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

[LAhiker]

With regard to "is this one person or two," and what are those dark spots on his jacket, here are my speculations:

I think it's the same person, because the FBI says so in their tweet, and because I think any differences can be explained by things such as the distance from the camera, the angle, the lighting. Of course, I could be wrong.

As others have pointed out, the photo of the guy without the backpack had to have been taken earlier because when the guy has the backpack, he removes the camera that took both photos. The photo where lantana man is wearing the backpack would appear to have been before NG was taken out the front door because the floor doesn't appear to have blood on it So the order of events would be:
1. "No backpack" photo
2. Backpack photo/removal of camera
3. NG is taken out the front door, resulting in blood on the tiles

That said, the amount of time between these events is unknown to us. The timing of the first two events might known to the FBI if they could extract timestamps.

Regarding the dark spots on his jacket in the "no backpack" photo, I don't know what they are, but think it's important to remember that these photos were taken with an infrared camera and may represent things differently than how they appear to the eye.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2021285842044494279

JMO

 

[shonyakay]

With regard to "is this one person or two," and what are those dark spots on his jacket, here are my speculations:

I think it's the same person, because the FBI says so in their tweet, and because I think any differences can be explained by things such as the distance from the camera, the angle, the lighting. Of course, I could be wrong.

As others have pointed out, the photo of the guy without the backpack had to have been taken earlier because when the guy has the backpack, he removes the camera that took both photos. The photo where lantana man is wearing the backpack would appear to have been before NG was taken out the front door because the floor doesn't appear to have blood on it So the order of events would be.
1. "No backpack" photo
2. Backpack photo/removal of camera
3. NG is taken out the front door, resulting in blood on the tiles

That said, the amount of time between these events is unknown to us. The timing of the first two events might known to the FBI if they could extract timestamps.

Regarding the dark spots on his jacket in the "no backpack" photo, I don't know what they are, but think it's important to remember that these photos were taken with an infrared camera and may represent things differently than how they appear to the eye.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2021285842044494279

JMO

I don't believe that picture necessarily had to be taken before because if Nancy had batteries in her door Nest cam it could have still been recording events for up to one hour after it was disconnected.

I read that Google Nest cameras with batteries can still record events (motion/person detection) when disconnected from Wi-Fi or power for up to one hour. These offline recordings are stored in the device's internal memory and automatically uploaded to the cloud when the connection is restored.

 

[SlimPickens]

Some things that are noticeable about the face of the suspect from a video still image:
- The distance between the eyes (intercanthal distance - ICD) appears slightly wider than normal. This distance between the inner 'corners' of the eye in an adult is normally 28-35mm. If wider, its called telecanthus or hypertelorism depending on the etiology. A well known example of this is Jackie Kennedy who had hypertelorism (photo attached).
- Their eyebrows don't end where we would expect them to, which is normally in line with the inner corner of the eyes (unless the eyebrow extends across to the other side, i.e. a unibrow). So either they have a unibrow or they are wearing another mask or beanie/swimming cap/skull cap under the outer balacava (looks like this one maybe from walmart A knitted mask 3 Hole Ski Mask Winter Warmer Full Face Balaclava Outdoor Sports Thermal Cap for Men Women - Walmart.com).
- They appear to have what is called a positive canthal tilt meaning that the outer corner of the eye is angled upward relative to the inner corner of the eye (which is hard to see for sure), but definitely above the center of the pupil. Reference image below.
- Lastly, they do not appear to have excess upper eyelid skin as we would see with an individual in the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, etc. This is evident by the lighter appearing crease that is visible above the lash line on the right side of the image (left side of the person's face). This indicates that they are likely younger (20s, 30's, maybe 40's). Men generally start to exhibit extra upper eyelid skin in their 40's and 50's that gets worse with age and will obscure the lash line. But here we can see the entire lash line all the way across the eyelid and some eyelid skin above it.

View attachment 646130View attachment 646134

These images pretty much confirm to me that this guy wore a latex mask under the ski mask. Which means that other than the eyeball size and distance between them nothing at all should be assumed in terms of brow or folds. Even the shape of the eyes might be distorted.

I think that no assumptions can really be made about facial features either, to include facial hair or nose size/shape.

Dang. This guy had a plan and executed it really really well. I don't even think he was concerned about himself being seen on camera. I think he was more concerned about NG being on camera when he left with her, and perhaps saying something that implicated him (those cameras have microphones).

JMO.

 

[SlimPickens]

I don't believe that picture necessarily had to be taken before because if Nancy had batteries in her door Nest cam it could have still been recording events for up to one hour after it was disconnected.

I read that Google Nest cameras with batteries can still record events (motion/person detection) when disconnected from Wi-Fi or power for up to one hour. These offline recordings are stored in the device's internal memory and automatically uploaded to the cloud when the connection is restored.

I think I recall the Sheriff saying they don't have the camera and didn't retrieve it, so that implies that he took it when he disabled it.

JMO.

 

[Nikynoo]

If anyone remembers the guy interviewed at least twice, who some people in this thread found a tad suspicious, and who was calling himself a “neighbour” while trying to push the blame on TC, there appears to be someone in Tucson with the same first name as him and whose last name relates to Friday night’s SWAT events. Could be complete coincidence, of course, but if so, it’s an interesting one all the same.

JMO

Our man with the sunglasses. Interesting.

 

[LAhiker]

I don't believe that picture necessarily had to be taken before because if Nancy had batteries in her door Nest cam it could have still been recording events for up to one hour after it was disconnected.

I read that Google Nest cameras with batteries can still record events (motion/person detection) when disconnected from Wi-Fi or power for up to one hour. These offline recordings are stored in the device's internal memory and automatically uploaded to the cloud when the connection is restored.

