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

[stmichael]

well the amateur has proven to be smarter then LE and the FBI - so far...

There have been many opportunistic whackos that have gotten away with things for some time. The Kohberger case took some time and he drove his own car to the crime scene (arrest took nearly 2 months).

The Keystone cop approach here has also been criticized. The security was lax and target was a single living 84 year old lady with a pacemaker in a dark, secluded neighborhood. The cam didn't have subscription and took Google a week to dig it off the servers, had he not taken it the footage would be likely re-written over.

Sometimes its better to be lucky than good.

In any case the things I listed above are quite atypical and downright weird.

 

[Cassie P]

My opinion is they are focusing on them b/c they were the last to see her alive + close relatives and so they keep returning to the usual answer. But now there is so much more that makes it appear less likely. Why would they need to do all of this to kill her for money? She is 84 time is on their side here in terms of getting an inheritance. ETA: Originally the main scenario I had though of was if the SIL did it was something along the lines of there was some non publicized acrimony or issue that NG confronted him about on the ride home and he accidentally killed her b/c she said she was going to disclose the issue to her daughter (his wife) - but I really think the masked man pretty much removes that theory.

I agree, the SIL theory is lower probability at this point given the more recent evidence.

But just to answer your question about why an adult child/grandchild might kill a parent over money issues:

1. They don't want to split the inheritance with other siblings.
2. Parent has already lent them large sums of money and turned off the spigot. Or threatening to deduct loaned money from inheritance.
3. $6 million might be a great deal more than their share of the inheritance.
4. Pressing and serious need for a large sum of money immediately.

 

[lonetraveler]

Probably mincing words here...but is "one set of gloves" two gloves? Left and right hand?

I would say, yes, a set is two gloves.

 

[Monepone]

this is what I posted this morning from Forbes magazine.

I see nothing that even closely resembles a tattoo. This is reaching pretty far. He has long sleeves and gloves that go past the wrist. That part of his arm was not visible.

 

[lonetraveler]

I agree, the SIL theory is lower probability at this point given the more recent evidence.

But just to answer your question about why an adult child/grandchild might kill a parent over money issues:

1. They don't want to split the inheritance with other siblings.
2. Parent has already lent them large sums of money and turned off the spigot. Or threatening to deduct loaned money from inheritance.
3. $6 million might be a great deal more than their share of the inheritance.
4. Pressing and serious need for a large sum of money immediately.

I go with No. 2.

 

[tcrockett]

this is what I posted this morning from Forbes magazine.

Thanks for these pictures. I agree with you. That is what it looks like to me too

 

[Trino]

IMO

Is it possible this is just a random crime. All siblings saw the video and didn't recognize the person. Of course it's not a great video but enough to recognize I think. They are not getting caught because everyone is looking in the wrong direction because of SG. CNN said backpack was identified.

Interesting if the crime was random, and the criminal had no real knowledge of NG and SG. More interesting if the criminal had nothing to do with Bitcoin. LE would be more confused than they already are.

 

[Cindizzi]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2021747472507580585

 

[HerNameWasBuffy]

sometimes a mistress gets impatient and pressures their affair partner to get their new life started. just speculation, but it's a tale as old as time.

If that was the case doing it in such a way that it would dominate 24 hour news cycle doesn't make sense to me. She was 84 with mobility issues, he could have staged a fall or such where there might not be too much scrutiny due to her age and health.

If he wanted money to start over, how would he explain a sudden financial windfall just after his sister in law paid $6 mil?

If it wasn't about the money he could just leave. Idk what AG does for a living but SIL is said to be a teacher at a school teaching advanced placement kids, so he can't use his job as a cover for coming into serious money.

 

[MollyHarps]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2021739414402347411

I think he is being kept away from this case now - his handling of the case especially early on with the media was a bit of a disaster imo.

I think he was just out of his depth dealing with a case like this - I feel bad though as I do like him and think he is a nice guy.

 

[Mysti88c]

Things LE haven't told us MOO
* which is the most likely way the guy entered
* was anything in the house disturbed
* did there seem to be a struggle in the bedroom
* was NGs nightie/pj's left behind on the bed; did she change before leaving
* was there blood in the house
* was there a coat missing
* was there an alarm system
* was the front door locked; how did AG get into the house, was the back door open
* what was in the ransom letters
*do they think they are genuine
*why did SG say "we will pay" then didn't
*did dogs pick up a scent
* if the kidnapper wanted to keep her alive for money, why didn't he let her take her hearing aid, medications
*is her cane in the house
*Are there any shoes missing
*when did she have her roof fixed
*did the family know she had a camera fixed on the roof
*did they find DNA in the house that doesnt belong to the family or NG
Just some thoughts.

