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

[Ladyotm]

Here’s the Reuters report. Prepare to be enraged:

Exclusive-FBI blocked from key access to evidence in Nancy Guthrie abduction case, source says

By Jana Winter WASHINGTON, Feb 12 (Reuters) - An Arizona sheriff is blocking FBI access to key evidence in the investigation into the abduction of U.S. television journalist Savannah Guthrie's mother,

uk.news.yahoo.com

This is absolutely insane! Someone posted up thread that in an interview about the case, someone basically said this sheriff had created a toxic work environment. MOO from previous posts.

Is he someone who feels who knows everything and can't learn from others? This is not the time to be acting a fool!

Does the FBI typically pass on or absorb costs associated with processing evidence?

This sheriff is seeming more incompetent by the day. He should be following standard investigative protocol with this case as he would in any other. Thorough, attention to detail, professional, sense of urgency, etc. This all seems to have been missing from the jump. MOO

I sure hope that this investigation, that was flawed from the start, moves in the right direction and brings closure and provides justice for Mrs. Guthrie.

All MOO

 

[Deepinthought52]

No, never seen Lantana grown vertical

Thanks, that would've been weird but i couldn’t really tell on the door cam video

 

[Trino]

Taking ransom out of the equation (using only what we know) the perpetrator (s) benefit is unknown. What did they get out of this? It seems deeply personal but the masked perp throws me off unless he's hired.

Investigation is under the authority of Sheriff's Department with FBI Assisting. Agree that this must be about ego. And it's impeding the investigation and making it move slower since FBI will only get the evidence after the private agency that the Sheriff sent the evidence. MOO

It is my understanding that the sheriff is in charge because it's local; FBI brought in to assist. Obvious, however, FBI is more knowledgeable, has more experience and resources. Got to be an ego thing with the sheriff.

 

[Deepinthought52]

Yes we don't know if it was just a practical decision which is being blown out of proportion or if it is a symptom of deeper problems.

Did NG have a connection to local law enforcement /sheriff?

 

[Cassie P]

Jewelers and musicians you say?

Jewelers, musicians, pilots, people in show business. Amazing, but shows me how common bite lights are.

 

[investigatoroffacts]

I really don’t believe we have all the info to jump the gun and say he blocked evidence. In my opinion, it could have already been a part of their process the day the got the glove from inside the house to send it out, and then the FBI entered into it, and now because of that glove being analyzed out of state, the access is limited. If they sent it to DNA labs international here in FL, then FBI uses them too. I am thinking it is more a chain of custody situation.

 

[PCHS]

Bingo! Inheritance, fraud or to cover up another crime.
Occam’s razor.

At this time, I think it’s to cover up another crime, seems most likely. Remove person who might snitch (NG). I am very open to changing my mind.

JMO

You think that Occam's Razor = SIL/AG with no criminal record that has ever been reported (and it would have been at this point) suddenly killed an EIGHTY FOUR year old woman (her MOTHER) for the inheritance, hid the body well enough that it will take years to declare her dead to get said money, turned over their house, their car to LE with nothing found to arrest them as of yet and dressed up as a masked man to perform on a camera feed that was destroyed and found 2 weeks later?? You don't think this sounds contrived? I agree in normal situations absent evidence or data the last person to be seen with the victim when they were alive needs a hard look as a top suspect (and especially immediate family). But when info comes out that is contradictory occam's razor doesn't always point to them anymore. There is other information that makes it much less likely to be them imo.

 

[thefragile7393]

Did NG have a connection to local kaw enforcement /sheriff?

IMO not that anyone has reported

 

[iluvmyelement]

I have held off on commenting on this sheriff for a number of reasons, mostly being that this case is pretty unprecedented and I can’t imagine being in his position. However, after everything that has happened in this investigation, I have to wonder if he is either just unbelievably in over his head or if he’s purposefully messing this up. In a situation like this, I think any decent sheriff wanting to solve the case would take guidance from FBI (like in the idaho 4 case.) To not only ignore their input but to purposefully go against it is at best a little weird and at worst corruption. JMO.

I live in the Tucson area and have personal experience with Nanos and his staff. Between the PCSD deputies harassing people in poor areas, not responding to urgent calls, etc. I am not surprised that things are going this way. One day, my spouse and I were driving home and encountered an elderly man (75-80ish) and his dog being gruesomely attacked by two pitbulls. By the time we arrived, the man and his dog were on the ground, the man's clothing partially torn off and blood was everywhere. My husband jumped out of the car and tried to help while I called 911. Needless to say, Pima County Sheriffs office "declined" the call and said they would not come for a dog attack and then transferred me to the fire department - which also declined the call. I begged for anyone to come or to send an ambulance - but they refused. A second incident happened when a neighbor's home was being broken into and we called PCSD and they also refused to come unless someone was home at the neighbor's and injured. After those two incidents, I realized they were not there to help average citizens and had their own agenda.

 

[Spacemonkey1975]

I dont think it ever was a kidnapping, I think it was a staged kidnapping to hide a murder.

