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

[katydid23]

No....it's....more then that. Not political IMO. If you're local, you know.

From what my friend from Tucson told me, the Sheriff did not have overwhelming public support, even from his own deputies. She said that there was a big exodus of officers when Nanos took over because many lacked confidence in his abilities to run the department. And she told me that a lot of deputies were demoted or laid off by the Sheriff, and young inexperienced new hires took over those jobs.

So some of the departments had a lack of experienced staff and it affected the ability to handle big cases, apparently. She said the public was frustrated because things like helicopter patrols and such were lacking and not always in operation.

Law enforcement unions disagree on Sheriff Nanos’ leadership - AZPM

news.azpm.org

• No Confidence Vote: The Pima County Deputy's Organization (representing deputies) issued a "no confidence" vote in early 2024, citing, among other issues, low employee retention and poor morale.

• Loss of Veteran Staff and Experience: A deputy recently claimed that the most experienced investigator in the homicide unit had only three years of experience, alleging that Nanos' leadership has pushed veteran staff out. Another report noted the transfer of the department's most experienced Search and Rescue deputy to patrol, leaving a critical unit understaffed.

 

[Warshawski]

1. We have never confirmed that he took the camera. Early on, I believe that it was stated that the camera was sent to the crime lab. Truth is, I don't know if we know this for sure.
2. He was most likely trying to cover up any video of a car that maybe pulling up, but also, maybe initially he was covering up how he was getting into the house, sure looked like he wanted to knock initially

Maybe the knock was to let accomplice inside know the coast was clear at the front so open the door. … then he realised the camera was working so he had to block & disable

 

[submarine7]

It’s completely okay, I hope I didn’t come across rude, I meant no disrespect. I think grief is a very important subject, we are so scared as a society to talk about dying, death and grief. The media unfortunately continues to perpetuate the stages of grief myth. I think the only media person who doesn’t is Anderson Cooper. We have a long way to go. Thanks for being open to learning more about grief.

His podcast on the subject is really powerful. His life has been quite interesting.

 

[ab01]

From what my friend from Tucson told me, the Sheriff did not have overwhelming public support, even from his own deputies. She said that there was a big exodus of officers when Nanos took over because many lacked confidence in his abilities to run the department. And she told me that a lot of deputies were demoted or laid off by the Sheriff, and young inexperienced new hires took over those jobs.

So some of the departments had a lack of experienced staff and it affected the ability to handle big cases, apparently. She said the public was frustrated because things like helicopter patrols and such were lacking and not always in operation.

The lack of local public trust is real. You can google it and there are countless local articles that support your friends position.

This case has just shined a glaring larger spotlight on it IMO

 

[katydid23]

I agree, that's exactly my take. His words have been scrutinised too literally imo...which is not wise, given the way he speaks off the cuff.

Yes, but should the lead Sheriff be speaking 'off the cuff 'in a press conference concerning an abduction and possible murder case?

Most of the highly experienced professionals say " no comment about that at this time' and leave it at that. Better than saying conflicting statements and then having to walk it back and complain about people taking him at his word at his own press conference...

 

[moonglow123]

If the genealogy comes up empty, I don't know what's left. Nobody is willing to come forward and identify Lantana Man. If the physical evidence yields no leads, they're pretty much dead in the water.

It’s really maddening and upsetting that no one will identify Lantana Man. We know somebody knows who that is. This case has been covered everywhere. Someone must recognize that man!

It’s possible it’s lost in the tips somewhere but I feel like “I’m pretty sure Lantana Man is my brother/boyfriend/friend” type tips would be processed much sooner than the nonsense or fruitless type ones…

 

[annpats]

Nancy did not have a subscription to her cameras so none of the footage was stored. Video from non-subscription cameras is eventually written over and gone forever. What little video that has been found (guy at the front door) had not been written over and was recoverable. If more video has been located, it has not been made public.

But how much footage was there to write over? Is the camera motion detector variety? Because if so, would the footage of porch man have overwritten the footage of NG arriving home a few hours earlier? How much footage does Google store in its 'back systems'..?

The authorities haven't said if there's footage on NG arriving back home or not, but if there is, there would be severe privacy concerns that Google keep footage from people who don't even have a subscription for them to keep footage. And that surely contravenes privacy laws, and also data protection laws in many jurisdictions and countries. So I can see why if they do have footage of NG arriving back they're keeping quiet.

 

[wary]

To me it seems like a lot of blood. Crazy how we all see things differently. I don't see it as can't survive this much loss quantity of blood but it seems sizable for an elderly woman.

