Nancy Guthrie, 84, was last seen by relatives on January 31 after an evening spent at the Tucson residence of her older daughter, Annie Guthrie, and Annie’s spouse. Family members reported her missing when she failed to attend Sunday church services the following day.
Chronology of reported events
- February 1 - Early in the morning a doorbell video camera at the front door of Nancy Guthrie’s Tucson home recorded a man wearing a ski mask, a backpack, gloves and a holstered gun tampering with the camera. Approximately 30 minutes after that recording, Guthrie’s pacemaker application lost contact with her phone line. Shortly before noon relatives notified authorities that she was missing after she did not appear for church.
- February 4 - Savannah Guthrie, along with her sister Annie and brother Camron, posted the first of several video messages on social media about their mother’s disappearance. In that message they acknowledged reports in the media about a ransom note and urged anyone holding information to open communications with the family.
- February 5 - Authorities confirmed that DNA testing identified blood discovered on the front porch of Guthrie’s home as hers. That day also saw the first of two deadlines specified in a purported ransom letter pass at 5 p.m.
- February 7 - Savannah Guthrie, appearing again flanked by her siblings, released a video statement pleading for her mother’s return and saying, "This is very valuable to us and we will pay."
- February 9 - In an Instagram video Savannah Guthrie said, "We believe our mom is still out there," and appealed to the public for assistance. A second ransom deadline passed that day without reported resolution.
- February 10 - The Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI publicly released the doorbell camera footage showing the armed, masked man. The sheriff later described that recording as the single biggest clue to surface in the case. Hours after the release of the footage, authorities searched a residence in Rio Rico, an Arizona border town approximately 60 miles (97 km) south of Tucson, and took a man into custody for questioning. He was later released and no arrests were made. Following the release of the footage, Savannah Guthrie reposted images of the masked man on Instagram with the caption: "We believe she is still alive; bring her home."
- February 15 - Investigators obtained a DNA sample from gloves found discarded about 2 miles from Guthrie’s home; the gloves resembled those worn by the masked man captured on the doorbell camera footage.
- February 17 - The DNA profile from the gloves failed to produce a match in a search of known genetic profiles in the national database CODIS, according to the FBI and the sheriff’s office.
- March 4 - Further DNA analysis traced the gloves to a local restaurant employee. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department said the individual is not considered a suspect, a development authorities described as a dead end for what had been a once-promising lead.
Current status
As of the latest public update, law enforcement agencies have released key video footage, conducted at least one search and questioned individuals in connection with the inquiry, but no arrests have been announced. Forensic testing has linked blood on Guthrie’s front porch to her and produced DNA profiles from discarded gloves; those glove-related leads have so far not produced an investigative match in the national database and were ultimately traced to a person not considered a suspect.
Family appeals and public outreach
Family members, including Savannah, Annie and Camron Guthrie, have used social media to request communication from anyone with information and to press for their mother’s return. They have publicly referenced a purported ransom letter and issued direct pleas to any potential abductors to make contact.
Evidence highlights
- Doorbell camera footage of a masked, armed man tampering with the front-door camera.
- Loss of contact on Guthrie’s pacemaker app shortly after the doorbell footage was recorded.
- Blood on the front porch confirmed by DNA testing to be Guthrie’s.
- Gloves found discarded about 2 miles from the home, initially investigated as connected to the masked individual and later traced to a local restaurant employee who is not considered a suspect.
The investigation remains active and open, with officials continuing to analyze evidence and appeal for tips and information from the public.