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

[VeronicaVaughn]

Does anyone else think it strange a legit ransom note would be sent to a news agency? Has this been done before (as an opening salvo)? I would think the kidnappers would not want the publicity and police/FBI involvement.

I'm not sure about ransom notes being sent to news agencies historically, but this article from the LA Times discusses NG's case and also touches on some historical kidnapping cases that were widely publicized:

The Nancy Guthrie ransom note was ‘carefully crafted,’ listed two deadlines, contained key details

A ransom note demanding money in exchange for the return of 'Today' show host Savannah Guthrie's mother was 'carefully crafted' and included details not previously released to the public about her apparent abduction, according to people who have read it.

www.latimes.com

 

[maskedwoman]

I thought it was strange that the attorney said his client pulled over to confront le in an unmarked car. Unless that's normal and more related to current politics, I think it's suspicious. I wish the attorney had clarified. It struck me as paranoid.

It does sound a little odd, but I was more concerned about them allegedly not responding when he asked for an attorney, and the accusations his attorney was making about illegal seizure. I also noted that his attorney sounded very reasonable when he described things he took issue with, without any of the normal dramatics and bombast that defense attorneys often revert to. MOO

 

[SMK777]

Does anyone else think it strange a legit ransom note would be sent to a news agency? Has this been done before (as an opening salvo)? I would think the kidnappers would not want the publicity and police/FBI involvement.

The only thing I could think of is that they broke from traditional protocol because this is the age of social media and online presence.

They wanted to maximize presence and urgency, plus capitalize on the fame of Savannah.

Trying to control through media vs FBI?

Hard to understand, though.

 

[Moonchime]

If there was forced entry in this case it was almost certainly not through that front door if it was locked imo.

Security door shows a lockable handle and deadbolt and I'd be willing to bet the interior one had both as well.

I don't think he ever intended to go in the front door. He seemed to have a mission of getting that doorbell off its bracket. Let's hope the FBI was able to obtain more video footage of him.

 

[submarine7]

It does sound a little odd, but I was more concerned about them allegedly not responding when he asked for an attorney, and the accusations his attorney was making about illegal seizure. I also noted that his attorney sounded very reasonable when he described things he took issue with, without any of the normal dramatics and bombast that defense attorneys often revert to. MOO

I agree and am very interested in seeing the Affidavit and some body cam footage down the road. It doesn't sound like they ever took him to an interrogation room. All so strange.

 

[ab01]

I don't think he ever intended to go in the front door. He seemed to have a mission of getting that doorbell off its bracket. Let's hope the FBI was able to obtain more video footage of him.

I’ve thought of this as well.

Others are certain bc of the perps movement etc he was unfamiliar with the home. I’m not sure i can make that definitive assumption.

I wouldn’t be surprised if he thought the nest wouldn’t pick him up in the dark with his dark clothing, until after he was close enough to have the lense already blocked.

When he walks up on the porch the light around the button on the nest illuminated and may have startled him. Hence why he grabbed the plant.

I think his intention was to remove the nest so as not to record later activities. moo

 

[TIGER0822]

I’ve thought of this as well.

Others are certain bc of the perps movement etc he was unfamiliar with the home.

I wouldn’t be surprised if he thought the nest wouldn’t pick him up in the dark with his dark clothing, until after he was close enough to have the lense blocked.

When he walks up the light around the button on the nest illuminated and startled him. Hence why he grabbed the plant.

I think his intention was to remove the nest so as not to record later activities. moo

This perp. appears relaxed. Confident. He is not rushing or tense. To me it is bizarre.

 

[comfyshoe]

Yeah, Sheriff's office tweeted basically asking people not to search.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2025323079778628034

I don't know if I agree... I don't think they should be searching directly at Nancy's or on the private property of her neighbors' (or private property in general.) But I could see it being helpful if they could search some of the nearby desert, as long as they can do so safely and carefully. It is very easy to miss things in the desert, and more eyes could be useful. Sadly I wouldn't be surprised if the perp dumped her in the surrounding desert somewhere.

Ah thank you for this. I missed that, and like you, I do feel it would have been more beneficial than not to have a wider search area away from the immediate vicinity of house. I have to keep reminding myself that we don't know everything that LE do know right now.

 

[SMK777]

the fact that the Range Rover is still in LE’s possession, I’m hopeful there’s much more happening behind the scenes involving LD.

Snipped by me for emphasis:

Do we know with certainty that the Range Rover is still in police possession?

 

[GlobeFireCandle]

They might know a lot more than we think and not want people to waste their time searching

 

[stmichael]

Does anyone else think it strange a legit ransom note would be sent to a news agency? Has this been done before (as an opening salvo)? I would think the kidnappers would not want the publicity and police/FBI involvement.

Yes a lot of people do. Highly atypical. Probably dozens of interviews with former FBI, DEA, Police and profilers have brought this up.

If the kidnapper wanted money as the ultimate goal, there were cleaner, quicker, and more direct ways to go about this, which is why many think there may be more to it or it is a scam as often comes up in these national cases (the famous Lindbergh baby case in 1932 had 5 fake ransoms). Any seasoned criminal would not want to drag this out (especially w/ a medically compromised 84 year old) and the nuclear heat it now has.

