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

[imstilla.grandma]

What we know​

• A man who was detained last night for questioning in the disappearance of “TODAY” co-anchor Savannah Guthrie's mother was released after several hours, authorities said.
• The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has yet to confirm his release.
• The man, who identified himself as Carlos Palazuelos, told Telemundo that his house in Rio Rico, south of Tucson, was searched as part of the investigation. Telemundo is part of NBCUniversal, as is NBC News.
• The FBI yesterday released security photos and videosof a potential subject in the investigation showing a person wearing gloves, a mask and a backpack who appeared to tamper with the camera at Guthrie’s front door the morning she disappeared.
• Guthrie, 84, was dropped off at her home outside Tucson, Arizona, the night of Jan. 31 and was reported missing about noon Feb. 1.
• On social media yesterday, Savannah Guthrie said she and her family believe her mother is still alive. “We believe she is still out there. Bring her home," she said.
• Live updates: Man detained for questioning in Nancy Guthrie investigation is released

 

[scandiamerican]

MOO.

I would imagine the abductor, trying to prevent leaving any DNA from stray hairs, etc., wore fresh clothes to NG’s house. (However bumbling they may be in some ways, they seem to have managed not to leave DNA that got found–and some article said the ransom note bragged about that, though I don’t know if that was validated.) I was initially thinking the jacket was likely to be from Walmart since the backpack seems to be. I agree with others that the overall jacket style is pretty basic–but the zipper is not. It’s got contrasting piping on each side of the zipper rather than the zipper itself being high-contrast. I could not find any like it at Walmart online, with both the horizontal dark line across and the contrast zipper style. But I did find a soft shell that’s sold in Europe that is very similar to that style. I believe Pitch Stone is a Scandinavian brand. I do not know if it’s sold in the US. (I’m an American who moved to Scandinavia.)

 

[milkshakedonkey]

What we know​

• A man who was detained last night for questioning in the disappearance of “TODAY” co-anchor Savannah Guthrie's mother was released after several hours, authorities said.
• The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has yet to confirm his release.
• The man, who identified himself as Carlos Palazuelos, told Telemundo that his house in Rio Rico, south of Tucson, was searched as part of the investigation. Telemundo is part of NBCUniversal, as is NBC News.
• The FBI yesterday released security photos and videosof a potential subject in the investigation showing a person wearing gloves, a mask and a backpack who appeared to tamper with the camera at Guthrie’s front door the morning she disappeared.
• Guthrie, 84, was dropped off at her home outside Tucson, Arizona, the night of Jan. 31 and was reported missing about noon Feb. 1.
• On social media yesterday, Savannah Guthrie said she and her family believe her mother is still alive. “We believe she is still out there. Bring her home," she said.
• Live updates: Man detained for questioning in Nancy Guthrie investigation is released

Im certain I saw a post earlier from the Sheriff's Department that stated he was released.

 

[tbgo]

Sometimes the motive is "just because."

It might be as unimaginable as that.

jmo

To take a body is weird though. Most people would do what they came there to do and leave. If they’re there to murder, they do it where they are. Dragging an 841year-old woman around is hard work and you could easily get caught. You also don’t send a ransom days later and not to the family. Usually you would also warn the family to not contact authorities or they’ll kill the person. They went right out and alerted the media bringing it to the attention of law enforcement. It makes no sense. Yet another reason the ransom sounds bogus. It would make more sense if she died elsewhere and this was staged to look like someone broke in and took her, but it would still be weird, taking her. If the ransom bit is bogus then this person, the perp who took her, is the luckiest person on the planet. They have someone creating a red herring for them without even asking.

 

[thefragile7393]

Terrorist cells make statements early on to promote their cause and take responsibility. I'm not aware of any terrorist cells operating now as such, but I certainly remember the ones from 70s and 80s.

And why would a terrorist cell target a minor American celebrity’s mother? iMO I can’t make it connect in my mind

 

[Friday Fan]

To be clear, those things were suggested by you.

a) I doubt she was still groggy by the time she got to the door (in your imaginary scenario). She walks slowly; it took a while.
b) I think she knew it wasn’t yet day light, so it’s very unlikely IMO she thought it was someone scheduled to pick her up.

