TUCSON, AZ — In a major development that has sparked new hope in the desperate search for Nancy Guthrie, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI confirmed late Tuesday that they have a person in custody for questioning. The individual, who has not yet been identified as a formal suspect or person of interest, was detained during a traffic stop in an area south of Tucson, near the community of Rio Rico.
The detention comes at a pivotal moment in the 10-day investigation into the disappearance of the 84-year-old mother of TODAY show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie. Nancy Guthrie was last seen on the night of January 31 and was reported missing the following morning after failing to appear for church. Investigators have maintained from the outset that she was abducted from her home against her will, citing DNA evidence of blood found on her porch.
A Day of Rapid Developments
The news of the detention came hours after high-intensity activity by federal and local law enforcement. Earlier Tuesday morning, FBI Director Kash Patel released chilling surveillance images and video footage recovered from “residual data” in the backend systems of Guthrie’s home security camera.
The footage, previously considered lost or corrupted, shows a masked, gloved individual—appearing to be armed with a holstered handgun—tampering with the front door camera. In a disturbing sequence, the individual is seen holding a piece of prairie brush to the lens to obscure the view. While authorities have not officially linked the person detained Tuesday evening to the individual in the video, the proximity of the events has intensified public interest.
Search Operations Intensify
Following the traffic stop, a heavy police presence was reported in the Rio Rico area. Sources indicate that law enforcement is currently preparing to execute search warrants at a location associated with the detained individual. This move suggests that investigators are pursuing specific leads that could finally pinpoint Nancy Guthrie’s whereabouts.
The development follows a tense 24 hours in which a purported ransom deadline passed. Several media outlets had received messages demanding $6 million in Bitcoin, with a final deadline of 5:00 p.m. on Monday, February 9. While the FBI has been analyzing these notes for authenticity, the family has remained vocal on social media, begging for their mother’s safe return. Savannah Guthrie posted the newly released FBI images to her Instagram on Tuesday with the caption, “Someone out there recognizes this person. We believe she is still out there. Bring her home.”
Health Concerns Remain High
As the clock ticks, the primary concern for the Guthrie family and investigators remains Nancy’s health. At 84, she requires daily medication for high blood pressure and cardiac issues, and she uses a pacemaker. Her medication and mobile devices were all left behind at her residence.
Authorities continue to urge anyone with information to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI. A $50,000 reward remains in place for information leading to her recovery.
Sources and Links
- ABC News: Person detained for questioning in connection with Nancy Guthrie abduction
- CBS News: Person of interest in Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance detained in Arizona
- FOX 10 Phoenix: Nancy Guthrie case: New photos released from recovered doorbell camera video
- The Guardian: Person reportedly detained for questioning in Nancy Guthrie disappearance
- The Spokesman-Review: Person detained for questioning in Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance
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