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

[Moonchime]

If I were hearing all of this and I were the family... I would hire private investigators.

Absolutely!!! No question about it.

 

[PacoElFlaco]

No, but experts have said it looks like a long barrel generic nylon pistol holster and that's a great example of one.

I always see these in the 5 dollar bin of gun stores collecting dust or yard sales and immediately noticed the mismatch. And I would not bet my life on a crappy holster like that with a semi in it. My kydex holsters custom fit the exact profile of my sidearm.

This holster detail, the $15 backpack, etc. Almost makes me think of what some edgy goofy teenager would whip together to cosplay a kidnapper.

Or a clever and savvy criminal who wants to use untraceable generic and secondhand gear to avoid identification if he is caught on camera. It's a lot harder to trace buyers of a walmart backpack and a cheap nylon holster than buyers of expensive pro-rated gear.

 

[CandyKiss]

I’ve been away and ain’t no way I’m reading all these pages.

Did you guys decide if this was part of the backpack?

Stills from the video posted on SG’s insta. I’ve compared these stills to the backpack posted by Phoenix FBI and can’t place it. Doesn’t quite match with that one hangy thing on the side.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2022084453699350981

what the FBI is highlighting / questioning in the pics of backpack is 'frontal chest straps' to secure the pack. I had two of these backpacks, when my backpack was too heavy I'd use frontal straps to distribute the weight correctly.

EDIT TO ADD: just realized the longer strap that is highlighted still has the rubber band thats on it when you purchase it... maybe he didn't realize what this was for?

 

[Donswife48]

It seems like I remember the Idaho investigators sending the sheath to a lab in south Texas - am I remembering that right?

Fox news was discussing where the black gloves found along the road should be sent. One suggested Quantico but they all agreed a lab in Texas would be much quicker and would be able to process DNA evidence within a day. JMO

 

[Cassie P]

I live in a similar dark sky environment and the night right now is actually wildly different than the night two weeks ago. (Due to the full moon switch to an almost new moon, which matters a lot when you don't have street lights, porch lights, etc, anywhere nearby.) That said, I doubt they replicated full moon light in their tent anyhow. But just using night sky right now would not accurately show how light and shadows worked two weeks ago.

Good point, but it is going to be best to replicate exact conditions unless the tent method with high probability can replicate the degree of moonlight. To make sure they are getting the most accurate results. Though I understand there is a time element here and a life is at stake. So it is good enough for that.

But also I am thinking that if this goes to a jury trial, it is going to be a nightmare. There have been so many mistakes gathering evidence. Here is another one perhaps a defense attorney will attack and make fun of.

 

[Dontknow?]

Following crime for years I've seen plenty of police departments not wanting FBI assisting. The Roden case is one. The sherrif said when asked if he wanted FBI to assist, he said "hell no!" I did a search for "is quantico lab faster than private labs". Here's my answer via google.

Why do some law enforcement agencies utilize private crime scene labs?


The Role of Private Forensic DNA Labs

They employ highly trained scientists, invest in advanced equipment, and stay updated with the latest techniques and technologies. Private labs often have the resources and flexibility to expedite testing processes and deliver faster results than government labs.Mar 7, 2024

That could be why the sherrif's department sent them to FL. Besides FBI sending evidence to the FL lab too. Plus Pima Co. Sheriff's office has a contract with the lab that ends in March of 2026.

jmo

 

[fridaybaker]

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

Yes, I think he's toast.

 

[SRWCF]

“The FBI asked Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos for physical evidence in the case, including a glove and DNA from the home of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, to be processed at the FBI's national crime laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, but Nanos has insisted instead on using a private lab in Florida," the official said.

According to the source, the FBI will likely need to re-test the evidence themselves

Nancy Guthrie disappearance: FBI reveals description of suspect and backpack he was wearing

FBI releases suspect description in Nancy Guthrie case, ups reward to $100K as agents review more than 13,000 tips.

www.foxnews.com

Is this investigation turning into a p!ssing contest???

 

[TIGER0822]

How clearly was the getaway car recorded? Color? Size, sedan, etc.

I’m sure more info will come out on this.

Maybe a residential or business nearby has better views.

JMO

Is that the blue Subaru crosstrek they are referring to?

 

[Cassie P]

The local cops are all at the Thursday night basketball game

I am sure it is all legit. Sheriff gathering backpack and sport jacket logo info.

 

[WMH22]

I don’t chime in very often, however, I just wanted to comment on thoughts about family’s demeanor in videos and whether it is suspect or not… from experience, I think you “just know” when someone you are so connected to, like a mother, has passed. There are not words to describe it, but it is feeling that you just have and it totally defeats you. I see that defeat on their faces in the videos and it is truly heartbreaking.

