authorities reiterate that they are actively vetting a bitcoin ransom note first delivered to KOLD‑TV; the family has publicly offered to pay but continues to seek proof of life.
February 14, 2026
7:36 PM
A $10 Walmart gun holster could help identify suspect in Nancy Guthrie case
New information:
- A Miami‑area active‑duty police officer, speaking anonymously, has identified the suspect’s holster in the Nest doorbell video as a Strategy brand large‑frame revolver hip holster sold at select Walmart stores for about $10.
- Walmart’s online inventory shows that specific holster in stock at only a handful of Tucson‑area stores, suggesting a relatively small pool of local purchasers.
- The holster is designed for 4–6.5‑inch revolvers and right‑hand use, but the gun visible in the video appears to be a Walther‑style semiautomatic pistol, an unusual pairing investigators may be able to exploit.
- The suspect’s backpack is identified as an Ozark Trail 25‑liter model sold exclusively at Walmart, tightening the focus on the chain for multiple pieces of the suspect’s gear.
- Experts quoted in the piece suggest the cheap, somewhat awkward holster choice points to an improvised grab‑and‑go kit rather than a carefully curated, enthusiast’s setup, which may inform behavioral profiling.
4:33 PM
Investigators Focus Overnight on Car and Residence Near Nancy Guthrie’s Home
New information:
- Investigators shut down a street and searched a residence a few minutes’ drive from Nancy Guthrie’s home for about four hours on Friday night.
- Pima County deputies and FBI personnel converged near midnight on a late‑model gray Range Rover in a Culver’s parking lot, thoroughly photographed it inside and out, and had it towed away.
- The sheriff’s office, at the FBI’s request, is withholding details and says no one has been arrested or is in custody in connection with Guthrie’s abduction as of Saturday morning.
- Sheriff Chris Nanos confirmed that DNA taken from Guthrie’s property does not match anyone in close contact with her and that tests are being run on gloves found roughly two miles away, though it is still uncertain whether they are the same gloves seen on the masked man in the doorbell video.
4:10 PM
SWAT teams assist search for Nancy Guthrie as investigators try to identify DNA
New information:
- More than two dozen SWAT trucks and other police vehicles executed a search warrant at a house a few miles from Nancy Guthrie’s Tucson home late Friday; no arrests were made.
- Investigators say DNA collected at that property does not belong to Guthrie or anyone known to have been in close contact with her and are working to identify whose it is.
- Authorities have found gloves approximately two miles from Guthrie’s home and are analyzing them as part of the investigation.
- Sheriff Chris Nanos told Reuters he believes Guthrie is still alive and cited surveillance showing a masked, apparently armed person on her porch the night she disappeared.
12:41 PM
Hundreds of agents search for Nancy Guthrie as her case spotlights other families left behind
New information:
- Pima County Sheriff’s Department says 'several hundred' detectives and agents are now assigned to the Guthrie investigation.
- FBI spokesperson Connor Hagan confirms agents from the Critical Incident Response Group, technical experts and intelligence analysts are deployed, and a 24‑hour command post is parsing roughly 13,000 public tips.
- NCIC data cited: over 530,000 missing‑person records were entered in 2024, with just over 90,000 still unresolved at year’s end; about 95% believed to be runaways and only 1% listed as abducted.
- The FBI’s own missing‑persons database shows five other kidnapped or missing people from Arizona besides Guthrie—all listed as Native American or from tribal communities—highlighting racial disparities.
- Families of other missing people, such as Tonya Miller in Missouri, publicly contrast the massive response to Guthrie’s case with the limited help they received, underscoring inequities linked to race and media attention.
7:57 AM
Law enforcement block road near Nancy Guthrie's home during investigation into her disappearance
New information:
- Late Friday night, law enforcement set up a roadblock about two miles from Nancy Guthrie’s home and blocked off a road as part of the investigation.
- Multiple Pima County Sheriff’s and FBI vehicles, including forensics units, passed through the roadblock into the closed area.
- Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed the activity is part of the Guthrie case but said the FBI requested that no further details be released about the operation.
7:57 AM
What to know about the investigation into Nancy Guthrie's disappearance and the search for clues
New information:
- Confirms investigators have collected DNA from Nancy Guthrie’s property that does not belong to Guthrie or close contacts and are working to identify it.
