$200,000 Reward Offered as Search for Nancy Guthrie Enters Third Week

The search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of TODAY show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, has evolved into one of the most complex and high-stakes kidnapping investigations in recent American history. As the calendar turns to late February 2026, the quiet community of the Catalina Foothills in Tucson remains a focal point of federal activity. What began as a terrifying disappearance has now become a race against time, fueled by a massive financial incentive and a trail of forensic evidence that points to a calculated, targeted abduction.

The $200,000 Bounty: A Unified Front

The total reward for information leading to Nancy Guthrie’s safe recovery or the arrest and conviction of those responsible has officially climbed to $200,000. This staggering figure represents a rare collaboration between federal law enforcement and private philanthropy.

Initially, the FBI posted a $50,000 reward, which was doubled to $100,000 as the case crossed the two-week mark without a sighting. However, the momentum shifted significantly when Michael Hupy, a prominent Milwaukee-based personal injury attorney and the president of Milwaukee Crime Stoppers, stepped forward. Hupy, known for his high-profile advocacy and history of funding rewards in cold cases, pledged an additional **$100,000** of his own money.

“We need to create an environment where the risk of staying silent is greater than the risk of speaking up,” Hupy stated during a televised address. “This money is there to ensure that anyone with even a sliver of information feels empowered to come forward through the anonymous safety of Crime Stoppers.”

Debunking the Mexico Lead

Because Tucson sits less than 70 miles from the international border, early speculation suggested that Guthrie might have been spirited across into Mexico. This theory was fueled by the “high-value” nature of the victim and the logistical ease of reaching the border via I-19.

However, the FBI has recently adjusted its public stance, stating they do not believe she was transported to Mexico in the immediate aftermath of the kidnapping. While federal agents have established a “Be On the Lookout” (BOLO) alert with Mexican authorities and have coordinated with the Fiscalía General de la República (FGR), the technical evidence suggests otherwise.

Sources close to the investigation indicate that Border Patrol surveillance—including ground sensors and “Tower” cameras—showed no suspicious crossings matching the timeframe of Guthrie’s disappearance. Furthermore, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has highlighted the physical improbability of such a move. Nancy Guthrie suffers from mobility issues and requires specific medical upkeep; transporting an 84-year-old across an international boundary under duress, without triggering any of the highly sensitive thermal or visual sensors at the ports of entry, would require a level of sophistication that investigators have yet to see evidence of.

The Forensic Trail: Blood and DNA

The investigation took a darker turn early on when technicians processed the Guthrie residence. The primary evidence remains the blood found on the front porch. Subsequent DNA testing at the FBI’s laboratory in Quantico confirmed a direct match to Nancy Guthrie. The pattern of the blood suggests a struggle occurred near the entryway, indicating she was likely taken from her home by force shortly after midnight on February 1.

The most significant recent breakthrough involves a discarded glove found approximately 400 yards from the Guthrie property in a wash (a dry desert creek bed). Forensic teams recovered two distinct DNA profiles from the glove:

1. Nancy Guthrie’s DNA was found on the exterior of the glove, suggesting contact during the abduction.
2. A Foreign Male Profile was recovered from the interior lining.

This male DNA profile has been run through CODIS (the Combined DNA Index System). While the FBI has not publicly confirmed a “hit” against a known offender, they have used the genetic material to narrow down the suspect’s physical characteristics through phenotyping, which provides clues about the suspect’s ancestry and eye color.

Technical Breadcrumbs: The Pacemaker and the Nest

The timeline of the abduction has been reconstructed with surgical precision thanks to digital evidence. Investigators have highlighted two critical data points:

• The Nest Tampering: At 1:47 a.m., the Guthrie home’s doorbell camera recorded a masked individual approaching the device. The suspect was seen wearing a black Ozark Trail Hiker Pack, a distinctive 25-liter backpack sold at Walmart. The camera was manually disabled or blocked seconds later.
• The Pacemaker App: Perhaps the most chilling piece of evidence is the data from Guthrie’s pacemaker. The device was synced to her smartphone to monitor her heart health. At 2:28 a.m., the Bluetooth connection between the pacemaker and the phone was severed. Investigators believe this marks the exact moment she was moved out of the range of her home, or that her phone was destroyed or left behind.

The Ransom and the Hoaxes

The Guthrie family has been subjected to a series of cruel hoaxes during this three-week ordeal. Several “ransom notes” were sent to major media outlets, including NBC and various local Tucson affiliates. While one man was arrested for sending a fraudulent demand in an attempt to extort the family, other communications are still being vetted.

Savannah Guthrie has made several heart-wrenching pleas on social media and national television, addressing the abductors directly: “If you have her, please, just tell us she is safe. We will do whatever it takes. We just want our mother back.” The family has insisted on “proof of life”—specifically asking for a photo of Nancy holding a current newspaper—before engaging in any private negotiations.

Community Search and Current Status

Despite the $200,000 reward, the physical search has been hampered by the rugged terrain of the Santa Catalina Mountains. Over 200 volunteers, along with K-9 units trained in human remains and live tracking, have combed the desert surrounding the Foothills.

As of today, February 18, 2026, the FBI’s “Person of Interest” remains at large. He is described as a man, roughly 5’9″ to 5’10” with an average build, last seen in the vicinity of Territory Drive and Sunrise Drive.

Authorities are asking the public to look for the Ozark Trail backpack and to report any unusual activity involving late-model SUVs seen in the area between 1:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. on the night of the disappearance.

Sources and Links

• FBI Phoenix Field Office: Official Missing Person – Nancy Guthrie
• CBS News: Clues in Nancy Guthrie case include video, backpack, possible DNA
• Hindustan Times: FBI raises reward to $100K on day 13 of search
• Rolling Out: Milwaukee attorney promises $100K for Nancy Guthrie info
• LiveMint: Nancy Guthrie kidnapping: FBI reaches out to Mexico as new ransom demand surfaces
• AP News: DNA recovered from glove found near Guthrie home
• ABC News: The Hunt for Nancy Guthrie: Forensic Timeline and Suspect Details