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

[Donswife48]

Arizona Sheriff Chris Nanos on Friday (February 13) defended his decision to send newly discovered evidence in the Nancy Guthrie abduction case to a private lab.

I've heard on news that if it was turned over to the FBI they would fly it immediately to Quantico, therefore it wouldn't be sent by mail. This was discussed as much faster. The FBI is concerned that once the DNA swab or article is returned, there won't be viable DNA for them to retest. JMO

 

[SMK777]

RR ?

Range Rover.

 

[Pharmasgirl]

I believe she was alive at the time but isn’t now. There would be no reason to take her body from the home if she was already dead. That would only increase the risk for the perp.

If it was a robbery gone bad, WHY take the body?

 

[Jenny9]

Thoughts on the very stuffed backpack, imo only.

1) amateur hour. He didn't lay everything he was going to carry out, assess total size accurately and buy a suitable pack.
OR
2) pre-existing possession. He had thi8 30ams bag already and made it e es?of clothwork.
OR
3) change of plan. Something bulky had to be added after the kit was assembled.

Chang

We don't know if this guy was coming or going...it is possible that he was at the house earlier, committed the crime, paniced, left, and then returned to clean up the scene. If so, when we see him on video he could have already been back into the house through the back entrance and the contents of the backpack could possibly be bedclothing (sheets), towells, that could have his DNA if NG was surprised and attacked in bed. The backpack to me appears fully stuffed, but quite light, does not sag as if heavily loaded, and shows very little definition of shapes inside if they were rigid objects like tools. It doesn't move on his back as he moves around either.

Change of clothes?

 

[Ghostwheel]

Thoughts on the very stuffed backpack, imo only.

1) amateur hour. He didn't lay everything he was going to carry out, assess total size accurately and buy a suitable pack.
OR
2) pre-existing possession. He had this bag already and made it work.
OR
3) change of plan. Something bulky had to be added after the kit was assembled.

Perhaps the backpack contained other bags or a tarp. If it was a robbery, you'd need something to carry items out. If it was an intended kidnapping, two people could carry a person in a large well made Christmas tree size bag, or if not a bag, a tarp. There are specific person turning flats that have handles that could be used to carry someone ( looks like this Amazon.com: Improvia Positioning Bed Pad, with 8 Reinforced Handles, Quick-Drying, Washable, Waterproof, for Lifting, Turning, Transfering, Elderly and Incontinence Patients (Green, 34" x 52" - Pack of 1) : Health & Household). I figured the backpack was to carry whatever supplies, like the above, plus whatever else.

Eta: point being, maybe it just LOOKED over stuffed, but had something in it that would fill up extra space, like a bag will do if it has room to try and unfold.

 

[SMK777]

AZ Family I believe.

Yes, I edit added in CBS 5 KTVK TV 3.

 

[whitelilac]

Would be very interested to know what evidence LE has which leads them to believe it was burglary gone wrong (assuming the info AZ Family obtained from their “inside source” is accurate).

Also, the "could be alive" statement. If a burglary gone wrong, and burglary was the motive, how and where would a burglar conceal a living NG and for what purpose?

41 minutes in the house.....may there have been talk between them?
Remember the case where a woman was held hostage for a couple of days, but managed to convince him to let her go? She talked religion and faith and redemption with him, and I believe he turned himself in.

This would be a miracle if NG is still alive....somehow, somewhere.

 

[oc1234]

So it wasn’t actually on the roof. It was high up on the wall of her house and looks like it’s wired to a solar panel on the roof. I have NO clue how LE missed that camera for the first 6 days of the investigation.

It looks similar to this Nest model

Yes, there were 2 solar cameras on the casita. One facing courtyard and one facing the parking area near garage.

 

[Sdow]

Do I think the perp casually stripped it off and tossed it out the window so they could light a cigarette or open a bottle of water? No. As someone else pointed out, anyone discussing Brian Kohberger would not have thought he might leave his knife sheath at the scene, but thank God he did!

Unless this kidnapper was a career criminal, or a sociopath/psychopath with no feelings/conscience, I would expect kidnapping and/or killing an elderly woman to be disconcerting. The perp may have thought he had everything contained, only to have a zipper break, or a bag come untied. Someone might have caught it on a shoe getting in or out of the vehicle.

I read this sentence once in a John Grisham book which I believe is based on fact. To pull off a perfect crime there are 10 elements you have to get right. Of those 10 most criminals may get 4 (or at the most 6).

You can plan out everything to the letter to cover all those things.

Then there’s the reality that things go wrong just like the Idaho 4. On paper everything looks good but in the real world there are things you can’t plan for so I think you’re right - anything could have happened for that glove to end up where it was if indeed it does turn out to be linked to the crime. Even if they had planned to the T.

 

[CandyKiss]

After the video from the front door was released, I read an opinion elsewhere from someone familiar with the desert saying the kidnapper could be itinerant or camping. Based on his experience and the equipment he uses on off-road adventures, he thought the backpack looked like it contained a Starlink Mini. Initially, hiding out in the wilderness waiting for ransom seemed possible if unlikely. Even if that was the original plan, I fear too much time has passed. She's not alive, and the kidnapper is long gone. I think it is more than likely that a kidnapper would take an elderly victim into the wilderness area only as a disposal site.