- States that multiple gloves, including some about two miles from Guthrie’s home, have been recovered and sent for forensic analysis, without specifying glove type.
- Details that evidence requiring forensic analysis is being sent to the same out‑of‑state lab used since the start of the case.
- Quantifies law‑enforcement workload: FBI says it has received more than 13,000 tips since Feb. 1, while the Pima County Sheriff’s Department has taken at least 18,000 calls.
- Describes specific recent investigative actions: a sealed‑off road and visible FBI/sheriff forensic activity about two miles from the home late Friday; a court‑authorized search in Rio Rico; and a traffic‑stop detention south of Tucson where a man was questioned and released.
February 13, 2026
11:23 PM
Latest on Nancy Guthrie search as sheriff pushes back on claims of tensions with FBI
New information:
- CBS segment states the FBI now explicitly calls the individual seen on Nancy Guthrie’s porch surveillance video a 'suspect,' not just a 'subject' or 'person of interest.'
- The FBI has released what CBS describes as its first detailed public description of the alleged kidnapper tied to that porch video.
- Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, in the same news cycle, publicly pushes back on media claims of significant tensions between his department and the FBI over the investigation.
8:52 PM
FBI releases description of suspect, increases reward in Nancy Guthrie case
New information:
- FBI now describes the masked suspect as approximately 5'9"–5'10" tall with an average build, carrying a black 25‑liter Ozark Trail backpack (a Walmart private‑label brand).
- The FBI has doubled the reward for information leading to Nancy Guthrie’s recovery and/or a conviction from $50,000 to $100,000.
- The Phoenix FBI office says it has already received more than 13,000 tips about the case in February.
- The bureau formally labels Guthrie a "vulnerable adult" who requires heart medication and keeps her on its Most Wanted kidnappings and missing‑persons list.
8:35 PM
Trump comments on why FBI has not yet taken over Nancy Guthrie case, whether cartels possibly involved
New information:
- President Trump publicly stated that the FBI is not the lead agency on the Guthrie case because the Pima County Sheriff’s Department 'didn't want to let go of it,' adding that 'it's up to them' and 'up to the communities.'
- Trump said that once the FBI 'got involved' he believes 'progress has been made,' implicitly endorsing the current joint arrangement rather than ordering a full federal takeover.
- In response to a question about whether cartels or a foreign nation state could be involved, Trump said 'You can't say that yet,' explicitly declining to tie the kidnapping to cartels or another country at this stage.
- The article reiterates and amplifies FBI Phoenix’s new forensics‑based suspect description from the doorbell footage: a male approximately 5'9"–5'10" tall with an average build, wearing a specific black 25‑liter Ozark Trail 'Hiker Pack' backpack.
7:24 PM
Walmart sales records become critical evidence as FBI investigates Nancy Guthrie's disappearance
New information:
- Investigators are working with Walmart’s corporate security team and canvassing Tucson‑area Walmart stores to trace sales of the specific Ozark Trails backpack linked to the Guthrie case.
- Retired FBI agent Jason Pack describes the strategy: Walmart can provide SKU‑level sales data so agents can identify every such backpack sold in a defined period, then correlate with store video and payment methods to generate suspect leads.
- Former FBI agent John Nantz notes this kind of purchase‑history analysis was also used in the Brian Cole Jr. pipe‑bomb case, underscoring that retail forensics can decisively tie a subject to a crime.
- The article reiterates and timelines key digital events the night of the abduction: garage door closing around 9:50 p.m. Jan. 31, doorbell camera disconnect at 1:47 a.m., security camera motion at 2:12 a.m., pacemaker disconnect at 2:28 a.m., and discovery the next morning after she missed her regular church livestream.
7:23 PM
FBI doubles reward money in Nancy Guthrie case
New information:
- FBI has increased the reward in the Nancy Guthrie disappearance case from $50,000 to $100,000.
- The reward change is being used in fresh FBI public messaging to elicit more tips.
7:25 AM
Experts say screening tips in Nancy Guthrie's disappearance is 'tremendous' and critical work
New information:
- Pima County Sheriff’s Department received more than 4,000 calls within 24 hours of releasing porch‑video images of a fully masked man on Nancy Guthrie’s porch.