Did anybody see dogs brought to the scene? The only reason I ask is because someone said today that with all the cacti, you can’t bring dogs in there.

 

[armchairagatha]

sometimes a mistress gets impatient and pressures their affair partner to get their new life started. just speculation, but it's a tale as old as time.

I think this is victim blaming (and relatives of the victim are also victims until they are an official POI). There is nothing to indicate that the SIL was having an affair. And even if he was, any inheritance would not go to him if he were to leave his wife.

 

[SweetVirginia]

Things LE haven't told us MOO
* which is the most likely way the guy entered
* was anything in the house disturbed
* did there seem to be a struggle in the bedroom
* was NGs nightie/pj's left behind on the bed; did she change before leaving
* was there blood in the house
* was there a coat missing
* was there an alarm system
* was the front door locked; how did AG get into the house, was the back door open
* what was in the ransom letters
*do they think they are genuine
*why did SG say "we will pay" then didn't
*did dogs pick up a scent
* if the kidnapper wanted to keep her alive for money, why didn't he let her take her hearing aid, medications
*is her cane in the house
*Are there any shoes missing
*when did she have her roof fixed
*did the family know she had a camera fixed on the roof
*did they find DNA in the house that doesnt belong to the family or NG
Just some thoughts.

Yes. Agree. A lot of information that has not been revealed to us yet. Also, where in the house was her watch located.

 

[Van Helsing]

this is what I posted this morning from Forbes magazine.

Yes! Zoom in and you can see it. II hope this has been shared with LE.

 

[m00c0w]

If it was, then at this point in the game he would probably not be an American criminal. And if that was the case he could've painted the walls with his DNA if he wanted to.

JMO.

Plenty of people don’t have DNA in CODIS. I’d venture most people, actually.

JMO

 

[watson1]

So he kills and hides her body to get an inheritance hopefully in a couple of years when she is declared dead so that then he can leave his wife? I originally thought maybe NG confronted him on the ride home about something she was going to disclose to her daughter/his wife and they had a conflict and he accidentally killed - but I think the masked man on the porch pretty much solidifies this is not it.

What if the bitcoin "hoaxer" wasn't really a hoaxer, and the texts to TC were real about getting their cut? $5-6 million right away would work. just speculating fwiw.

 

[Magic8Ball]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2021746493267619882

The problem with both the black glove found at the side of the road and the purported 911 call re: finding a ski mask is that BOTH these items were found the day after the video showing both gloves and the mask were released.

The timing is highly suspect.
Some people are idiots.
They love to pull what they think are haha, lol, hilarious pranks...especially if the pranks are done at LE's expense.

I think the glove and ski mask are both bogus.

Just like I think the ransom demands are bogus.

Yet more crap LE has to waste their time and manpower investigating and ruling out.

JMO.

 

[Ellis' Mom]

I believe LE will have to use geo information from her phone/watch prove she made it home that evening. The garage door going up and down really only proves the door went up and down.

The daughter and SIL say they brought her home and that may be 100% true. But LE is going to need some way to prove that. Assuming anyone is ever charged for whatever has been done, a defense attorney will suggest them as possible perpetrators. unless there is evidentiary proof she safely reached the house.

I'm still a little confused about the pacemaker and phone. The Sheriff said phone lost connection with the pacemaker, but I keep reading that they don't even connect until the pacemaker sends its nightly report. That makes sense to me for the purposes of battery preservation.

MOO

Do you not think her blood on the sidewalk proves she made it home?
It wasn't there when the masked perp was goofing around with the doorbell well after midnight.

 

[Izzylizzy]

Joel's guest live
Forensic Criminologist, Dr. Laura Pettler
Joshua Ritter

 

[Donswife48]

I just cant believe that this is a kidnap or kidnap for ransom. After this much time has elapsed, i cant make that make sense in my head. This looks like a murder to me. The blood in the residence is intresting but i dont believe the final act happened in the house. I think she was taken, murdered and disposed of. There may have been some violence in the home but based on the image of the blood i saw perhaps it was to gain compliance. No mention of cleanup effort has been mentioned that i am aware of.

I keep thinking about the last time i remember a potential ransom situation this strange. Jon Benet is who brought me to this site as i imagine it did for many other old timers on here. In my own opinion, much like that case, so long ago, the answers are closer to home.

I have this scenario where someone did some work at the house. Told the story later. Youll never guss whos house i was in today. It was gorgeous! she was so nice! Completely innocent. Anyone would do that. But maybe someone else overheard. maybe even asked a few follow ups. like where the house was. what it looked like. seemingly innocent. most folks are facinated by stars or the wealthy.

If it was solely for murder, why did they go to the trouble to remove the body. Even Jon Benet was left in the house. JMO