A person detained for questioning in the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping case said he was released from custody early Wednesday.
Search Intensifies for Missing Mother of ‘Today’ Host
The release came hours after FBI officials released surveillance footage showing a masked individual approaching the 84-year-old’s front door the morning she was abducted. Officials have not released the individual’s identity or offered any details about how the person might be connected to the case. Upon his release, the man told The New York Times: “I hope they get the suspect, because I’m not it.” He also told Telemundo his house was searched as part of the probe.
Sheriff’s officials were working with the FBI to complete a search in Rio Rico, Arizona, on Tuesday evening, a department spokesperson said. Rio Rico is a semi-rural community about 12 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border and 56 miles south of Tucson.
The release of surveillance footage and the subsequent detention mark the first major breaks in the investigation, which began 10 days ago when Guthrie’s family reported her missing. Authorities initially thought it was a missing person’s case, but blood droplets near the front door suggested a more sinister scenario.
The images, recorded at 1:47 a.m. On Feb. 1, show someone wearing a balaclava, gloves and a backpack tampering with the Nest camera at Guthrie’s front door. A gun is visible holstered at the person’s waist. In the footage, the individual attempts to obstruct the camera with greenery.
University of Hawaii Police Chief Andrew Black, a former FBI special agent, said the footage is significant because the individual’s clothing may be recognizable. “He or she is not going to be dressed exactly as they were here, but they’re going to have used some of these articles of clothing in daily life. This proves likely someone may recognize them.”
The images were released less than a day after a ransom deadline of $6 million in bitcoin passed with no sign of Nancy Guthrie and no proof of life. The FBI has stated there has been no communication between the abductors and the Guthrie family.
Authorities were visiting homes in the neighborhood of Annie Guthrie, one of Nancy’s daughters, to ask if residents recognize the person in the video, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation.
Former FBI profiler Mary Ellen O’Toole noted the individual’s casual demeanor in the footage, suggesting familiarity with the property or a history of similar activity. “The way he’s walking around is very casual…The fact that you’re just about ready to commit an extremely violent crime inside someone else’s home and you’re walking around as though you’re in Home Depot trying to figure out what to buy is very telling.”
Savannah Guthrie shared the footage on Instagram, appealing to the public for help. “We believe our mom is still out there. We demand your help,” she said in a video posted Monday. “So I’m coming on just to ask you, not just for your prayers but no matter where you are — even if you’re far from Tucson — if you see anything, if you hear anything, if there’s anything at all that seems strange to you, that you report to law enforcement. We are in an hour of desperation.”
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Nancy Guthrie first reported missing?
Nancy Guthrie’s family reported her missing 10 days ago after she did not show up at a friend’s house to watch a church service and wasn’t at her Tucson home.
What was found at Nancy Guthrie’s home that indicated something more than a missing person case?
Authorities found blood droplets near the front door of Nancy Guthrie’s home, which indicated something far more sinister than a simple missing person case.
What did the FBI release to the public on Tuesday?
The FBI released images and video clips of a masked individual captured on Nancy Guthrie’s front door camera on the morning she disappeared.
What further steps might law enforcement capture as this investigation continues?
