The search for 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, mother of Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, reached a fever pitch late Friday and into Saturday, February 14, 2026. As the investigation entered its 14th day, a massive law enforcement operation involving the Pima County SWAT team and the FBI descended on a neighborhood just two miles from the missing woman’s home in the Catalina Foothills. The activity, which included the execution of federal search warrants, underscores the “hour of desperation” the Guthrie family described earlier this week as they continue to hold out hope for a safe return.
You can watch an updated report by KGUN9 Tucson: HERE
The Midnight Raid in Tucson
Late Friday night, a convoy of more than a dozen law enforcement vehicles, including tactical rescue units and mobile forensics labs, sealed off the intersection of East Orange Grove Road and North First Avenue. This location is roughly two miles from Nancy Guthrie’s residence, where she was last seen on the evening of January 31.
Witnesses reported seeing SWAT officers remove two individuals—a man and a woman—from a home during the operation. While the Pima County Sheriff’s Department (PCSD) confirmed that a federal court-ordered search warrant was executed, Sheriff Chris Nanos later clarified that the raid was “nothing more than a lead tracked down.” By Saturday morning, officials confirmed that no arrests had been made and the individuals were not currently being held as suspects.
Simultaneously, federal agents focused their attention on a silver Range Rover SUV parked outside a nearby restaurant. Forensic teams were seen photographing the vehicle and sealing the trunk with a tarp before it was towed for examination. This follows a previous search in Rio Rico, Arizona, where a man was briefly detained earlier in the week but released without charge.
Forensic Breakthroughs: DNA and the “Hiker Pack”
While the raids have yet to yield a physical location for Nancy Guthrie, forensic evidence has begun to paint a clearer picture of the night she vanished. On Friday, the PCSD revealed that investigators recovered unidentified DNA at the Guthrie residence that does not match Nancy or any of her immediate family members.
This foreign DNA is currently undergoing expedited testing. Law enforcement is hopeful that a match in national databases could identify the person seen in chilling doorbell camera footage recovered earlier this week. That footage shows a masked, armed male standing approximately 5’9″ to 5’10” with an average build. The suspect was carrying a black, 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack—a model sold exclusively at Walmart.
Summary of Key Evidence
| Evidence Type | Description | Significance |
| DNA Sample | “Foreign” DNA found at the residence (not family or victim). | Currently being compared against national databases for a suspect match. |
| Doorbell Footage | Masked male, 5’9″-5’10”, armed with a holstered handgun. | Confirms an intruder was at the door at 1:47 a.m. on Feb 1. |
| Ozark Trail Pack | Black 25L “Hiker Pack” (Walmart exclusive brand). | A specific retail item that helps narrow down the suspect’s purchase history. |
| Pacemaker Data | Device disconnected from her phone at ~2:30 a.m. Feb 1. | Provides a precise window for when Nancy was removed from her home. |
| Blood Evidence | Droplets found on the front porch; confirmed as Nancy’s DNA. | Proves a struggle or injury occurred at the point of exit. |
| Ransom Notes | Multiple letters sent to media; one mentioned a specific floodlight. | Investigators believe at least one note contains non-public details of the home. |
A Family in Limbo
Savannah Guthrie has been the public face of the family’s plea, appearing on social media to beg for information. “We believe she is still out there,” she wrote in a Saturday update. The family has emphasized that Nancy is a “woman of faith” who requires daily heart medication to survive.
The FBI has increased its reward to $100,000 for information leading to Nancy’s location or the arrest of those involved. As the investigation enters its third week, authorities are treating the case as a kidnapping with potential international implications, following cryptic warnings sent to media outlets.
Sources and Links
- The Washington Post: FBI gives new details on suspect, doubles reward to $100K
- The Guardian: Police seal off road near Arizona home of Savannah Guthrie’s mother
- Realtor.com: Significant DNA discovery made at Nancy Guthrie’s property
- PBS NewsHour: What to know about the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie
- Time Magazine: What We Know About the Suspect in Nancy Guthrie’s Disappearance
- The Spokesman-Review: No arrests after investigators search second home in Guthrie case
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