IMO my vibe as well

 

[Trino]

It could have a number of reasons IMO.
SG is also a lawyer and maybe she simply doesn't value the notes to be real.
The FBI could have advised against it with some sort of logical explanation.
The fam wants some proof before paying.
Maybe the ransom notes as we know them has been taken out of context and contain not much info to go on, nothing valuable for the fam. The notes never went public.
They said they will pay but i can imagine first wanting to have some sort of evidence they are communicating with the right person(s).
I really have no clue, it's all just IMO

Lastly, NG may no longer be alive. Although family doesn't want to acknowledge this, they know it's reality.

 

[Elle*Bee]

Wait! Hold up, instead of allowing FBI to utilize Quantico. This local sheriff wants to send evidence to a private lab in Florida. I’m so dumbfounded by this Sheriff.

I hope Locals remember this when they hit polling locations

Is there any chance that the private lab could process it quicker than the FBI lab? I'm curious.

 

[Anna-lytical]

I don't think the man in the TMZ video is the same as the man in Nancy's camera video because even though Nancy's camera video is in black and white, you can tell the backpack is a lighter color than the coat. And in TMZ's video, it's the opposite. The backpack is black and the coat is a lighter color.

Might not be the same man but could be working together.

 

[PCHS]

I really don’t believe we have all the info to jump the gun and say he blocked evidence. In my opinion, it could have already been a part of their process the day the got the glove from inside the house to send it out, and then the FBI entered into it, and now because of that glove being analyzed out of state, the access is limited. If they sent it to DNA labs international here in FL, then FBI uses them too. I am thinking it is more a chain of custody situation.

I agree - it does seem like there is frustration and problems with the investigation or at least that is the perception with many people (look at this thread) and people are starting to try to fingerpoint imo. That also doesn't say good things as to where the investigation is either

 

[twall]

I’d like to know more about this before jumping to conclusions. According to the Reuters article, the county already spent a bunch of money doing DNA tests through this lab. This implies the lab already has comparative samples and reference samples, and it’s unclear if FBI has any of this. It may simply be far more expedient to use the contract lab at this point. Lot of pot-stirring going on lately.

JMO

And maybe the sheriff sent the recovered evidence from inside NG's home to the FL lab immediately before the FBI were involved. JMO

 

[lonetraveler]

Here’s the Reuters report. Prepare to be enraged:

Exclusive-FBI blocked from key access to evidence in Nancy Guthrie abduction case, source says​

By Jana Winter WASHINGTON, Feb 12 (Reuters) - An Arizona sheriff is blocking FBI access to key evidence in the investigation into the abduction of U.S. television journalist Savannah Guthrie's mother,

uk.news.yahoo.com

Unbelievable. There are no words. Intentionally delaying investigation and not using FBI resources. Sheriff's job should be on the line. JMO

I'm thinking it will not be long before the sheriff is contacted by President Donald Trump.

 

[Trino]

Lastly, NG may no longer be alive. Although family doesn't want to acknowledge this, they know it's reality.

Maybe NG has, unknown to family, been paying/giving $$$ to someone, as a loan. Maybe she wanted payment, and the person decided to remove her.

 

[investigatoroffacts]

View attachment 644362
“Every tip is reviewed for credibility, relevance, and information that can be acted upon by law enforcement,” the FBI Phoenix office said. “Threat Intake Examiners at the National Threat Operations Center (NTOC) and FBI personnel are supporting a 24-hour command post in which dozens of agents and investigators are assigned leads and tips to action each shift.”

FBI releases new information about suspect in Nancy Guthrie disappearance

The FBI released new information on Thursday about the suspect in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie.

www.wsmv.com

Charles Latibeaudiere, co-executive producer at TMZ, joins NewsNation to discuss the note sent to its tipline Thursday from the same individual who said they were willing to name Nancy Guthrie's kidnapper(s) in exchange for a bitcoin.

For the second time in as many days, TMZ received an email Thursday morning from a person claiming to know the identity of those who kidnapped Guthrie. The outlet received an email on Wednesday demanding the payment of 1 bitcoin in exchange for the name of the person responsible. As of this writing, no deposit has been made into the account provided.

Per TMZ, the person who sent the second note complained about "not being taken seriously." The outlet refrained from fully releasing all of the information contained in the note, in accordance with a request from law enforcement. However, it was noted that the sender made "ominous statements" and that payment was being sought so that they could "lay low" after identifying Guthrie's abductor out of fear of retaliation. The sender also reportedly stated that this would be their last attempt to help Guthrie's family and the police.

The value of 1 bitcoin as of late Thursday afternoon was just over $66,000 (per CoinDesk).

Evidence Recovered In Nancy Guthrie Kidnapping Case As Second Bitcoin Note Emerges And FBI Ups Reward

'Today' host Savannah Guthrie's mother, Nancy Guthrie, has yet to be located as a second note seeking bitcoin in exchange for info has been received.

screenrant.com

Wow another one. They should take this seriously. It is funny to me that out of all the random emails, this one feels the most important. What do they have to lose at this point?

 

[birdbox]

If she's missing there will certainly be a financial audit by her POA. Her house is in a revokable trust in her name. Assuming she has her three children on the trust there any fraud or illegal activity are going to come to

Unless we are at the finger-pointing stage of the investigation b/c both LE groups are frustrated

I think they have arrived at such a place, sadly.

 

[Wishbone]

sooooo why isn't that info given to police? Not directing this at you @txsleuth20

It has been given to LE. Video Link up thread