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

[m00c0w]

Mexican cartels and other affiliated criminal gangs are a primary driver of kidnap-for-ransom schemes targeting U.S. citizens, particularly in border regions. These groups sometimes target Americans they believe have significant assets or family willing to pay, often using "stash houses" on either side of the border. Source: U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Mexico.

This is much more common on the south side of the border… you’re far more likely to run into extortion/sextortion schemes on the US side.

One of the reasons this has made such big news is that kidnappings for ransom are exceedingly rare in the US. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if a good number of the ones that even have occurred turned out to be hoaxes/something else altogether.

JMO

 

[m00c0w]

Looking closely at the first video, the perp is knocking at the cam with his left hand. He then goes and grabs a handful of the lantana to cover it but holds it in his right...did anyone else notice a bracelet or maybe a wrist tattoo on that right hand at about the 13 second mark?

Maybe hallucinating, need more coffee.

MOO

That’s definitely his right hand lol

He’s then using both hands with the lantana.

 

[dream_sweet96]

This is a wild hair of an idea.. but I keep thinking about the garage door. That's our confirmation of when NG got home, right?

How do they know the timing of the garage door opening? Is that a home security feature? Or an app?

Could the suspect have entered the house using the garage door? Is it hard to open an automatic garage door from the outside? Are there ways to replicate a garage door opener?

 

[FromGermany1]

This could easily be one of those Nigerian or Indian scams that take advantage of unsuspecting victims.

Or perhaps one of the "grandparent scams"? Though LE would know by now, because they certainly checked her phone bill and incoming calls?

 

[girlhasnoname]

That’s definitely his right hand lol

View attachment 646624

He’s then using both hands with the lantana.

Thank you for catching that, I was able to edit my post as not to cause mass confusion.

 

[m00c0w]

This is a wild hair of an idea.. but I keep thinking about the garage door. That's our confirmation of when NG got home.

Could the suspect have entered the house using the garage door? Is it hard to open an automatic garage door from the outside? Are there ways to replicate a garage door opener?

It’s relatively trivial to open a garage door with the proper tool.

The RIPCORD

The RIPCORD - Garage Door Hook. By fishing the garage door hook through the weather seal at the top of a garage door you are able to snag and engage the safety pull cord inside the garage.

www.sparrowslockpicks.com

An example of one. They’re pretty common in first responder entry kits.

JMO

 

[FromGermany1]

This is a wild hair of an idea.. but I keep thinking about the garage door. That's our confirmation of when NG got home.

Could the suspect have entered the house using the garage door? Is it hard to open an automatic garage door from the outside? Are there ways to replicate a garage door opener?

There are universal garage door remotes and universal remote solutions, that can operate many different garage door openers, but compatibility depends on the opener’s make, model, frequency, and security protocol.

 

[Tortoise]

Watching the video again, he does seem to do a lot with his left hand - reach for lantana plant, try to remove camera, put lantana plant up to camera. I would agree that he is likely left handed.

I wouldn't expect him to have his gun ready for a right-handed draw if he's left-handed though.

JMO

 

[dream_sweet96]

There are universal garage door remotes and universal remote solutions, that can operate many different garage door openers, but compatibility depends on the opener’s make, model, frequency, and security protocol.

I ask because on the Arizona Tucson craigslist page there's a lot of garage door repairmen ads. Maybe she had her door worked on recently and one of their workers took note of the make/model?

 

[imstilla.grandma]

We believe that we may have some DNA there that may be our suspect, but we won’t know that until that DNA is separated, sorted out, maybe admitted to CODIS, maybe through genetic genealogy," Nanos said.

Investigators are now turning to genetic genealogy, which has previously successfully identified other high-profile criminals like the Golden State Killer and University of Idaho murderer Brian Kohberger.

"If I was the kidnapper, I would be extremely concerned right now, because using investigative genetic genealogy, he will be identified," DNA expert CeCe Moore told "TODAY" Thursday.

Authorities, however, are not allowed to use well-known genealogy sites such as Ancestry.com or 23andMe, and will have to rely on publicly available DNA databases to test the DNA. Moore noted that the process may take a while.

"If they have deep roots in the United States, it could be minutes, it could be a few hours," Moore said. "But if it’s somebody who doesn’t have connections to the U.S. in their tree in more recent generations, then it could take much longer."

