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

[Gr3yW0lf78]

That might seem like good idea now and backfire at trial if someone is ever charged and brought to trial. A defense attorney could cause lot of disruption, claim the prosecution is hiding exculpatory evidence if LE SAYS there is foreign DNA and then backtracks after suspect is charged.

Don’t help the defense win its case with unprofessional tactics, IMO.

Except that nobody is presenting anything at trial now and nobody is under oath. LE can craft whatever strategic communications they desire.

 

[BigCityAccountant]

Is it just me or does anyone else think it is strange that elder services was on site...had to have seen the blood on the porch, but didn't call anyone to investigate? Just seems so bizarre to me. Why was this person there? Did someone call because they thought NG was being abused in some way, whether that was physically, mentally or financially? Did NG call them herself?

What bothers me is....they don't just show up there out of the blue sky one day because they felt an elderly person lived there. What brought this person there? Why didn't they notify authorities that there was blood on the front entryway.

 

[AppleTreeGreen]

There is no screwdriver seen during the footage at any point though. We see him seem to check or feel how secure the camera is at the bottom at one point but nothing beyond that besides covering the lens with the plant.

JMO but the first time he messes with the nest camera, particularly towards its bottom right, we can see the tool he appears to use to start to try to detach it from its mound. His left thumb is on it and in this black and white recording, it appears a lighter gray than the other tools he is holding. He can be seen holding it before he turns away from the camera and it appears to be a release tool.

 

[SaraSmile]

Are we certain it would require two people to carry her? I don’t think it would.

Maybe if one man, if inside ( out of our view) is very large, strong, do the fireman’s carry.
Otherwise, 2 people is more likely. Lantana guy didn’t look big or strong enough by himself.

JMO

 

[Lebowski]

Brilliant idea, actually. By announcing various updates to the case, I do believe that LE is strategically communicating with the perpetrator(s).

It would be a great strategy on LE's part if they planted the idea that they found DNA in the house that didn't belong to NG or her associates and insinuated that the DNA was thought to belong to the perpetrator. This info could frighten the perpetrator(s) into making a cell phone call or possibly sending an email and LE could pick up those communications.

In terms of timing and in terms of what LE usually communicates with the public, I was surprised when LE announced they had DNA from the house that quite possibly belonged to the perpetrator. Your hypothesis is excellent and I would hope that LE did frighten the perpetrator with releasing the info about unknown DNA being in the house and conveying that LE believed it was the perpetrator's DNA. Perpetrator could be scared enough to make a phone call. Could be more significant to this case than actually having unknown DNA in NG's house.

JMO

IMO falsely claiming they found DNA that wasn't NG's would endanger the future prosecution of the perp.

once they find the perp and charge them, they won't be able to produce perp's DNA from the scene. the defense attorney will say "oh? so that DNA you said you found must have been from someone else. reasonable doubt!" then LE will admit they never found any foreign DNA. Defense attorney: "were you lying then or are you lying now?"

moo

 

[Andreee]

Plus, no video of NG being forced out or hauled away.

It would be so bizarre if the masked man on the front porch video had nothing to do with NG's disappearance that night. And that she had been the victim of a kidnapping/homicide earlier in the evening.

 

[Sdow]

It would be so bizarre if the masked man on the front porch video had nothing to do with NG's disappearance that night. And that she had been the victim of a kidnapping/homicide earlier in the evening.

Except that would mean the blood droplets in the front would have been smeared by his feet.

 

[Cryptic]

The source also questioned whether Guthrie’s home would have been a likely burglary target.

My guess is that it would depend on the burglar and the Guthrie:

A professional burglar would probably avoid the house unless he could confirm that the Guthrie was likely the Guthrie, as in mother of a national news figure. For better or for worse, Google makes such confirmation far easier than in the past.

Even with the confirmation, I suspect that a pro would note her age, dress style from photos and the over all home and could conclude that she, despite being connected with wealth, was likely to live relatively modestly. This could lead to him passing on the home, or maybe chancing a day time burglary of a confirmed vacant home.

An amateur burglar could target the home at random, or because he knew about the Guthrie. An amateur burglar could also conclude that because in the movies the wealthy always "live large", there must be copious quantities of valuables in the home. Thus, he is automatically inclined to burglarize it sans further analysis of an 84 year old woman who seems to dress and live modestly?

 

[Sakura2Sophia4Lucia]

What I've heard from a bunch of senior officers working for Pima County, past and present, I am absolutely gobsmacked! My post is NOT LE bashing it is against Nanos only! Not just one opinion, 2, or 3... I've heard multiple officers eloquently describing the awful working situation there. Anyone that speaks out seems to face retaliation, eg this Sergeant speaking of his 20 something years experience - moved to answering phones due to his Union affiliation and all but 1 Union member voting against Nanos. EGO comes up time and time again... I tell you, he has all but destroyed the department and the lack of manpower (staffing issues) appears to be down to the Sheriff. I said it before... he is Done!

