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

[SaraSmile]

Where are dumpsters and trash emptied? Is it there? I haven’t looked.

They were looking over the dump. Defined area, so fairly easy to check.

JMO

 

[Gunther Toody]

Oh wow! Thanks for that. Pretty incredible it works from that far away.

Incredible but really dumb for LE to release this information.
If by some stretch she is still alive, what is going through the offender's mind if he believes that her pacemaker can be detected from far away?

He will have two options, incapacitate and abandon her somewhere, or eliminate her and leave her somewhere.

Does anyone really believe he will just keep her and await getting caught?

 

[Bluewing3102]

They might just collect data to be analyzed later on the ground?

Don't believe so, from my understanding sniffer device is basically a fancy bluetooth receiver dialed into a specific frequency. It would notify you if it gained a connection like when a phone pairs to headphones. Also it would be more work to analyze it on the ground later, because you would have to figure out where during the flight it got a signal. Versus in the helicopter if you got a hit- you can visually mark the approximate area to tell a ground team to search.

 

[Hippiechic]

I was wondering. Why haven't they showed us a video of her leaving or even a car leaving that night?

 

[Lebowski]

I know many here believe that this was a planned kidnapping, as does the sheriff apparently, but from a behavioral standpoint, this does not look like a carefully designed and executed kidnapping. The person on camera approached alone, carried a backpack like someone expecting a quick theft, and awkwardly tried to block the doorbell with weeds instead of disabling it properly. He could have just as easily spray painted the camera, as anything else.

That points to an opportunistic, low-level offender, not a coordinated abduction team. There was no ransom note at the scene, no organized extraction, and no visible counter-surveillance. Everything about the approach appears improvised rather than strategic, suggesting someone who expected a fast in-and-out situation.

A professional kidnapper would typically plan in advance, avoid obvious cameras, coordinate transportation, control the scene quickly, and minimize exposure time. They would operate with discipline and precision, not hesitation. It is very possible Nancy was targeted, but not for ransom.

A more plausible explanation is that the offender had some prior familiarity with her, felt comfortable approaching her home, and intended a burglary. When she confronted him, fear of being recognized may have triggered panic. Inexperienced offenders often make impulsive decisions in that moment, focused on immediate self-preservation rather than long-term planning.

That kind of chaotic escalation fits the known behavior far better than a calm, mastermind-style kidnapping.

Of course...MOO

i definitely would put my money on a "semi-planned" burglary/robbery with some kind of twist, by perp(s) who have experience at similar crimes but are not necessarily competent. i lean toward 2 perps, but only 1 is possible.

the "twist" i favor is that they were after something specific like hidden valuables or something in a safe. IMO, this explains the long time spent at the house, the fact that they needlessly woke her up, and the unusual (for a burglary) fact that a weapon was brought. and IMO the safe theory in particular can explain both the full backpack (tools for removing a safe) and taking NG with them when they left (she was refusing to give them the combination, and they didn't want to stay any longer). ... but the "twist" could also be like what you're saying. either a panicked impulse or some issue with controlling NG, where they respond with violence and then need time to clean up and/or figure out what to do next.

 

[Bluewing3102]

I was wondering. Why haven't they showed us a video of her leaving or even a car leaving that night?

Probably because there is no need to share that info (if they even have it) since it only caters to the public's nosiness. The only reason they released the doorbell footage was to gain leads and hope someone could identify the man. Sharing her leaving in the car doesn't do anything to help further their investigation.

IMO

 

[fridaybaker]

FWIW, 11:45 AM AZ time.
View attachment 646983

I don't see a "hot spot" in the grid pattern where they honed in on a small area. Looks to me that they didn't find anything.

 

[No it's not]

Interesting short publication from the US Department of Justice regarding another unrelated case and what happens during a forensic search of a landfill. Yes, cadaver dogs can be used..after defining a more manageable area at the Landfill:

Forensic Search of a Landfill | Office of Justice Programs

www.ojp.gov

The publication is from 1996. I would say technology has vastly improved. Yet, the workflow will be quite similar IMO.