Well, my rule for evaluating blood loss is to consider blood donations. People donate a pint of blood routinely, relax, drink some water, and go about their daily routine.

Now visualize a pint container, and how much mess that blood would make if it was just poured and sprinkled all over the place. It’d look like a slaughterhouse.

I’m not trying to downplay the situation, and I realize that NG was more fragile than many, but I haven’t seen pictures that looked like s lot of blood. Maybe I just haven’t seen the horrific pictures.

 

[Turkeytrot]

It’s really maddening and upsetting that no one will identify Lantana Man. We know somebody knows who that is. This case has been covered everywhere. Someone must recognize that man!

It’s possible it’s lost in the tips somewhere but I feel like “I’m pretty sure Lantana Man is my brother/boyfriend/friend” type tips would be processed much sooner than the nonsense or fruitless type ones…

I thought the same thing for years with "bridge guy" in the Delphi case.

 

[jepop]

It’s really maddening and upsetting that no one will identify Lantana Man. We know somebody knows who that is. This case has been covered everywhere. Soize that man!

It’s possible it’s lost in the tips somewhere but I feel like “I’m pretty sure Lantana Man is my brother/boyfriend/friend” type tips would be processed much sooner than the nonsense or fruitless type ones…

JMO. It's possible those sort of tips are being processed quietly and quickly. So, the brother, friend, boyfriend or whoever is contacted, alibi established, swab taken ( if investigators have a crime related unknown dna profile) and eliminated.

I think the officers specifically designated to working the tips would have some sort of process for vetting realistic tips of this nature vs others which might not have been submitted in good faith ( the fruit cake and malicious ones).. Jmo

 

[Bodhi]

Anyone else notice that there hasn't ever really been the onslaught of urgent public pleadings and efforts to actually locate Ms. Guthrie as we've seen in other missing/kidnapping cases? Doesn't it seem that that would be the most important thing for a variety of reasons, personal and investigative, even if she is dead?

Not criticizing anyone - just noticing that is all. The media has been laser focused on this primarily due to the public interest more than anything else it seems, but they'll be gone soon enough because they've effectively been told to move on.

Indeed, no one appears to be continually pleading for Nancy's safe return. No one is begging media to STAY AND HELP to keep hope alive and the lines open. Pretty much everyone acts as if they know she is dead, and in my view have acted this way from the onset.

Yet one more bizarre thing about all of this I suppose.

JMO.

It is curious. But everything about this disappearance seems to be novel.

In the first week, there were appeals about Nancy. But now with the extensive coverage from diverse media outlets and rampant discussion on social media platforms, LE and Nancy's family don't need to make pleas to get the word out. Everywhere reachable by those methods is already tuned in. Direct appeals at this point won't extend that reach further. IMO.

SG is a media professional. The family is wisely controlling their messaging through SG's short clips on Instagram.

Investigators and the family may have concluded the best route to bringing Nancy home is to find the kidnapper, so that's where their focus is. If NG is alive, identifying the kidnapper will lead to her rescue. If she is deceased, her remains are in the desert, IMO. The desert is too vast for unfocused searches. If anyone comes across a body while engaged in recreational activity in the desert, they'll call LE whether they're aware of NG specifically or not. There is no upside to the family repeating public appeals as things stand. I trust that when appeals would be productive, when investigators need information from the public to advance leads, they'll be used.

 

[annpats]

According to HL on TMZ, the most recent letter had graphic details about what would happen if they didn't pay the ransom, which suggests that she's still alive

Well, of course the perps would say that!
They'll say anything to get the money.
They are not going to admit she's dead, and ask for the money anyway!

If they allude to her being alive, it'll all be pretence, because I'm certain in my head and heart, that NG died on the night the perps visited her.

 

[annpats]

We discussed this several hours ago. Nancy’s Nest cameras overwrote the previous data every three hours, which precluded events from her earlier departure or return being stored. It was actually the removal of the camera around 2 a.m. that kept the video LE DID get in the backend of the system, because the overwriting stopped once the camera stopped functioning.

You probably did discuss it several hours ago, but people are in different time zones, and this thread moves at a hundred pages per day sometimes! Please be aware that not everyone can keep up with all the reading and every single detail. Thank you.

 

[katydid23]

This would be kind of a backhanded comfort for her kids. As awful as that would be they’d at least have the sparse comfort that it’s all over and she’s not out there suffering and afraid.

At this point I'd probably hope that she died quickly during the initial abduction period and was spared further days of terror and grief.

 

[cathathorse]

It’s really maddening and upsetting that no one will identify Lantana Man. We know somebody knows who that is. This case has been covered everywhere. Someone must recognize that man!

It’s possible it’s lost in the tips somewhere but I feel like “I’m pretty sure Lantana Man is my brother/boyfriend/friend” type tips would be processed much sooner than the nonsense or fruitless type ones…

I think they should be running and heavily promoting his picture/videos in Spanish language media given the huge Hispanic population in the Tucson area.

 

[LetsSolvIt]

HEY LOOK HEY LOOK HEY LOOK HEY LOOK HEY LOOK
View attachment 647143

We’ve been approached by a national media outlet that is preparing a story on the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie.

They are looking to speak with Websleuths members who are actively working together to analyze and try to help solve this case.

Anyone who participates must be willing to use their real name and be photographed.

If you are part of a Websleuths private message group focused on this case, or if you believe your public sleuthing on the forum reflects substantial work and thoughtful analysis, you may want to consider participating. If you are in Tucson and are boots on the ground working on the case, the outlet is especially interested in speaking with you.

If you would like to be connected with the reporter, please email me and I will facilitate the introduction. [email protected]

Please understand that any interview, photographs, or resulting coverage would be strictly between you and the reporter and their publication. Websleuths is simply helping make the connection in hopes that more light can be shed on Nancy’s case — and because our members deserve recognition for the serious, dedicated work they do. Email [email protected]

Thank you.

Tricia Griffith

Manager Websleuths.com

I hope if any of our members are quoted, the articles will be linked! What an honor for WS!

 

[jepop]

Well, my rule for evaluating blood loss is to consider blood donations. People donate a pint of blood routinely, relax, drink some water, and go about their daily routine.

Now visualize a pint container, and how much mess that blood would make if it was just poured and sprinkled all over the place. It’d look like a slaughterhouse.

I’m not trying to downplay the situation, and I realize that NG was more fragile than many, but I haven’t seen pictures that looked like s lot of blood. Maybe I just haven’t seen the horrific pictures.

This is a good point to keep in mind. One thing I just thought of to add is that at least in my experience, blood pressure plays a part in when it's deemed safe to give that pint. In my case for eg. I generally don't donate in the AM because I've been turned around before and told to come back in the afternoon when a little more stressed. Jmo

* Aside, RBBM, where I give blood we also get a biscuit, sometimes two!

 

[Scooby-Doo]

Sheriff is accused of locking FBI AND his own detectives out of crucial decision-making in Nancy Guthrie kidnap probe​

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has 'locked down' the Nancy Guthrie investigation amid escalating tensions between his team and the FBI that have reached the boiling point, the Daily Mail can reveal.

Several sources say that Nanos is now insisting that only he and two of his highest-ranking inner circle will make decisions regarding the case of the missing 84-year-old.

Sheriff Nanos locks down Nancy Guthrie kidnap probe

A bitter turf war has erupted in the Nancy Guthrie case, with insiders claiming Sheriff Chris Nanos has locked down the probe and sidelined the FBI.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[SlimPickens]

Her kids won’t be able to resist believing she’s out there somewhere at least not for the time being. The first stage of grief is denial, even in a face of overwhelming evidence. Denial happens to the best of us.

In this case, maybe she has survived relatively unharmed. We can continue to hold onto that hope. For now.

I'm not even sure the grief phase would ever set in if someone goes missing and isn't found. A better word to use here is rationalization, which all of us would likely do until we had a definitive answer or we pass away ourselves. With no answers and no person to physically see deceased (or have a doctor see and declare them deceased), the mind will always insist that there is a chance. That she is still out there.

Somehow. Some way.

"Maybe she is here. Maybe she is there. Maybe they dropped her off somewhere and she can't remember her name. I hope she isn't lonely wherever she is. I hope she isn't afraid. I hope someone is taking care of her."

I cannot fathom my own mother disappearing without a trace. The lady who birthed me, raised me, prepared me for the world. The person I've literally spent the most time with my whole life. More than my spouse. More than my kids.

And then the sudden, excruciating panic of remembering that she is gone. Must feel like being hit by a bus. Over and over again.

"A man in a mask took her. I just looked at her last post on Facebook again. I just went through the facts of the case again. I just called the sheriff's office again."

But she is gone. Into. Thin. Air.

There is no amount of therapy that can heal that void. Nothing short of discovery could ever reconcile those unyielding ruminations.

I pray they find her soon.

JMO.

 

[katydid23]

I thought the same thing for years with "bridge guy" in the Delphi case.

I was about to post the same thought. We all assumed someone was going to recognise him and report it---never happened that way.