- The FBI says it has collected more than 13,000 tips since Feb. 1 and the sheriff’s office has taken at least 18,000 calls in the case, with every tip reviewed around the clock for credibility, relevance and actionability.
- Experts including former Tucson police chief Roberto Villaseñor and Idaho State Police Lt. Darren Gilbertson explain how large‑scale tip operations are triaged, how many tips are quickly 'spiked,' and why public input is still vital even when most tips are dead ends.
- The article places the Guthrie tip flood in context with historic major cases — from the Unabomber to the Idaho student murders — to show how tips have solved or sustained high‑profile investigations.
February 12, 2026
12:28 PM
Nancy Guthrie case investigators find set of black gloves near roadside
New information:
- Physical evidence search has extended beyond ransom communications to include recovery of potential items like black gloves and a focused desert canvass.
- Timeline of investigative steps is clarified: gloves and roadside search occur after release of doorbell images and wave of public tips.
- Request for specific Ring footage time windows (Jan. 11 and Jan. 31) suggests investigators are re‑examining possible earlier reconnaissance around the home as well as the day of disappearance.
February 11, 2026
4:33 PM
Ex-FBI official flags possible scam as third alleged Nancy Guthrie letter emerges
New information:
- TMZ received a third alleged email claiming to know Nancy Guthrie’s kidnapper and demanding one Bitcoin to reveal the person’s identity.
- The Bitcoin wallet address in that email has been confirmed as technically active, and the demand amount (≈$56,000) roughly matches the FBI’s $50,000 reward.
- Former FBI assistant director Chris Swecker told Fox News he is 'highly skeptical' of the TMZ-linked letters and suspects a scam, warning they may be tying up investigators.
- Harvey Levin says the sender is not purporting to be the kidnapper but someone who claims to know the kidnapper and to have tried contacting Guthrie’s children directly.
February 10, 2026
5:59 PM
Photos of subject in Nancy Guthrie search released
New information:
- FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department posted new surveillance photos Tuesday of a man they describe as a 'subject' they are trying to identify in the Nancy Guthrie disappearance.
- Two law‑enforcement sources told CBS the man is not currently considered a suspect or person of interest.
- FBI reiterated there has been no further contact with suspected kidnappers since the latest bitcoin ransom deadline passed Monday and again urged the public to call 1‑800-CALL-FBI with tips.
- Savannah Guthrie released a fresh social‑media video Monday calling the situation an 'hour of desperation' and asking people nationwide to report anything suspicious to law enforcement.
5:53 PM
Nancy Guthrie's family pleads with apparent kidnappers as messages shift from hopeful to desperate
New information:
- Savannah Guthrie and her siblings have now released multiple video messages whose tone has shifted from hopeful to openly desperate, with Savannah saying in the latest clip, "We are at an hour of desperation" and appealing to the public for help.
- The family says they have not had direct contact with the kidnappers and law enforcement still will not confirm whether ransom letters — including those with already‑passed deadlines — are authentic.
- A recent family video states, "We received your message, and we understand. We beg you now to return our mother to us ... This is very valuable to us, and we will pay," suggesting at least one communication the family considers credible, though authorities won’t discuss it.
- The article reiterates that DNA tests matched Nancy Guthrie’s blood on her front porch and that her doorbell camera was disconnected in the early hours of Feb. 1, while stressing her need for daily medications for high blood pressure and heart disease, including a pacemaker.
5:43 PM
Authorities release images of potential subject in Nancy Guthrie case
New information:
- The FBI released photos of what it calls a 'subject' in the Nancy Guthrie investigation, showing a masked, armed individual near the entrance of her home.
- FBI Director Kash Patel said the images were recovered from 'residual data located in backend systems' after recording devices had been removed and footage lost or corrupted.
- Patel stated the new images show an armed person appearing to tamper with the front‑door camera on the morning of Guthrie’s disappearance.
5:43 PM
Authorities release video of potential subject in Nancy Guthrie case
New information:
- New FBI‑released images show a masked individual on Guthrie’s porch, apparently armed and tampering with her front‑door camera on the morning she vanished.
- FBI Director Kash Patel described the footage as recovered from 'residual data' after prior loss or corruption related to removed recording devices.
- NBC’s Tom Winter reported that Guthrie’s family does not recognize the person shown and noted that the apparent weapon is visible in the waistband.
