AZ Nancy Guthrie, 84, (mother of TODAY Show host Savannah Guthrie) missing - last seen in the Catalina foothills area on Jan 31, 2026

[submarine7]

Yeah if you have viable leads you absolutely don't do this from the start.

You do this when you are at a crossroads and hope to strike lightening in a bottle.

They are likely now prioritizing tips that are very specific. You throw that line out with your last big worm and hope it attracts the big fish.

It's a hail Mary of sorts

This is coming from the family who doesn't have much more info than the public so maybe they are afraid things are at a standstill.

 

[MidnightMarina805]

Does anyone know who dropped her off, and why so late? I wonder if it was a special celebration. Usually elderly people don’t stay up that late.

It was reported so fast because she missed Sunday church that next morning which apparently she never missed.

 

[katydid23]

Just my random opinion, but perhaps the point of taking NG was simply that someone wanted SG to suffer? If so, her videos are feeding into what they set out to achieve. Don't know who would hate SG that intensely, but it could range from a mentally ill person to someone like a former fired coworker who felt intensely betrayed by SG and is trying to make a media comeback. Will be very interesting to see if SG returns to TV and if not, who fills the chair. Always useful to look at motive, means, opportunity. Just my opinions, thinking outside of theories already discussed on here, fwiw.

I've thought similar thoughts.

I hope they've been looking at any creepy fan letters or gifts, etc. Lots of stalker type weirdos could target SG. If someone felt rejected by her, they might get vindictive.

Often it is a manager or a security member that does the rejection---SG may not even know about it or even open her fan mail herself.

I hope someone has been going back over any letters/gifts/emails etc. Anyone who was persistent, then aggressive and angry?


ETA:::And if they were sulking and resentful, then saw the December Specials about SG and her Mom in her hometown, the angry fan could have easily found NG's address.

 

[tricia]

My apologies the Cajun Navy link I put it is not an approved source.

Remember if a souce is blurred out you can't discuss it.

 

[Chimera]

This sheriff will not agree that another group will come into his territory and maybe find NG. IMO

That is not helping at all. ^^^
Why wouldn't he welcome outside LE ?
Untrained volunteers is understandable; but LE with experience he will not agree to ?
Maybe he'll change his mind.
Imo.

 

[Former Reporter]

I just subscribed to Nancy Grace’s podcast on YouTube and it got me thinking, what are the odds this guy is subscribing to people covering this case? Maybe he’s recently subscribed to Entin, JLR, Grace etc.If I’m investigating I’m not too sure I wouldn’t comb through some YouTube handles that are common to all or some of those personalities that are recent subscribers.

Just a thought.

I said much the same thing upthread, although it seems to have been removed. I am confident that NG's kidnapper is closely watching coverage - MSM's coverage, our conversations, etc. JMO

 

[Indoorsy]

This is close to Nancy's neighbourhood.
An attempted kidnapping in september.
Could it be a random deranged individual after all?

Did they arrest someone for this?

This does not look like a teenager to me.

As more time goes on, the more I return to my original theory - failed kidnap for ransom.

This person targeted NG, knowing SG was her daughter and could extort the family for millions. But NG had a medical event or this person was too rough with her and she passed away. Then they panicked and tried to stick to the plan, but couldn’t provide proof of life. JMO

The fact there have been no further arrests related to the ransom notes is important IMO. Whoever sent them clearly spent an extensive amount of time and effort making themselves untraceable.

Unfortunately, with all the information regarding ancestral DNA and the extreme media coverage, I’m concerned this person may have taken their own life or left the country. JMO

I think he looks way older than a teenager

I agree.. I live with teens and they just do not move like that..I think this could be a young adult however..jmo..

 

[Indoorsy]

Given the new information coming out regarding the "no backpack" video coming from a different night, I suspected this might be the case when I posted this. Which brings me back to my main question - if it is true that this is from another night, what caused the suspect to abandon this "first" abduction attempt? Do we have any information regarding whether Ms. Guthrie was at home on January 11? And could they have actually entered the house on prior occasions when she was out in order to get the lay of the house first? Lastly, the multiple appearances makes me think the suspect is locally-based.

I think you're right about the perp(s) being locally based. I don't think there was an abandoned abduction. I think this is evidence of stalking/surveillance of NG prior to the abduction/crime..jmo..

 

[wibbleflea]

I’m surprised that LE hasn’t now made the ransom notes available. Publication may help identify the author, as it has in the past, most memorably in the Unabomber case. Even if the ransom notes aren’t from the abductor, there’s a criminal behind them.