-Nin

 

[Mistermagoo]

DBM. read the question wrong

 

[Tortoise]

It’s sold at several online stores in Europe, including in slight variations of several dark colors.

Pitch Stone Softshell Jakke Herre 2356 (U)

IK softshell herrejakke med hætte, smarte snørebånd, 2 udvendige lynlåslommer, ærmelomme med hul til headset, inderlomme,...

www.slothwear.dk

I think the jacket sold at Walmart has the shiny strip across the chest and cuff detail that matches the suspect's.

Found by @GoJacks

Possibly in a different colour IMO

Athletic Works Men's and Big Men's Fusion Knit Jacket, Sizes S-3XL - Walmart.com

Buy Athletic Works Men's and Big Men's Fusion Knit Jacket, Sizes S-3XL at Walmart.com

www.walmart.com

 

[GailAnne]

Is NGs pacemaker still communicating with a system or doctor?

Nancy's pacemaker sent data to the doctor by way of her Apple watch which was found at her home. So, no, it can't communicate.

 

[windrower]

So weird it just so happened to happen on the night she had the dinner at her daughter's. Like how did someone know she wouldn't have stayed the night or gone out of town for a little bday trip? I never believed the ransom or kidnapping and have always figured it was a hurry up "let's do some things to distract" and they only had a few short hours to throw some things together in a panic. If this is the case, wow, they did a really good job(as far as we know) of throwing everyone off. It was just way to close to this bday dinner. I can't shake the feeling that we are going to find out it is someone or a couple someone's known to Nancy. I think too much time has been wasted on this ransom and other distractions that were put in place to confuse the public and investigators. It is likely a case of a couple inexperienced people getting away with it so far but those kind always mess up in the end and will be found out. Guilt will get the best of them and they will royally mess up. I agree 100% with where you are coming from.

Bbm

I have had this feeling, too, that it is a couple of young’uns who thought this was a good idea for a way to get easy cash. Maybe one of them, or both, were known to NG.

Perhaps they even convinced her to open the front door, if NG thought she recognized the voice.

But things went downhill and now they have a woman to care for without having given much thought to how that would be.

I know it is irrational, but I think NG may still be alive. Because for whatever criminal history these folks have, murder is not one they want to add to their resumes.

And since they know her, maybe there is some affection for her.

 

[scandiamerican]

It just occurred to me to wonder if wifi jammers at close range can unintentionally mess with pacemaker function.

It turns out they can. Or may.

A number of sites talk about it, but being unsure which are considered WS-valid, I will leave a link to a validated paper of limited scope where the NHS reviewed it for certain kinds of pacemakers they provide.

https://shura.shu.ac.uk/24111/1/Conference%20Paper.pdf

 

[Gunther Toody]

i definitely would put my money on a "semi-planned" burglary/robbery with some kind of twist, by perp(s) who have experience at similar crimes but are not necessarily competent. i lean toward 2 perps, but only 1 is possible.

the "twist" i favor is that they were after something specific like hidden valuables or something in a safe. IMO, this explains the long time spent at the house, the fact that they needlessly woke her up, and the unusual (for a burglary) fact that a weapon was brought. and IMO the safe theory in particular can explain both the full backpack (tools for removing a safe) and taking NG with them when they left (she was refusing to give them the combination, and they didn't want to stay any longer). ... but the "twist" could also be like what you're saying. either a panicked impulse or some issue with controlling NG, where they respond with violence and then need time to clean up and/or figure out what to do next.

I asked about the long time at the house earlier on, but it turns out that it was just an assumption based on the fact that he was seen around 1:40 on the camera, and her pacemaker stopped around 2:20. We have no way of knowing he was actually in the house unless there is newer info than what I read earlier.

