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

[Cassie P]

Not all have been. Look up for example, the Hillside Stranglers. