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

[TheDinks]

ANYONE else find it strange that there are no organized searches? One lady who volunteers anywhere they are searching for
missing people including bodies can't believe there is nothing organized. I don't get it. Also I think LE does owe at least a press conf. every few days with update on things. I have never seen a crime like this with no press conferences.

I have said the same multiple times! I started watching coverage the first day BE got there (and others) no searching to be seen. Apparently there was day 1 but SN called it off fairly quickly.

Every broadcast I've watched interviewing former LE/FBI etc. they've all said this too...can't understand it!

I don't get. Having followed misspers for years, last place person known to be... there are searches spanning out. Then, within a relatively short time, local groups gather to search too. IMO people will have approached LE and asked if they could perform these and must've been told "no". I see no alternative.

 

[planet]

To me, it seemed passive-agressive. He said she might be found, 'in one hour, or weeks, months, or years."

As if he wanted to upset people without doing so openly. Passive-agressive.

I think there may be a fine line between being honest and being somewhat tactless. I personally appreciate his frankness. He has an incredibly difficult job, and he's under tremendous pressure and public scrutiny. That has got to be extremely challenging and exhausting.

I don't know what the solve rate is for abductions, but I suspect it's quite low. He's dealing with the high likelihood that either she died before she left the house or died shortly afterwards, and her body was left somewhere. This is a vast area with lots of places to leave a body. My opinion is that her body will never be found. I'm sorry to say that, because I know that many here are aching for her return.

If he suspects this, or in fact knows this, he's looking at years of unrewarding, dogged work, chasing thousands of leads. This is the rest of his career frankly and it will never leave him. His entire career will be judged, harshly, by the lack of results and failure to deliver an outcome people want. Who knows if he'll be able to identify suspects who can be prosecuted.

I'm sure it's not a case that he welcomed or wanted. It's not going be a positive outcome or a satisfying end to his career. It's going to be depressing and demoralizing for all.

 

[BenjaminJAndersonAlly]

I’m sure she thinks she’s helping but this was not commissioned or issued by officials and the public is going to see this sketch and run with it. They could easily overlook a good suspect because he (or she) doesn’t look like this sketch. It rubs me the wrong way.

I see your point, and I would feel similarly if it was just some random sketch artist, but I do trust Lois Gibson.

She just retired in 2021 after a 43 year career. She was with Houston PD.

Ms. Gibson holds the Guinness Book of World Records record for the most successful forensic sketch artist (1313 sketches per November 2025 article). Totally MOO.

The world's most successful forensic artist: How Lois Gibson's incredible sketches have helped solve thousands of crimes

As a Forensic artist for the Houston Police Department in Texas, Lois Gibson's visionary talent has helped to positively identify 751 criminals and secure over 1,000 convictions.

www.guinnessworldrecords.com

Nancy Guthrie: Unofficial suspect sketch from famed forensic artist | FOX 26 Houston

Houston forensic artist Lois Gibson has stepped out of retirement to create an unofficial sketch of the suspect believed to have kidnapped Nancy Guthrie.

www.fox26houston.com

Legendary Houston sketch artist ‘unretires’ for Nancy Guthrie case

A former Houston Police Department sketch artist, recognized by Guinness World Records as the most successful in her field, has volunteered her expertise to help identify a masked individual captured in the Nancy Guthrie video.

www.click2houston.com

Lois Gibson - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Woman attacked by killer becomes world's top criminal artist

Lois Gibson is officially the most successful forensic artist in the world - her composite artworks have led to 1,313 criminals being successfully identified. But her story is a harrowing one

www.irishstar.com

 

[Cedars]

ANYONE else find it strange that there are no organized searches? One lady who volunteers anywhere they are searching for missing people including bodies can't believe there is nothing organized. I don't get it. Also I think LE does owe at least a press conf. every few days with update on things. I have never seen a crime like this with no press conferences.

Since NG was taken away by car, there is no identified place to start a search. Complete waste of time and effort to randomly guess and start searching. If she is somewhere outside, she is much more likely to be found by a random member of the public: eg, recently, Melody Buzzard. Or, more famously, the McStays.

 

[Trino]

Same. He probably looks nothing like him.