 

[shadowsc]

Well now it makes more sense why the Sheriff had no idea that SG and family was going to release the first video asking for proof of life. He said he learned it from his wife who showed it to him on Facebook. Seems like there were jurisdictions not working together from the start. Yet during that time Sheriff was making the media tour rounds on every channel.

Also, I feel so bad (not) for any of these random idiot burglars who chose that night for petty theft and robbing cars. They'll probably admit to it real quick to get cleared of this!

 

[SaraSmile]

Wait, do they know what the car looked like?

That’s why I asked. The comments from Tucson personnel said the cameras don’t pick up license plates. It said, They actually don’t record cars, not good focus?

It didn’t sound very promising, maybe FBI can enhance pics, get an idea of car.

JMO

 

[jepop]

It seems like I remember the Idaho investigators sending the sheath to a lab in south Texas - am I remembering that right?

Yes, but not the same scenario Imo. That was Othram in Texas, for their expertise with investigative genetic genealogy re the single source, male DNA identified on the sheathe by ISP lab. No hits in CODIS.

ETA: and as someone else points out, no infighting. The cooperation and professionalism from the outset between ISP, MPD and FBI is noted in that case. Jmo

 

[Cassie P]

Is this investigation turning into a p!ssing contest???

My thoughts exactly but I had a more graphic description in mind.

And I had other words in mind as I think about the possibility that NG may just be hanging on hour by hour.

 

[Magic8Ball]

Nanos won't let them. He believes in a kinder, free-range crime scene.

Insert Benny Hill music and the actual pizza delivery walking up to the front door the other day (yes that happened).

The clueless pizza delivery dude toting the pizzas up the driveway really was the stuff of surreal comedy.

And yes, someone needs to play the Benny Hill theme song every time Nanos is introduced at a podium.

 

[DizzyB]

It seems like I remember the Idaho investigators sending the sheath to a lab in south Texas - am I remembering that right?

While many were criticizing the Moscow investigation, there did not seem to be any infighting.

Following crime for years I've seen plenty of police departments not wanting FBI assisting. The Roden case is one. The sherrif said when asked if he wanted FBI to assist, he said "hell no!" I did a search for "is quantico lab faster than private labs". Here's my answer via google.

Why do some law enforcement agencies utilize private crime scene labs?


The Role of Private Forensic DNA Labs

They employ highly trained scientists, invest in advanced equipment, and stay updated with the latest techniques and technologies. Private labs often have the resources and flexibility to expedite testing processes and deliver faster results than government labs.Mar 7, 2024

That could be why the sherrif's department sent them to FL. Besides FBI sending evidence to the FL lab too. Plus Pima Co. Sheriff's office has a contract with the lab that ends in March of 2026.

jmo

Is Quantico on the same level as other government labs? The FL lab might be great, but I think if I were Nanos in these circumstances, I would hand off the ball.

 

[korncrasy]

Last night I went through band videos to see if I could see the tattoo; dark stages -- and difficult to see. I'll keep looking..

I was looking last night to.Would be interesting to hear if you find something.

 

[Cassie P]

Ill try to dig up the ex-Pima County homicide Det. of 20 years interview (or someone post it) that basically hates his guts and says the reason so many left was him and the avg. homicide Det. left has 2 years experience. Nanos also had an investigation in his last election for putting the guy running against him (another cop) on administrative duty.

I saw this first hand with a lot of buddies during Mayor DeBlasio in NYC. Everyone was retiring to the point the dept.. had to put an actual retirement freeze. And DeBlasio then cut $1B to the NYPD budget and eliminated 2 academy classes. So many guys left. From all I read Tucson seems to have a mini version of that with Nanos.

I don't see this ending well for Nanos, btw, the Feds are going to take over the case now that it has gotten so big and even has many higher ups attention (along w/ the President).

StM, how do you think this situation will impact the investigation, the return of NG or her body, the identification of the kidnappers or killers, and a possible trial down the road?

 

[nightowl2728]

Am I reading this right? Someone was searching for NG's house from.... Malawi?

I see that too - mostly searches from Malwaki and then Somalia on January 21st. No other searches before/after that date except of course after February 1st of this year.

Could this be relevant? Some kind of cyber crime ring - 574 arrests and USD 3 million recovered in coordinated cybercrime operation across Africa

EDIT: NG's specific full home address (including number/street/city/zip code) had hits on January 3rd and January 29th as well. The January 3rd hits weren't identified in terms of a region, but Massachusetts and Texas show up as regions on the 29th.
For context, I also extended the searches back a couple of months and didn't see any hits. If we're to assume this is related (it could very well not be - I'm not very familiar with this Google search data), my assumption would be plans to go to NG's home only began in January and not before then.

I'm curious too if the Google search data also includes Google Maps? And if LE can pull that data from not only Google Maps searches but Waze, Apple Maps, etc. ?
If someone was driving there's a chance they would put the address in their GPS; if not while driving perhaps the same day so they could commit it to memory.