3:03 AM
Nancy Guthrie was expected at friend’s home, not church on day she vanished: source
New information:
- A family‑connected source says early reporting that Nancy Guthrie was expected at an in‑person Tucson church service is incorrect; she was actually due at a friend’s home to watch a New York church service livestream.
- The source describes a long‑standing Sunday routine dating back to COVID in which Nancy and close friends rotated homes to watch the livestream from Savannah Guthrie’s New York church.
- Nancy was reported missing after she failed to arrive at a friend’s house for the usual livestream gathering and a friend contacted her daughter Annie, not because she missed a local church service.
- The Pima County Sheriff’s Department reiterated in a Monday evening statement that the investigation remains 'active and ongoing,' with no suspects, persons of interest, or vehicles identified and no press briefings currently scheduled.
February 09, 2026
11:50 PM
News Wrap: Search for Nancy Guthrie enters second week
New information:
- PBS pegs the situation at the start of the second week of the search, with an 'apparent ransom deadline hours away,' reinforcing the immediacy of the current deadline window.
9:26 PM
Savannah Guthrie makes new video plea as ransom deadline for her missing mother nears
New information:
- Savannah Guthrie released a new video Monday saying her family is in an 'hour of desperation,' reiterating their belief that 84‑year‑old Nancy Guthrie is still alive but not explicitly mentioning the looming ransom deadline.
- Authorities confirm multiple media outlets have received alleged ransom letters, at least one of which included monetary demands and set two deadlines, the first passing Thursday and a second set for Monday evening.
- Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos’ office reiterates that, despite repeated returns to the neighborhood and follow‑up searches over the weekend, investigators have not identified any suspects, persons of interest or related vehicles.
- Investigators were seen over the weekend working inside daughter Annie Guthrie’s home about four miles away and probing an underground tank behind Nancy Guthrie’s house as part of the expanding forensic search.
- Officials publicly underscore growing concern about Nancy Guthrie’s health, citing her need for daily medications, a pacemaker and history of high blood pressure and heart issues.
12:26 PM
The latest on the search for Nancy Guthrie. And, takeaways from Super Bowl 60
New information:
- Local station KGUN reported receiving a ransom note demanding $6 million by this evening in Nancy Guthrie’s suspected abduction.
- Police and FBI have not publicly confirmed the ransom details 'in concrete terms,' highlighting the evidentiary gap between media reports and official statements.
- Investigators and FBI officials are explicitly warning that AI-generated video could complicate any proof-of-life demand, making verification of Nancy Guthrie’s status harder.
February 08, 2026
7:40 PM
Savannah Guthrie says "we will pay" in new video asking for mother's return
New information:
- Confirms Savannah Guthrie’s latest video message aired Saturday night explicitly stating "we will pay" for her mother’s safe return.
- Reinforces that the plea is being amplified through major national outlets such as CBS, keeping the case in the national spotlight.
12:14 AM
Savannah Guthrie, in New Video Message, Promises to Pay for Return of Her Mother
New information:
- Savannah Guthrie posted a new 20‑second Instagram video Saturday evening in which she and her siblings say, “We received your message, and we understand,” indicating they have seen at least one new communication they and the FBI treat as coming from the purported kidnapper.
- In the new video, Savannah explicitly tells the abductor, “This is very valuable to us, and we will pay,” making the family’s willingness to meet financial demands more direct than in prior public statements focused on proof of life.
- The article reiterates that, despite the ransom note and subsequent messages, authorities still have not identified a suspect or person of interest and publicly acknowledge they do not know whether Nancy Guthrie is alive.
February 07, 2026
11:59 PM
Savannah Guthrie says "we will pay" in new plea for mother's safe return
New information:
- Savannah Guthrie released a new social-media video Saturday explicitly stating she and her siblings "will pay" for their mother Nancy’s safe return and saying, "We received your message and we understand."
- CBS reports two law-enforcement sources saying investigators are "developing good information" in the case but that "nothing is imminent."
- Pima County Sheriff’s Office confirms Nancy Guthrie’s car has been towed from the home for fingerprint and forensic examination and that investigators removed a camera from the roof of the residence.