Agree. You've expressed this perfectly. Multiple officers are all saying the same thing, Retired LE are saying the same thing. He has destroyed the department and tons of the veteran officers have quit, retired or gone elsewhere. The department is understaffed and the lack of experienced officers is telling.

When a department is acting dysfunctional, it's likely that the person on top is dysfunctional. Systems theory 101. JMO

 

[Andreee]

Except that would mean the blood droplets in the front would have been smeared by his feet.

Yes, right, unless it had happened so early in the evening that they had dried by then. (just my mind working overtime).

 

[Sdow]

Yes, right, unless it had happened so early in the evening that they had dried by then. (just my mind working overtime).

Fair point I hadn't thought of that.

 

[LAhiker]

Except that would mean the blood droplets in the front would have been smeared by his feet.

I also think they would be visible in the video. Which they are not.

JMO

 

[BellaToothless]

Guy came prepared to leave with a body.
Blood shows he left with a body.
Tries to hide motive by sending fake ransom messages to familiar outlets.

That's my running theory.

 

[Arkay]

I would think that a hostage negotiator and/or FBI profiler told Savannah (mostly) what she should say.

imo

SG used the words that FBI experts told her to use. And she did it really well. JMO

I agree, I think she’s being carefully coached by experts in criminal psychology.

Still, I hate to see Savannah having to beg.

I understand she’s being told what to say and in what tone by people who know what they are doing, and I know nothing about this field, but I still fear that begging the culprit could feed into this ego/power trip he (or they) might be on.

If it’s someone who loves Savannah or someone who hates Savannah, having her come crawling might be the fantasy for whoever did this.

But I will shut up now and concede to the experts.

I hope it brings Nancy home, preferably alive but likely not.

JM speculation.

 

[Indoorsy]

Burglary gone bad is not the sane as a robbery gone bad. Burglarizing a home is intention to commit a felony. it may not be a robbery.

Yes! I didn't know this until Tara Grinstead case..important distinction..thanks for posting !

 

[jtfolden]

How can this have been "politically motivated"?

NG has some specific political viewpoints on her FB page that might get select others worked up.

 

[Andreee]

Fair point I hadn't thought of that.

I don't honestly think that is what happened, but there are more bizarre theories than that from what I've seen! I don't have a clue really.

 

[cady]

Is it just me or does anyone else think it is strange that elder services was on site...had to have seen the blood on the porch, but didn't call anyone to investigate? Just seems so bizarre to me. Why was this person there? Did someone call because they thought NG was being abused in some way, whether that was physically, mentally or financially? Did NG call them herself?

What bothers me is....they don't just show up there out of the blue sky one day because they felt an elderly person lived there. What brought this person there? Why didn't they notify authorities that there was blood on the front entryway.

Mystery to me, too. I suppose LE knows. The card said Debra somebody. ???? jmo

 

[jtfolden]

JMO but the first time he messes with the nest camera, particularly towards its bottom right, we can see the tool he appears to use to start to try to detach it from its mound. His left thumb is on it and in this black and white recording, it appears a lighter gray than the other tools he is holding. He can be seen holding it before he turns away from the camera and it appears to be a release tool.

I don’t see that at all. I only see him place his fingers on the bottom of the doorbell as if to judge how well it is mounted. I see no tools in his hand at all.

 

[LetsSolvIt]

Tonight I’m praying as we are all praying and bracing for the news that will be coming. I’ve been angry about this one. EXTREMELY ANGRY that some rando came and took a beautiful elderly woman out of HER SAFE PLACE, HER HOME. I’m currently a “new member” to all of you, but I’ve been here before. I discovered WS 18 years ago. I got hooked when they discussed the Sheila & Katherine Lyon disappearance from a mall in Maryland that looked exactly like a mall I use to go to. They were very close in age to myself, and it haunted me because I was almost taken… TWICE…To all of you who are truly new, follow the rules. I was booted a few times because my emotions got out of control on some cases especially Delphi, Jennifer Dulos & Kristen Smart.Thank you to all of the moderators and especially to Tricia who keeps this AMAZING SHIP SAILING. God Bless. I think this outcome is going to be hard to understand just as the case has been.

Welcome, @KivaloNyomozo’ ! Glad you hung around! Please jump in here. Need some fresh thinking

[I’ve been haunted by Lyon sister’s case, too — life-long WMAL listener who also shopped at Wheaton Plaza from the day it opened!]

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