FBI Releases First Surveillance Footage in Nancy Guthrie Kidnapping Investigation
In a significant development in the search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of "Today" show host Savannah Guthrie, authorities have released the first surveillance images showing a masked individual on her porch the night she disappeared more than a week ago. The footage, released by the FBI on Tuesday, represents the first major breakthrough in a case that has raised more questions than answers.
Masked Individual Captured on Camera
The newly released video shows a person wearing a backpack and a ski mask with holes for the eyes and mouth walking up to the door at Nancy Guthrie's home. The individual appears to have what looks like a handgun holster attached to their front waist area. In the footage, the person is seen attempting to cover a doorbell camera near the front door with a gloved hand and part of a plant they ripped from her yard.
"The images show an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie's front door the morning of her disappearance," FBI Director Kash Patel stated on social media platform X. Another video shows the person purposefully tilting their head down while nearing the front archway, possibly in an attempt to avoid facial recognition.
Technical Challenges in Evidence Recovery
Investigators faced significant technical hurdles in obtaining this footage. Patel revealed that the videos were pulled from "residual data located in backend systems" after investigators spent days trying to find lost, corrupted, or inaccessible images. This recovery was particularly challenging because Nancy Guthrie reportedly did not have an active subscription for her camera system, which meant the footage was automatically deleted every few days.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos had previously explained that while software recorded movement at the home minutes after the doorbell camera was disconnected early Sunday, none of the footage could be recovered initially due to the lack of subscription service.
Family's Desperate Appeals and Public Response
Savannah Guthrie posted the new surveillance images on social media Tuesday with the caption: "We believe she is still alive. Bring her home," along with phone numbers for the FBI and county sheriff. Within minutes, the post had thousands of comments as the nation closely follows this dramatic case involving the longtime anchor of NBC's morning show.
The family's appeals have shifted from hopeful to increasingly desperate. In a video just ahead of a purported ransom deadline Monday, Savannah Guthrie appeared alone and spoke directly to the public, stating, "We are at an hour of desperation. We need your help."
Three days after the search began, Savannah Guthrie and her two siblings sent their first public appeal to the kidnappers, telling them "we want to hear from you and we are ready to listen." In the recorded video, Guthrie said her family was aware of media reports about a ransom letter but first wanted proof their mother was alive.
Expert Analysis and Investigative Details
Former FBI agent Katherine Schweit commented on the significance of the released footage: "This will get the phone ringing for lots of potential leads. Even when you have a person who appears to be completely covered, they're really not. You can see their girth, the shape of their face, potentially their eyes or mouth. You can see a gait that people around that person may recognize immediately."
Andrew McCabe, former FBI deputy director, went viral after he indicated that the suspect could be a man, noting what appears to be a dark area above the lip. "If you look just under his nose ... you can see what appears to be a mustache underneath that mask. So I think it's highly probable that this person also has facial hair, at least to include a mustache, maybe more than that," McCabe told CNN.
However, authorities have clarified that the gender of the person in the photos has not been officially identified at this time.
Medical Concerns and Evidence
Authorities believe Nancy Guthrie was taken against her will. She was last seen at home on January 31 and reported missing the next day after not attending church. DNA tests showed blood on Nancy Guthrie's front porch was a match to her, according to authorities. Of particular concern is her medical condition - she needs daily medication, has high blood pressure, and issues with mobility and her heart, including a pacemaker.
Law Enforcement Response and National Attention
The FBI this week began posting digital billboards about the case in major cities from Texas to California. Connor Hagan, a spokesperson for the FBI, said Monday that the agency wasn't aware of ongoing communication between Guthrie's family and the suspected kidnappers. Authorities also had not identified any suspects, he said.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump watched the new surveillance footage and was in "pure disgust," encouraging anyone with information to call the FBI.
Over the last eight days, the FBI and Pima County Sheriff's Department have been working closely with private sector partners to continue recovering any images or video footage from Nancy Guthrie's home that may have been lost or corrupted. The investigation continues as authorities follow up on leads generated by the newly released footage.