9:42 PM
What to know about the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie and the race to find her
New information:
- Family last saw Nancy Guthrie at 9:48 p.m. Jan. 31 when they dropped her at home after dinner and games; she was reported missing when she failed to appear at church the next day.
- Sheriff Chris Nanos confirms DNA tests show blood on Guthrie’s front porch matches hers and reiterates investigators believe she was taken against her will from her home.
- Investigators found the doorbell camera was disconnected early Sunday and recorded motion minutes later, but cannot retrieve images because there was no active subscription; Nanos says tech firms have told them they cannot access more.
- FBI’s Heith Janke details that ransom notes demanded money by a Thursday evening deadline, with a second deadline for Monday, and specifically referenced a floodlight at Guthrie’s home and an Apple Watch.
- KOLD‑TV in Tucson received a new email message tied to the case on Friday; the FBI confirms it is reviewing this new message’s authenticity.
8:12 PM
41-minute timeline in Nancy Guthrie case raises red flags from ex-homicide detective
New information:
- Pima County Sheriff’s Department timeline: doorbell camera disconnected at 1:47 a.m., logged a motion event at 2:12 a.m., and Nancy Guthrie’s pacemaker app stopped communicating with her phone at 2:28 a.m.
- Officials clarified that the home surveillance system only detected motion and did not record video, meaning the 2:12 a.m. event might have been triggered by an animal and there is no video of the entry.
- Former D.C. homicide detective Ted Williams publicly argues on Fox that the roughly 41‑minute span inside the house is uncharacteristic of a standard burglary and suggests suspects were familiar with the home and knew the cameras were inoperable.
4:23 PM
Armchair detectives flood social media as search for Nancy Guthrie continues
New information:
- Reports that influencers and true‑crime creators have flooded TikTok, Instagram, X, Facebook and YouTube with timelines, photos of Guthrie’s blood‑stained porch, neighborhood walk‑throughs and amateur theories about her disappearance.
- NewsNation host Ashleigh Banfield said on her podcast, citing a law‑enforcement source, that a Guthrie family member was the 'prime suspect,' then partially walked the claim back seconds later; that allegation and the named individual’s photo spread widely online.
- Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos publicly debunked the Banfield 'prime suspect' claim, stressing that investigators have no suspects or persons of interest and warning that reckless online speculation can damage the case and individuals.
- Experts like retired NYPD detective Michael Alcazar say the true‑crime social‑media surge brings both benefits (wider awareness, potential tips) and serious misinformation risks that law enforcement must now adapt to in major cases.
- Examples of fringe content include a self‑described medium and an astrology‑based 'reading' about what happened to Guthrie, illustrating how unverifiable claims are mixing with real leads in public discourse.
1:29 AM
Sheriff calls lack of video evidence in Nancy Guthrie's case a disappointing setback
New information:
- Pima County sheriff describes the absence of usable video evidence in the Nancy Guthrie investigation as a 'disappointing setback.'
- Officials again confirm they are aware of a 'new message' related to the case but provide no details on its contents.
- Former FBI special agent Doug Kouns offers on‑air analysis of what the lack of video means for the investigation, underscoring reliance on other forensic and communications evidence.
12:46 AM
Authorities investigating "new message" in Nancy Guthrie disappearance
New information:
- CBS reiterates that local and federal authorities are 'aware of a new message' tied to Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance and are actively investigating it.
- The segment confirms that the search remains high-profile and ongoing, but does not add new forensic details, suspects, or specifics about the message beyond prior reports.
February 06, 2026
11:32 PM
New message in Nancy Guthrie disappearance, sheriff's department says
New information:
- Pima County Sheriff's Department publicly confirms it is 'aware of a new message' regarding Nancy Guthrie.
- Sheriff’s office states it is actively investigating the authenticity of this new message.
- CBS segment clarifies that authorities are not yet disclosing the type of message it is.
11:11 PM
Authorities say "they're aware of a new message" in Nancy Guthrie's disappearance
New information:
- Pima County Sheriff’s Department and FBI publicly state they are 'aware of a new message' related to Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance and are actively inspecting it for authenticity.
- Authorities reiterate that it is unclear what kind of message it is and have not disclosed its contents.
- Article restates that investigators still believe Nancy Guthrie is 'still out there,' confirms her blood was found outside her home, and that no suspect or person of interest has been identified.