I thought the camera was not only disconnected but also was taken. It's interesting that Nest cameras can still record when they're disconnected from power or WiFi. (It would've been great if the camera had recorded what happened to NG!) But I doubt that once disconnected, the camera was ever reconnected to power or WiFi.

Maybe a detailed analysis of the camera images just before it was disconnected would help clarify this. Those images just make me dizzy.

JMO

 

[Nikynoo]

To all of you thinking that this is a burglary gone bad, this is a pretty cool AI video that somebody made. Again this is a link to an AI video. If it is not allowed, take it down but it is something that I never thought of.

TikTok - Make Your Day

Didn’t see that coming! Thanks for this.

 

[Scooby-Doo]

If the perp were born in another country would Codis have his DNA in their database if he had committed a previous crime here and was detained?

Yes. Their DNA profile would likely be in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS)

 

[shonyakay]

I think I recall the Sheriff saying they don't have the camera and didn't retrieve it, so that implies that he took it when he disabled it.

JMO.

I believe that is correct. I read the suspect took the door camera. I read you can often restore a Nest camera's connection without physical access to the camera by using the Google Home or Nest app to power cycle, reboot, or update network settings. If the camera is offline due to a power/Wi-Fi outage, it may auto-reconnect once power/internet is restored.

I think the suspect could have used the lantana to try to help him remove it. We don't know if he was successful at that exact point.
He may have tried with the lantana and then left it on it's bracket, removed Nancy, and then came back and fully removed the camera at that point. The FBI may have more door cam footage that they are just not sharing with the public.

 

[shonyakay]

I thought the camera was not only disconnected but also was taken. It's interesting that Nest cameras can still record when they're disconnected from power or WiFi. (It would've been great if the camera had recorded what happened to NG!) But I doubt that once disconnected, the camera was ever reconnected to power or WiFi.

Maybe a detailed analysis of the camera images just before it was disconnected would help clarify this. Those images just make me dizzy.

JMO

I read you can often restore a Nest camera's connection without physical access to the camera by using the Google Home or Nest app to power cycle, reboot, or update network settings. If the camera is offline due to a power/Wi-Fi outage, it may auto-reconnect once power/internet is restored.

 

[SlimPickens]

I hope LE is considering that this guy likely had a latex/rubber mask on. It's pretty obvious if you really look at it critically. No 'normal' human beings have those kinds of lines separating the upper/lower lid from the eyeball. Sure, someone could have been burned or similar and had reconstruction surgery of some sort that resulted in some grafted/repair areas looking distorted and 'plastic', but that is not your average looking human face under that ski mask.

And even more disturbingly, it shows serious planning and with no intention of getting caught. And if something doesn't break LE's way soon that may very well happen.

JMO.

 

[rebel123]

Kids. Any more arguing and long time-outs will be issued.
Wait till your father gets home...forget about your father, wait until I GET HOME in front of my computer

That was 'unexpected', I can't help but smile. I'd be 'tougher', I make them write out lines 200 times (pen and paper). 'When I post on Webslueths, I must be kind, think of others and post using common sense'.

 

[Laura Avery]

But what about the sinister mask and gear on him?

Obscured by the flowers, instead of used to remove the camera from it's mount perhaps?

 

[Laura Avery]

Close up of the jacket, managed to catch it, seems white/cream cuff detail and a decorative zip rather than a concealed one. Also, the line on the chest appears to be broken, either literally broken/rubbed off, or part of a flash-like pattern? I think it's all one colour, such as mid grey, and maybe either thick cotton or slightly bobbled fleece—just my opinion as a textile artist.

 

[Laura Avery]

Also..If they think kidnapping but no ransom (I don't think any of them are real, even the first ones-was there an outcome on those?) Could this be political, as in death wasn't exactly what they wanted, but they are happy to be martyrs for their cause? I understand anyone can find anyone in parts of the USA for a few dollars on places such as Spokeo. Does this cover high-profile people?
In the Uk thats much harder to do that thankfully, but local people would know where someone high profile lives (Obviousl,y as they are neighbours)
So potential for Politcial motivated kidnapping of course.

 

[dogmom805]

I think it's weird too. APS showing up at the request of LE or AG is one thing, but a neighbor calling feels like an overstep, especially considering police were already involved.

I thought that a friend called LE when she didn't show up for church, and then AG. It was a neighbor? The neighbor called APS?

 

[Gunther Toody]

The best SAR/recovery device that any family of a missing person could hope for is an army of drones in the sky detecting signals for their relative's pacemaker. Far more likely to find her that way than a random grid search in what would at this point be little more than hunches or tips from psychics without a suspect or more data/evidence as to what actually happened.

JMO.

A random grid search may not be the best pattern to follow in this case. Think roads and access. If he was a panicked criminal with an elderly woman who was probably crying, screaming, or thrashing about, he would want to separate from her as quickly as possible.

Teams with FLIR and drones do an arc search around access points into the desert would be the most beneficial in my opinion..

 

[Gunther Toody]

For what it's worth...
I ran the image of the masked man through an AI program in an effort to clean it up and reduce the glare of the flashlight.
Here is the result.

 

[Warshawski]

I'm not liking those spots I'm seeing on lantana man's jacket where he is standing by the walkway without his backpack on.

View attachment 646109

https://twitter.com/x/status/2021285842044494279

Are we sure they are the same person ?

I’m not sure it’s same jacket, shoes or mask

 

[raja]

I know we all try and stay away from AI but that picture is just wow. Surely the FBI has done something similar. Someone should recognize him if that is the case.