They could hold back the crypto wallet addresses. There’s a decent chance someone would recognise the way the writer expresses himself. I think capable writers are more likely to write often and at length (email, text messages, documents) because it’s easy for them, and effective. So there may be lots of reference material out there for comparison, written by the same person.

Any idea why the notes would be held back at this stage?

 

[OldCop]

I agree. And sometimes people who are high on drugs make brilliant plans (in their mind). And convince others it’s a great idea.
BUT — what the heck put LD on their radar? Why raid him? They can only hold a person for so long so I hope they are crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s.

I have a feeling it’s the RR, caught on camera somewhere integral to the case. The SUV had a temp plate and a possible recent change of ownership which may have muddied the waters a bit. As far as we know, it has not yet been released from custody leaving me to believe LE has some strong feelings that it holds evidence pertaining to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie.

 

[submarine7]

Though I agree with you that he might not have carried a gun before, I get different vibes besides the phallic. Say, the perp thinking:

- I might need a gun to do this, but I don't know much about them and I am not a gun guy. Rather, my approach to the gun is its just another tool.

- So, no tacti-cool type militia dude type holsters, no pimped out gangst'ah Glock, just a no frills, no prestige brand .380 pistol in a place that I can get to it. I don't plan on using it, only showing it to an elderly victim to intimidate her.

Maybe the unusual holster is reminiscent of a tradesman used to carrying tools jammed into pockets, in hats, behind ears, tucked into belts, or shirts. The goal is simple practicality, not say a look.

I agree because his pants pockets do look really full and there's also stuff in his jacket pockets. It feels practical but also sufficiently threatening.

 

[TIGER0822]

The kidnapper looked like he had thought about multiple scenarios and came prepared to deal with them with tools of the trade. Full Backpack, bulging pockets, possibly something stuffed soon his pants leg. Very bulky and akward looking.

 

[Sillybilly]

Hey folks,

Websleuths is primarily LE friendly. Each case is different and it's not always an easy job. In any case there may be issues, but this discussion is not the "Lets Bash the Sheriff" thread. It is a thread dedicated to discussion of Nancy's case and not a chit chat place for people to vent their dislike of LE. That is in no way productive or helpful.

If all you can think of in this discussion is to bash the Sheriff, perhaps there are other threads where your energy and input might be more productive.

Maybe pop into the Missing forum and find a thread that you might be interested in or helpful even, maybe just to add a note of encouragement to family members to let them know they and their loved one are not forgotten. Or if whatever you have to say is off topic, head on over to the Give Us This Day Our Daily Thread where members talk about all sorts of things.

This terrible case is obviously a very difficult one. Please let's just stay on board with trying to figure out what happened to Nancy.

Thanks.

 

[katydid23]

I’m surprised that LE hasn’t now made the ransom notes available. Publication may help identify the author, as it has in the past, most memorably in the Unabomber case. Even if the ransom notes aren’t from the abductor, there’s a criminal behind them.

They could hold back the crypto wallet addresses. There’s a decent chance someone would recognise the way the writer expresses himself. I think capable writers are more likely to write often and at length (email, text messages, documents) because it’s easy for them, and effective. So there may be lots of reference material out there for comparison, written by the same person.

Any idea why the notes would be held back at this stage?

"Any idea why the notes would be held back at this stage?"

Maybe they don't think the notes were written by the kidnappers?

 

[sainteagathoise]

"Any idea why the notes would be held back at this stage?"

Maybe they don't think the notes were written by the kidnappers?

It’s possible that regardless of whoever submitted the notes, they were “written” by ChatGPT or similar. This would make the writing style and fluency much more difficult to identify.

jmo

 

[katydid23]

It’s possible that regardless of whoever submitted the notes, they were “written” by ChatGPT or similar. This would make the writing style and fluency much more difficult to identify.

jmo

OOOOHHH---I wonder---does chat GPT keep records of requests like that?

Dear Grok, can you write a ransom letter for me, asking for bitcoin in exchange for Grandma?

 

[TheDinks]

It’s possible that regardless of whoever submitted the notes, they were “written” by ChatGPT or similar. This would make the writing style and fluency much more difficult to identify.

jmo

I would definitely imagine they were.

 

[TIGER0822]

I would definitely imagine they were.

If I was writing a kidnapping note, I would not risk writing it online - to be traced back to me .