5:31 PM
Savannah Guthrie's demand for mom's 'proof of life' is complicated in this era of AI and deepfakes
New information:
- FBI Phoenix chief Heith Janke told reporters that, because of AI and deepfakes, investigators can no longer automatically treat videos or photos as reliable proof of life.
- Savannah Guthrie’s public plea explicitly referenced the risk of manipulated voices and images and asked for proof of life that could withstand deepfake concerns.
- The FBI reiterated that, as of Thursday, it has not received any confirmed deepfake images or videos of Nancy Guthrie, though at least three news outlets have forwarded purported ransom notes.
- A California man has been charged with sending text messages to the Guthrie family seeking bitcoin after following the case on television; authorities say there is no indication he was involved in the abduction itself.
- Former FBI agent Katherine Schweit and current FBI guidance emphasize that deepfake kidnapping hoaxes are an emerging problem and that traditional 'grainy photo' proof-of-life is no longer sufficient.
12:22 PM
U.S., Iran to hold nuclear program talks. And, Dems unveil new list of DHS demands
New information:
- The FBI has now publicly confirmed the existence of a ransom letter in the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping case that was sent to several media outlets.
- The bureau is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to her recovery and/or the arrest and conviction of those involved.
- Officials say the alleged abductors have not directly contacted the Guthrie family since the media‑addressed ransom note, which FBI Special Agent Heith Janke describes as unusual at this stage of a kidnapping case.
- NPR notes sustained national attention and that President Trump has offered federal resources to assist in finding Nancy Guthrie.
9:49 AM
Morning news brief
New information:
- NPR’s brief states that the FBI is examining ransom notes in the Nancy Guthrie case, confirming that federal investigators are actively analyzing written demands as part of the kidnapping probe.
- It elevates the ransom‑note analysis to a top‑of‑show national item, underscoring the case’s priority for federal law enforcement.
3:40 AM
Harvey Levin gives explosive update on purported Nancy Levin ransom note on ‘Hannity’
New information:
- TMZ founder Harvey Levin says a structured ransom email sent to TMZ claims Nancy Guthrie is 'safe but scared' and lays out a 'very specific, well organized, layered' set of demands.
- The note sets two deadlines: an initial Thursday one, which passed, and a second 'far more consequential' deadline on Monday.
- The email demands payment in cryptocurrency to a specific Bitcoin address and includes non‑public details about the placement of an Apple Watch and other items in Guthrie’s house, suggesting the writer has inside knowledge and is likely within a radius of the Tucson area.
- Levin says TMZ is working with the FBI’s IT team, but he doubts law enforcement will be able to trace the email’s origin, and he believes the message was written by a human, not AI.
February 05, 2026
11:50 PM
Search continues for Nancy Guthrie as authorities seek leads to find suspects
New information:
- Provides a national TV update that law enforcement now explicitly state they believe Nancy Guthrie has been kidnapped and remains alive.
- Confirms that, despite high‑level attention and federal support, investigators still have no suspects five days into the search.
- Re‑highlights the FBI’s $50,000 reward aimed at both recovery and prosecution, reinforcing the continued urgency of public tips.
5:43 PM
On day 5 of the search for Nancy Guthrie, here's what we know
New information:
- Confirms investigators are now on day five of the search for 84‑year‑old Nancy Guthrie, last seen Saturday evening near her Tucson home and reported missing Sunday.
- Details Savannah Guthrie’s and her siblings’ video statement acknowledging reports of a ransom letter and stressing the family needs proof of life because 'voices and images are easily manipulated.'
- Reports that President Trump has publicly written he spoke with Savannah Guthrie and directed federal law enforcement to be at the family’s 'complete disposal, IMMEDIATELY,' deploying 'all resources' to get her mother home safely.
- Describes a Wednesday evening prayer vigil at Saint Philip’s in the Hills Episcopal Church in Tucson, held with the family’s consent, where community members lit candles for Nancy Guthrie.
- Reveals that Pima County Sheriff’s investigators have returned to the Guthrie home after earlier saying they had finished processing it as a crime scene, and were seen carrying items out.
- Includes expert commentary from former NYPD detective and hostage negotiator Wally Zeins on how public family videos can be used to raise awareness and generate leads, and why investigators may revisit the scene based on new tips.