Arizona authorities turn to genetic genealogy in ongoing search for Nancy Guthrie

Nancy Guthrie, 84, was reported missing on Feb. 1 from her home in the Tucson, Arizona, area. She was last seen the night before, when family dropped her off at home.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[FaviousM]

Did the timing of the garage door opening and closing just come from the person who dropped NG off or was it registered on a system somewhere?

 

[steff13]

Still seems connected... i.e. APS makes themselves available to a missing person's family as soon as possible.

It may be true that APS always comes out in cases like this but, and I don't mean to belabor the point, but the question is not WHY APS was at the scene, but rather why the neighbor called APS.

There would have been no reason to call if LE was already present on the scene. As far as we know, no one knew NG was missing until AG called LE. If the neighbor somehow knew before that, it could make a difference, IMO.

 

[detectivewannab]

I apologize if this has been talked about. The Sheiffs Office has a reality show called Desert Law on A & E!

 

[K9Enzo]

It’s relatively trivial to open a garage door with the proper tool.

The RIPCORD

The RIPCORD - Garage Door Hook. By fishing the garage door hook through the weather seal at the top of a garage door you are able to snag and engage the safety pull cord inside the garage.

www.sparrowslockpicks.com

An example of one. They’re pretty common in first responder entry kits.

JMO

Also, bad guys pairing universal garage door remotes to gain access to homes. IMO

 

[warp3dwing]

View attachment 646565
What do you suppose the two headed looking thing in his backpack is? Could it be a jammer? You might have to play with the photo to see it but it's center and in the outer pocket I think.

Hmmm... I'm having a tough time seeing it. But a jammer could absolutely be inside the backpack. It wouldn't even have to be visible. But if so, it wasn't a good one!

It does seem to me like that back pocket is stuffed to the brim. If this is, in fact, the Ozark Trail Hiking backpack, it looks like the expandable pleat is fully extended, unless it's a trick of the (IR) light.

 

[m00c0w]

I wouldn't expect him to have his gun ready for a right-handed draw if he's left-handed though.

JMO

I think the only reason he grabbed the lantana with his left hand is that’s the side the bigger bush was on when he stepped over to the area. He was being dumb with his white light use and was clearly having trouble seeing out there, so I think he just naturally arrived with the plant on his left side and so grabbed it with his left instead of doing a more awkward motion to grab with his right.

JMO

 

[Warshawski]

No, I don't think so.

It makes sense to me that a savvy neighbor was seeking further information on what was going on at NG’s home by contacting APS and then getting a reply back from them as to the status of their check.

But I’m not on the nipping at the heels of the Sheriff bunch. I’ve had enough work contact to know LE can be whiny about leadership so I don’t put much in some reports. Guess it’s the kind of work they do takes a certain type to carry out their duties; heroes but also regular people trying to pay bills and keep up with their families like everyone else.




Where does it say the neighbors didn't see LE? Or AG? Seeing both is what alarmed them, imo.

The neighbors couldn't miss LE according to my quote from one of them in my post.

My link in the post says the neighbors were concerned about the police response and drones and didn't know what was going on with all the frantic activity.


all imo

So are you suggesting that the neighbour who rang APS was really, in essence, just being a ‘nosey neighbour’ - made a call pretending to be concerned for NG but was really just trying to get information about all the activity ?

 

[Gunther Toody]

I don't know about most of you, but I've lost faith in this sheriff to properly run the investigation. I said early on, when he was focusing on finding DNA, rather than the victim, that it was a mistake. He then continued to focus on trying to find the perpetrator, instead of the victim...which in my opinion, pretty much sealed NG fate.

He has seemingly alienated the FBI, prematurely released the crime scene and wasted days sending the glove found two miles away, to a DNA lab in Florida, rather than the FBI lab.

Of course, this is moo.

 

[steff13]

I wouldn't expect him to have his gun ready for a right-handed draw if he's left-handed though.

JMO

I agree. I'm left-handed. The world is not made for us; there are certain tools, etc., that are easier to use right-handed. But most activities that require precision, like shooting a gun, I do left-handed. IMO, *most* left-handed people are the same, so I think he's probably right-handed.

 

[Spectrix]

Among the very interesting comments in this video, toward the end, the Lt, addresses the manner in which the mask guy was carrying his gun, which is strange to say the least. However, among the cartels, that style of carrying a weapon is common and called the "Mexican Carry" for what that's worth.

Perhaps the "cartels" have their methods, but this particular fellow carrying in that position with an ill-fitting holster looks like a good way to shoot oneself in the balls and femoral artery at the same time

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