Alternatively, I think it’s very unlikely she willingly opened the door unless she thought her family was in trouble.

Or there was a ruse to get her to open the door. "I'm law enforcement, there is a dangerous suspect on the lose around here" "I'm from the utility company. There is a dangerous gas leak, we need to turn off your gas". Something like that.....

 

[Curiousobserver]

My thoughts on the cameras, based on this article:

“'The cameras will record to the servers as long as they have internet. According to Nest, without a subscription, usually they are quickly overwritten by next images. But if the camera is disconnected, there should be nothing to overwrite on the server,' [longtime private investigator Andy Kay told Page 6]. Essentially, if someone does not have a subscription to the service, it’s almost like a livestream being sent to the server: new images override previous images. However, because this was the last image before the suspected kidnapper disconnected the camera, it’s the last thing that was sent to the server and therefore able to be recovered."

The footage we've seen is from the disconnected camera, which the perp was aware of or at least anticipated might be present. The other, later alert, reported at 2:12 a.m., is from a camera that the perp did not know was there and thus did not disconnect, allowing the footage to be overwritten. That could be a back door camera if they decided to enter through the back or it could be an interior camera, but regardless, it was one they were not aware of.

If it's from an interior camera, the window from 1:47 a.m. to 2:12 a.m. could've been spent trying to figure out a point of entry and/or pick a lock, force a sliding door, jimmy open a window, etc.

The 2:12 a.m. to 2:28 a.m. window is pretty clearly when most of the bad stuff went down.

IMO, this all points away from family. I'm totally stumped beyond that, though.

IMO- The perp seemed to be exploring the home, not executing a plan. In the front door video he didn't come prepared to cover the camera, but he improvises, then finally just takes it with him. I don't see him ever try the front door to see if it is unlocked. He seems very comfortable, not rushing, carefully stepping around, like he has done this before. He is having a hard time seeing at night, even though it was moon-bright enough that he left a shadow, he needed a flashlight to see the edge of the steps. He came prepared not to leave any DNA, he tucked his nitrile gloves into his sleeve and he never touches his face, even when the baclava is slipping over one eye, he never adjusts that ski-mask.

 

[stmichael]

Yet, no arrest, no real interrogation. Cars were turned back over and LE left like nothing happened. If that was their best lead at this point, the investigation is in trouble.

They took all their phones and searched his house/car (and gave them back). I believe since he was a delivery guy and said he may have delivered at that house that his phone pinged int he area and he somewhat fit the (vague) description. I think it was the phone link that made him tracked.

Still probably looking at him though.

 

[Fromeaster]

When I first saw him I thought he had a monobrow. And I also thought he had a blanket in his backpack.

 

[Monepone]

Anything is possible but it sure seems contrived to suddenly kill your 84 year old mother & then concoct an entire costumed show for a camera in 1 night..jmo

I'm not suggesting any particular suspect. Just someone intent on it appearing to be a kidnapping. This scenario could apply to more than family.

 

[SlimPickens]

My apologies if this video of bags being carried out has already been posted.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2021684846469234730

Looks like they are just retrieving things from the house to take to them to me, but he was wearing gloves which might indicate something else or just not wanting to contaminate any potential future processing (as a general precaution).

JMO.

 

[KivaloNyomozo’]

IMO, the masked person moves in a comfortable way & doesn’t seem stressed. His backpack is somewhat full, so I believe it was not a robbery or the backpack would most likely be empty.The intent was something different here. The way the person moves makes me feel like they walked her out carefully which keeps hope alive somehow in my mind.

 

[BigCityAccountant]

it came from head of FBI's twitter yesterday. Members were kind enough to provide me with link

https://twitter.com/x/status/2021285842044494279

https://x.com/FBIDirectorKash

Hiya TLCYA!! Long time no see! Finally was able to get my old account back with the help of SillyBilly!

This is my understand about the still pictures without the backpack and the pictures/videos with the backpack. I was trying to find a source, but can't find anything. BUT--if you put the statement into chatgpt. It kind of explains why. Here is what I put.