 

[shonyakay]

Does anyone else think it strange a legit ransom note would be sent to a news agency? Has this been done before (as an opening salvo)? I would think the kidnappers would not want the publicity and police/FBI involvement.

It hasn't been confirmed (at least to the public) that the first ransom note sent to two Arizona news stations on Monday evening and then sent to TMZ the next day are legitimately associated with the taking of Nancy.

I think there is a good chance that the first note is legit because of the FBI's response to it. That first note said there would be no more contact.

As far as why he would send them to the media?

Possibly to help ensure the ransom demanded was fulfilled or possibly because notoriety is what the perp was after. Maybe both. Just my take.

 

[TIGER0822]

Ah thank you for this. I missed that, and like you, I do feel it would have been more beneficial than not to have a wider search area away from the immediate vicinity of house. I have to keep reminding myself that we don't know everything that LE do know right now.

Thie was a new memo. Makes me wonder what is behind it.

 

[LakeRat55]

I definitely think there was more to the second raid. Considering there is a possible (rumored) family connection with the Range Rover driver’s girlfriend and NG, that girlfriend was arrested a few days after the SWAT raid, and the fact that the Range Rover is still in LE’s possession, I’m hopeful there’s much more happening behind the scenes involving LD.

I’d be willing to believe the first raid in Rio Rico was completely a false lead.

JMO

The attorney kept using the term "arrested" when he should have used "detained", only correcting it later in the interview. As far as I know, there were no arrests made as a result of the two raids, just people detained and released. However, per the Pima County Inmate Search, the individual you reference above was arrested on 2/14 and is still being held in the jail without bond. Interesting, but no confirmed connection to this case.

 

[Puzzles8]

The backpack found is likely not connected to the Nancy Guthrie case

Backpack Found in Search for Nancy Guthrie Yields Disappointing Results

A backpack discovered near Nancy Guthrie’s home was turne...

www.complex.com

JMO

 

[kevin1000]

We have to remember that there are like what 4-5 random notes that the family has seen that the public knows very little about. There could be private info about SG or AG or the kids or some type of threats in those letters that would make the family fear for their own safety. We just don’t know.

I think that’s a big piece of the puzzle we forget to take into account when judging the way the family is handling the situation right now. JMO

I think you are right. I don't have the real-life experience to know if in a typical kidnapping, threats are directed at the family. LE always says it's not like in the movies. IMO This is not typical

 

[slowpoke]

“Investigators, however, have said the suspect’s gun, its unique holster and a backpack — which is exclusively sold at Walmart — could be the best clues and best ways to find answers.

In an interview with NBC News on Friday, Nanos said authorities are getting closer to identifying the other articles of clothing seen in the doorbell camera video, including shoes, pants, shirt and jacket.”

What could come next in the investigation into Nancy Guthrie's disappearance

The 84-year-old mother of “TODAY” show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie has been missing for three weeks. Authorities haven't publicly identified a suspect or a person of interest.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[SlimPickens]

The usual argument against the presence of a face mask is that materials like silicone and latex reflect back more infrared that skin does in the near-infrared frequencies used for night mode. (NG’s camera was recording in night mode. The footage is monochrome and things get brighter as they approach the camera’s IR lamps.) That property causes a mask classed as hyper-realistic under visible light to appear lighter, less detailed and more washed out than real human skin.

In this case, though, there’s very little skin visible and very little of the mask visible. It makes it harder to judge because there’s not much to compare with – no neck, no ears. Most of the face/face mask is covered by the ski mask.

We do see bare wrists. The face doesn’t appear brighter, and that initially seems like an argument against the presence of a realistic face mask. But the wrists are closer to the IR source of the camera, while the face is further from it. That might balance things out (inverse square law).

Where do you think the border is between face and the soft face mask? Do you think the mask covers everything but the eyes and teeth?

To my eye, there is a flatness to the 'skin' shrouding the eye that can only be explained via artificial/synthetic means, no matter the lighting and/or setting. Of the countless infrared camera shots I've seen, and even the clips from my own doorbell camera/video, I have never witnessed natural skin not look and behave like natural skin typically does and, most importantly, not appear of questionable authenticity until this one. I have never once had to take a second look or question the authenticity of my nighttime visitors' skin. This is also true for the slew of images I've subsequently searched for and viewed since this video was released.

TLDR: I think the fact that it is even questionable of whether it is real skin or artificial skin lends more credence to the latter.

ETA: The depth of the eyeball within the eye sockets looks unnatural to me. That's a big part of it.

JMO.

 

[Moonchime]

Hopefully LE can ask workmen about that. They should keep some records of the people they hired. Don't you think?

We lived in Tucson from 1981 to 1991. During that time, the city had a huge homeless population. There were spots throughout the city where people willing to work would gather to wait for a "boss" to pick them up and drive them to a job for the day. From what I understand, no records were kept, and they were paid in cash at the end of the day. This scenario complicates everything.

 

[SMK777]

We lived in Tucson from 1981 to 1991. During that time, the city had a huge homeless population. There were spots throughout the city where people willing to work would gather to wait for a "boss" to pick them up and drive them to a job for the day. From what I understand, no records were kept, and they were paid in cash at the end of the day. This scenario complicates everything.

Gosh, that really does complicate things!
An understatement. ..