ANYONE else find it strange that there are no organized searches? One lady who volunteers anywhere they are searching for missing people including bodies can't believe there is nothing organized. I don't get it. Also I think LE does owe at least a press conf. every few days with update on things. I have never seen a crime like this with no press conferences.

LE appears more concerned with locating the abductor than locating NG. Finding her is crucial; if alive, she is now off needed meds. Criminal will still be around.

 

[SMK777]

LE appears more concerned with locating the abductor than locating NG. Finding her is crucial; if alive, she is now off needed meds. Criminal will still be around.

I hope it's not because they presume she's deceased.

 

[Trino]

There are gangs along the border and many come from Mexico. It is what it is and doesn't have to imply anything else.

Do they have the sophistication to pull this crime off?

 

[Cedars]

To me, it seemed passive-agressive. He said she might be found, 'in one hour, or weeks, months, or years."

As if he wanted to upset people without doing so openly. Passive-agressive.

He lives and works in reality, he is not a character on reality TV.

 

[VenturaJen]

I am concerned everyone expects immediate results and resolution from LE and FBI… real life and forensic testing does not work that way. They could do better with daily pressers… but I would rather have them focus on tips, clues etc. than keeping me in the loop. JMO

 

[Trino]

Since NG was taken away by car, there is no identified place to start a search. Complete waste of time and effort to randomly guess and start searching. If she is somewhere outside, she is much more likely to be found by a random member of the public: eg, recently, Melody Buzzard. Or, more famously, the McStays.

How about asking people in Tucson to check their yards, storage sheds, parks, etc. This would be a start.

 

[wibbleflea]

Correct me if I am wrong. She was found missing by her family on Sunday FEBRUARY 1. Ransom note came in on the morning of FEBRUARY 3 to TMZ and a couple of other news outlets that were local. Perp was waiting for news to break. Attention was desired. IMO. he sure got it. SG had a stalker who wanted her attention. Involving TMZ, which is an entertainment outlet, just further cements it for me. JMO and i am sticking to it!

At least one local station received the note on Monday, 3 February, the day after NG went missing.

Sheriff says ransom note being investigated in disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, Savannah Guthrie's mother

The sheriff says the note was sent to a local Arizona news station, which agreed not to report on it, following the disappearance of "Today" show co-host Savannah Guthrie's mother, Nancy Guthrie.

www.cbsnews.com

“The note, which the station received Monday and agreed not to report on […]”

 

[gin2]

That’s just weird. Who thinks of getting their pool cleaned in the midst of a horrific crime at the location of the crime scene? I’m thinking something else was going on with this.

I don't think keeping up with the regular pool maintenance is unusual at all.
It's either that or deal with an expensive big mess that can develop rather quickly.

 

[TheDinks]

fyi STS just going Live - interesting guest Dr Laura Pettler (experienced in staging among other criminology)

Always interesting perspectives given imo

 

[Officer Dibble]

I have said the same multiple times! I started watching coverage the first day BE got there (and others) no searching to be seen. Apparently there was day 1 but SN called it off fairly quickly.

Every broadcast I've watched interviewing former LE/FBI etc. they've all said this too...can't understand it!

I don't get. Having followed misspers for years, last place person known to be... there are searches spanning out. Then, within a relatively short time, local groups gather to search too. IMO people will have approached LE and asked if they could perform these and must've been told "no". I see no alternative.

even the well known UK Criminologist was on UK TV saying he was really confused by so many things.

 

[Napoli]

CCTV systems of all brands (at all levels) also record all motion even if you don't have an push alert to your phone configured (I am very familiar with 4K POE CCTV). I highly doubt hey just had a live system, they'd want to go back and see any falls or issues they likely would have missed if needed. I don't know if they had PTZ cams (pan-tilt-zoom) that rotate manually, but those too record motion alerts to a cloud storage w/o alerts (so they don't have to get home and go through hours of footage to check on their mom if she was in this or that room). If anyone installed the system it would surely be configured this way especially for the purpose of checking on an old lady. Most systems are defaulted this way and it makes no sense to neuter it to just a "live" viewing passive system.