"Was there a statement made why the some images the FBI released of the Nancy Guthrie suspect appear with a backpack and some without"
Not sharing chatgpt here as I'm not sure if its an approved source. : )

 

[pulchra73]

If there’s no forced entry, how did he get NG to open the door? Maybe he said, “Hey, it’s so-and-so, and your (son, daughter, grandson) needs help (as in, accident or ill) - please come with me- I’ve been sent to get you” for example (only) and/or he identified as someone she knew so she opened the door

He probably broke into the back door, then took her out of the front door where he had already taken off the camera.

 

[SilentHill]

Im certain I saw a post earlier from the Sheriff's Department that stated he was released.

Yes. The post you replied to states that twice.

 

[Irmese]

It has been suggested Nancy may have
a) had brain-fog or been groggy if she was woken up at 2am.
b) thought the man knocking was coming to collect her to take her to the church gathering

Alternatively, maybe Nancy didn't even think to check the cameras before opening.

Could be, but quite often, elderly people have a hard time falling asleep/staying asleep. They will often leave the TV on all night. If they're losing their hearing, they will leave the sound turned way up. Even some of us not so elderly leave the TV on all night. I sleep with Forensic Files on, lol! But the TV provides light to get up and go to the bathroom as well as noise. Elderly people often sleep in snatches, fully waking up in between. My mother would go to bed at 9:00 PM, wake up around 11, go to the bathroom, wander out to the living room, have a chat, maybe even a snack, then go right back to sleep. She would do that 2 or 3 times a night.

 

[oc1234]

Looks like they are just retrieving things from the house to take to them to me, but he was wearing gloves which might indicate something else or just not wanting to contaminate any potential future processing (as a general precaution).

JMO.

Agree, the paper bag was a Whole Foods Market bag

 

[cait2007]

My initial thoughts on the abductor(s?) being in the house for 40ish minutes would be that they were trying to get NG to do something that she was not cooperating with, whether that was give them money/ bitcoin, call SG, call other kids to extort funds, etc. Then they got frustrated and switched to Plan B, which was to abduct her and send the ransom note. I don't feel as that was their initial intent. I also believe this would explain how she was injured and dripping blood on the doorstep, they injured her in their frustration.

My 2 cents: this wasn't completely random but it may be a stranger to the family. They knew who the target was related to and/ or that she had means herself. I think they were watching her for a long while, possibly in the house before she returned from the family dinner. Definitely amateur with the lack of planning re: doorbell cam. I also think it was two people, one being the driver/ lookout. Unfortunately I don't think NG was alive long after leaving the house and I do believe she was dumped somewhere fairly early on.

Totally. He probably put her over his shoulder to carry her out, which coincides with the blood pattern outside. Her lack of compliance defaulted him to plan B, because he was already in too deep. This shows with the lack of planning, like not having medicine on hand for a planned kidnap for ransom. She could’ve easily had a heart attack and passed away in route to wherever they were going. This botched the whole thing and they never even sent a ransom note knowing they didn’t have POL. They just need a place to get rid of the body and act like nothing happened. Sadly, I have no hope she is alive at this point. I pray I’m wrong.

 

[Friday Fan]

bbm

IMO, it's highly likely she left the property in a car. and if you assume that, i think it means the immediate vicinity of the house is no longer a particularly high priority search area relative to anywhere else. she could be anywhere.

why a car? my understanding from news reports is that the trail of blood starts at the door, continues down the walkway, and then has not been detected (or at least not reported) beyond that. if it stops at the driveway or sidewalk, IMO an obvious possibility is that the bleeding person entered a car. besides, how far are you going to carry a 150 lb person on a sidewalk in plain view. and/or how far will you make a person with mobility issues walk under duress? again, in plain view on the sidewalk. ... what logical possiblities are left? helicopter? tandem bike? zip line? hard to picture anything but a car.

I think so too. She was accosted, possibly gagged (someone mentioned nosebleed from a gag and that seems to make sense) and forceably escorted into a vehicle. The blood pattern seems to show this...MOO

 

[tlcya]

Hiya TLCYA!! Long time no see! Finally was able to get my old account back with the help of SillyBilly!

This is my understand about the still pictures without the backpack and the pictures/videos with the backpack. I was trying to find a source, but can't find anything. BUT--if you put the statement into chatgpt. It kind of explains why. Here is what I put.

Not sharing chatgpt here as I'm not sure if its an approved source. : )

welcome back @BigCityAccountant