BBM. MOOOOO....

I tend to agree with this statement.

IF he decided to go camping for the weekend (for privacy) and needed service, yes. Also, the shape of the backpack appears to be stuffed with a lot. The side pockets can carry the cable/power cords etc and the zippered section on the back would have the kickstand/Gen 3 router … the kickstand might make the outside of the backpack ‘oddly’ shaped.

Although some stated the backpack identified is too cheap to carry much weight, I know for a fact it can be loaded down with at least 25 lbs. and the mini Starlink weighs only 15 lbs. (link attached)

It would make sense IF he set up camp nearby that he would carry the mini-Starlink (due to the overall cost) and other necessary items to NG’s home. If he ran into a problem he could communicate with someone else with ease, also transmit ransom notes.

Question is: who had the 30-60 day mini-Starlink subscription near NG’s home?
Starlink

 

[SaraSmile]

Kindly, what is the source for this information?

I put JMO, as I was just guessing how he could have disabled inside cameras.
I’m not sure if we heard yet, how inside cameras were disabled.
Others thought maybe a WIFI scrambler

JMO

 

[zecats]

Maybe people will think twice about throwing litter out they've handled!

I truly hope for that to be true around my house perimeter. But in the NG case, it sure would be a welcome discard, hoping it leads to finding her. And whoever did this to her.

 

[stmichael]

Big if true.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2023181112026259856

Very interesting in that they say "a burglary that could have gone wrong" and believe NG is still alive.
Many of us thought a burglary that went wrong with NG tragically deceased during the initial attempt. which happens.

I still wouldn't expect a Range Rover in the mix, curious to see how that plays out.

 

[milkshakedonkey]

IMO—a young reporter trying to get some media attention—
Just summary of what is going on—don’t think there is anything new and really the supposition that LE thinks this is a burglary gone wrong is just that speculation—not from official press release…the LEOs involved in this case are probably discussing all kinds of theories of the crime.

A quick Google search tells me she has worked there since 2018, has won two AP awards and was nominated for an Emmy.

 

[wibbleflea]

dbm

 

[SMK777]

Also, the "could be alive" statement. If a burglary gone wrong, and burglary was the motive, how and where would a burglar conceal a living NG and for what purpose?

That's the worrisome part.

 

[MsMatlock]

I was originally given the choice of my EP’s preferred pacemaker with leads or paying for the leadless one out of pocket (this was while they were still investigational). Just throwing it out there since I was given the option of an “upgrade” of sorts… at substantial cost. So it’s not always “you get what you get”.

Good to know. I guess it really depends on your electrophysiologist, the hospital’s contracts with brands and your insurer. I’m sure insurance also has a say in the decision…and costs. Thanks for bringing that to the conversation.

 

[Sakura2Sophia4Lucia]

Wow!!! So much to take in there!

None of this may be true, but if any of these points are true, this is significant.

She says that a "source says investigators believe this was a burglary gone bad". Perhaps things were taken from the house that LE hasn't revealed? Money or jewelry missing? Wonder what is different now that makes LE say this? If, indeed, they really are thinking that this was a burglary gone bad.

And then she said that a source says that there's "widespread belief by investigators that NG could be alive". Doesn't give any reasons that they believe that NG could be alive but they may have compelling evidence that points to this. If this is true, I imagine we might hear more about this from LE.

If this source is accurate, these points are a very big deal and LE is possibly much further along in this investigation than would appear to the public.

I don't understand how "a burglary gone bad" could quickly pivot to the perpetrators taking NG from the house and without any planning, take her somewhere safe and keep her alive without NG seeing who they are.

JMO

 

[Pharmasgirl]

Inside info (source) told them it was an intended burglary

They are testing DNA from the scene

Source said possibility Ms Guthrie is still alive

OMG please let it be

 

[milkshakedonkey]

BBM. MOOOOO....

I tend to agree with this statement.

IF he decided to go camping for the weekend (for privacy) and needed service, yes. Also, the shape of the backpack appears to be stuffed with a lot. The side pockets can carry the cable/power cords etc and the zippered section on the back would have the kickstand/Gen 3 router … the kickstand might make the outside of the backpack ‘oddly’ shaped.

Although some stated the backpack identified is too cheap to carry much weight, I know for a fact it can be loaded down with at least 25 lbs. and the mini Starlink weighs only 15 lbs. (link attached)

It would make sense IF he set up camp nearby that he would carry the mini-Starlink (due to the overall cost) and other necessary items to NG’s home. If he ran into a problem he could communicate with someone else with ease, also transmit ransom notes.

Question is: who had the 30-60 day mini-Starlink subscription near NG’s home?
Starlink

We have a Starlink Mini and while it would probably fit in there I don’t see any outward indications that tell me that’s what’s in there. It looks stuffed full to me and the Mini is very square. It’s possible but I don’t know why anyone would look at that and think a hard rectangular chunk of plastic was in there.