 

[SaraSmile]

Bbm

I said there were five DIRECTIONS a person could take from the street in front of NG’s house.

View attachment 646982

North or south on N Camino Miraval

Northeast on N Camino Escalante

Northwest or southeast on E Camino el Ganado

But actually, I’m wrong.

Only FOUR directions, as northwest on E Camino el Ganado turns back northwest into a cul de sac.

Unless perp lives on the cul de sac, but it isn’t a way out to a main road.

I just wanted to clarify what I posted earlier to prevent confusion.

IMO

It’s all good, thanks for the info and map.
It’s good to see where perp could have driven. Think about the possible cameras.

Pages ago, there was info about the locals wanted to have the cameras at the main intersections removed, as they were costly to maintain, and brought up privacy issues.
It sounded like local people are fiercely independent there, and believe in personal rights.

JMO

 

[wibbleflea]

M

I was wondering. Why haven't they showed us a video of her leaving or even a car leaving that night?

No streetlights, so the residential cameras in the area (home security cameras, like those from Nest and Ring) would have recorded nothing of the street and the vehicles. That’s also why we have no vehicle description. I think the abductor(s) would have known that.

The doorbell camera was removed. That probably happened before NG was removed through the front door. Nanos said in the last round of interviews that they don’t have the camera. (They have others but no recovered footage, yet.)

 

[BigCityAccountant]

I was wondering. Why haven't they showed us a video of her leaving or even a car leaving that night?

Because its not relevant to catching the perp. The video released shows the perp, a video of her leaving would show an Uber pickup and a cleared Uber driver, who would then be harassed by the media.

 

[scandiamerican]

I think the jacket sold at Walmart has the shiny strip across the chest and cuff detail that matches the suspect's.

Found by @GoJacks

Possibly in a different colour IMO
View attachment 646991

Athletic Works Men's and Big Men's Fusion Knit Jacket, Sizes S-3XL - Walmart.com

Buy Athletic Works Men's and Big Men's Fusion Knit Jacket, Sizes S-3XL at Walmart.com

www.walmart.com

I looked at all of this really carefully the other day, and I’m not swearing I have the jacket. But the Walmart jacket that’s been cited on so many sources is missing the contrast piping around the zipper that the perp’s jacket has, unless it is an odd color issue from the IR lighting on the perp’s jacket.

And the one I linked to has the line across the chest, though it does not shine the same not under IR light.

IMO, etc.

ETA: Picture of perp’s seemingly contrast piped zipper edges

 

[SaraSmile]

i definitely would put my money on a "semi-planned" burglary/robbery with some kind of twist, by perp(s) who have experience at similar crimes but are not necessarily competent. i lean toward 2 perps, but only 1 is possible.

the "twist" i favor is that they were after something specific like hidden valuables or something in a safe. IMO, this explains the long time spent at the house, the fact that they needlessly woke her up, and the unusual (for a burglary) fact that a weapon was brought. and IMO the safe theory in particular can explain both the full backpack (tools for removing a safe) and taking NG with them when they left (she was refusing to give them the combination, and they didn't want to stay any longer). ... but the "twist" could also be like what you're saying. either a panicked impulse or some issue with controlling NG, where they respond with violence and then need time to clean up and/or figure out what to do next.

Thanks for your ideas, I hope everyone keeps them coming until he is caught!

JMO

 

[cait2007]

Interesting short publication from the US Department of Justice regarding another unrelated case and what happens during a forensic search of a landfill. Yes, cadaver dogs can be used..after defining a more manageable area at the Landfill:

Forensic Search of a Landfill | Office of Justice Programs

www.ojp.gov

The publication is from 1996. I would say technology has vastly improved. Yet, the workflow will be quite similar IMO.

-Nin

Statistically, after all this time, I doubt if she was in the landfill she would be found. It’s incredibly difficult and daunting task searching landfills, especially without knowing which to search.