Maybe the perp was stalking SG for sometime. He may even have had a job he purposely took to get inside NG's house. Hell, he could have even worked for a security company. Perp wanted to know everything about SG.. He was focused on everything SG, NBC, Instagram, every TV appearance. imo. Might have even installed cameras that he then knew how to evade and dismantle.. He forgot about the Nest or that it was no longer operable. IMO, the perp was not stupid. He has confounded the authorities and captured his prey. NOW, he has not received the ransom nor sufficient begging from SG and he is boxed in. IMO, he never really wanted the ransom. He is taunting SG.. In his mind, she has spurned him. JMO

 

[SRWCF]

No way this was just normal chasing leads protocol

They have DNA from inside NG's home that belongs to someone other than those close to her. Is it possible that there was no DNA matches in CODIS, but they had a very credible lead that one (or all) of the people detained last night was a strong POI? Did they go into the home to look for evidence and perhaps gather DNA?

 

[rosesfromangels]

I see your point, and I would feel similarly if it was just some random sketch artist, but I do trust Lois Gibson.

She just retired in 2021 after a 43 year career. She was with Houston PD.

Ms. Gibson holds the Guinness Book of World Records record for the most successful forensic sketch artist (1313 sketches per November 2025 article). Totally MOO.

The world's most successful forensic artist: How Lois Gibson's incredible sketches have helped solve thousands of crimes

As a Forensic artist for the Houston Police Department in Texas, Lois Gibson's visionary talent has helped to positively identify 751 criminals and secure over 1,000 convictions.

www.guinnessworldrecords.com

Nancy Guthrie: Unofficial suspect sketch from famed forensic artist | FOX 26 Houston

Houston forensic artist Lois Gibson has stepped out of retirement to create an unofficial sketch of the suspect believed to have kidnapped Nancy Guthrie.

www.fox26houston.com

Legendary Houston sketch artist ‘unretires’ for Nancy Guthrie case

A former Houston Police Department sketch artist, recognized by Guinness World Records as the most successful in her field, has volunteered her expertise to help identify a masked individual captured in the Nancy Guthrie video.

www.click2houston.com

Lois Gibson - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Woman attacked by killer becomes world's top criminal artist

Lois Gibson is officially the most successful forensic artist in the world - her composite artworks have led to 1,313 criminals being successfully identified. But her story is a harrowing one

www.irishstar.com

I agree with Benjamin. I hold Lois in the very highest regard, along with Karen Taylor and of course our own amazing Carl K! All three are amazing.

My opinion of course. : )

 

[CandyKiss]

Someone recently went into WM to find similar backpack to purchase and examine. The backpacks were in a locked transparent area with other hiking equipment. This means that with record of sale, there is also record of clerk scanning locked area to retrieve goods. This is the WM close to AG property... just stating for verification of locale, not making connection.

Check dates of purchase of said backpack - check cams focused on display area in hour prior to transaction.

Just a thought, of course we don't know whether backpack was bought in month prior or 3 years, so... just thinking out loud!

I think the back pack was recently purchased.

Reason: yesterday or the day before someone posted a pic of the perp with his back to the camera; they questioned what was hanging on the left side of the back pack?

It was the sternum strap - stabilizes the weight for carrying heavier loads - BUT the rubber band was still wrapped around the strap and locking mechanism. He may not have noticed that or realized what it was for.

 

[Arkay]

I truly hope that Sheriff Nanos’ despairing talk is just some kind of ploy.

In my experience it is unheard of for an LE officer in charge to publicly voice his exhaustion and his doubts about finding a missing victim.

If it’s to blindside the criminals then maybe, but IMO it would have to be run by the Guthries first, lest they lose all confidence in Tucson LE.

I have a brother-in-law who’s an NYPD captain, and a cousin who is a Federal detective. I cannot imagine either of them EVER telling the public that they’re so tired and so pessimistic, even if they are.

Particularly in a case that has drawn endless publicity. You don’t show your cards, you don’t make it about you, you don’t cause the family to become hopeless.

I sadly do believe at this point that NG has likely not survived, and his “could take years” comment referenced finding her body. But don’t say that out loud!

Again hoping this is just some wily police tactic and not a “cri de coeur” of futility.

JMO

 

[Walela]

something that I find odd is it seems few of the homes I have seen on maps in the area have fences or gates, don't coyotes and other wild animals live in the area?

They do share the land with coyotes, javelinas, rattlesnakes and desert scorpions. Too bad the abductor/attacker didn't get attacked by a coyote or step on a rattlesnake.
MOO