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

  • #23,861
It could have been a kidnapping for ransom that went terribly wrong and they no longer have a living victim which means no proof of life, in combination with the HUGE media attention, has resulted in them changing the original game plan.
 
  • #23,862
IMO, a “bite light” might be more advantageous. Someone creeping around in the dark might want to be able to turn off/on the light instantly without hands.
Yes bite light makes sense. I didn't know there even was such a thing!
 
  • #23,863
One detail that's stuck out to me is that the backpack worn by the suspect in the Nest cam footage seems full and rigid. You can see it on the FBI video around the 15s mark. It's not empty, like they're expecting to break into a house and stuff it full of stolen items. It's already full. And to me, that means there's a reason/purpose that falls out of the scope of b&e.
As I said elsewhere just now. Unless there is more than one robber. One guy carries the tools of the trade to do the robbery. Others have the empty backpacks.
 
  • #23,864
dbm
 
  • #23,865
Yes bite light makes sense. I didn't know there even was such a thing!
I think it is more risky. Could easily fall out of the mouth and leave DNA rich saliva at the crime scene.
 
  • #23,866
Apologies if this has already been posted.

Authorities are requesting footage from Jan. 11 between 9 p.m. and midnight, which dates to three weeks before Guthrie disappeared. Police are also requesting footage from January 31st between 9:30 and 11 a.m.


I wonder why?
Maybe there is a phone, car or person they have detected in the area that coincides with the time Nancy went missing and these dates/times?
 
  • #23,867
Unlikely to be a routine B&E because, as seen in the video, the person’s backpack was already full when they approached the porch. Burglars don’t typically arrive to steal with their backpack already full. IMO.

Agreed. So what do you make of it?

If outsider, items to tie the victim up?

If family, how do you explain the backpack? Cleaning supplies?
 
  • #23,868
  • #23,869
Yes a kidnapping should be quick in and out of the home. Unless these guys were not too bright amateurs. Or if NG fought back. And they decided to take some items or do some clean up/staging. Even if robbers feel they have to kill someone it is quick and they exit right away. Don't hang around. All of it is a business crime, not personal.
Yes, here is my simple conclusion after processing all of the details in this case. I'm not at all saying "It's family" when i say the case parallels the movie Fargo, but what i'd like to point out are the parallels to the movie as far as how the crime was planned and executed. What do I mean by that? If you watch the movie, it's not the work of "masterminds" but rather ordinary non- professional criminal people trying to pull off a crime. It snowballs, spirals bigger and bigger. It's more a "haphazard" situation, one that occurs as a byproduct of either non-seasoned criminals or low IQ or both.
 
  • #23,870
This case is going to be an absolute nightmare to prosecute - if it even ever gets to that point.

IMO, not really a nightmare to prosecute.

If they have solid irrefutable evidence like the perpetrator(s) DNA at or near the crime scene, phone records, etc.

The prosecution will weigh the evidence they have and not introduce anything that is "iffy" as far as possible cross contamination, etc. It is very normal for investigations to go back to certain things once they start getting actionable leads. the fact that they didn't search every yard early one doesn't really matter.

Seeing hundreds of cases, again.. IF they have vert solid forensic evidence, this will probably prosecute pretty well.

JMO
 
  • #23,871
I think it is more risky. Could easily fall out of the mouth and leave DNA rich saliva at the crime scene.
I mean, it's a tradeoff. A bite light can help them be less noticeable because the light is only on when they need it, vs. a regular flashlight that's going to be shining all over the place as they move their head. I think both have their risks. IMO from the video it does look like they are able to turn it on and off without their hands, which suggests bite light to me, but truly just a guess.
 
  • #23,872
  • #23,873
As I said elsewhere just now. Unless there is more than one robber. One guy carries the tools of the trade to do the robbery. Others have the empty backpacks.

I mean.. maybe? We only have a video and photos of one person at a time. I understand they are looking for "persons" of interest, but we have no information or evidence that indicates more than one person being involved.

The fact that the police and FBI have never characterized this as anything but a kidnapping is telling. They have not given any indication that anything was taken or missing from Nancy's house other than her. If you're going to remove a woman from her house, why not take valuables with you?

I don't know that I think she was randomly "kidnapped," I also feel fairly certain that this was not a b&e.

Besides, there are other houses in her neighborhood that likely don't have the same barrier of entry as her house did. NG's house had multiple cameras, a steel/iron front door, etc. Certainly she wasn't the easiest to break into, so you have to ask yourself... why?
 
  • #23,874
I mean, it's a tradeoff. A bite light can help them be less noticeable because the light is only on when they need it, vs. a regular flashlight that's going to be shining all over the place as they move their head. I think both have their risks. IMO from the video it does look like they are able to turn it on and off without their hands, which suggests bite light to me, but truly just a guess.
Yes I hear you. Personal preference then.
 
  • #23,875
IMO, not really a nightmare to prosecute.

If they have solid irrefutable evidence like the perpetrator(s) DNA at or near the crime scene, phone records, etc.

The prosecution will weigh the evidence they have and not introduce anything that is "iffy" as far as possible cross contamination, etc. It is very normal for investigations to go back to certain things once they start getting actionable leads. the fact that they didn't search every yard early one doesn't really matter.

Seeing hundreds of cases, again.. IF they have vert solid forensic evidence, this will probably prosecute pretty well.

JMO

Good point. Defense attorneys would have a field day though. IMO
 
  • #23,876
What dog?
Oh no....

(Pulchra, not having a go at you, just this comes up very regularly. Just a little giggle but definitely not at you :D )
 
  • #23,877
I’ve been thinking about porch lights too. In images fbi released we see lights behind masked man. Initially I saw folks comment maybe car lights. That’s frequently corrected to be porch lights from house across from Nancy. So, they could use porch lights?
Tucson Outdoor Lighting Code is so strict—requiring specific shielding angles and total lumen caps—that many residents find it easier to just leave the lights off rather than risk a fine. Likely, the only people you will encounter outside after dark are criminals! Government restrictions seem too rigid there. I am sure it's not imperative the stargazers get to stargaze EVERY night. A better idea might be to give them a few days a week of dark skies instead of 24x7.
 
Last edited:
  • #23,878
New question: my mom's apple watch has an app on it she tracks her steps. Has anyone mentioned a step counter yet from the Apple watch? Do we know if she wore it walking back in the house from AG, etc. Walked around the house doing a few chores, etc. Have they retrieved any 3rd party app data that might have some movement in that watch?? Or on the cell? In the myfitness pal you can even login to the website to look at your stats. Im just wondering if any 3rd party apps on phone ir watch!!
 
  • #23,879
I mean, it's a tradeoff. A bite light can help them be less noticeable because the light is only on when they need it, vs. a regular flashlight that's going to be shining all over the place as they move their head. I think both have their risks. IMO from the video it does look like they are able to turn it on and off without their hands, which suggests bite light to me, but truly just a guess.

A bite light also simply frees their hands up.
 
  • #23,880
If family, how do you explain the backpack? Cleaning supplies?
If the person in the Nest footage is someone close to NG, I would think they would have come better prepared to deal with the front door camera than pulling flowers out of the ground. But who knows. Such bizarre behavior.
 

Guardians Monthly Goal

Members online

Online statistics

Members online
406
Guests online
3,586
Total visitors
3,992

Forum statistics

Threads
641,648
Messages
18,776,021
Members
244,846
Latest member
RascalNascar
Back
Top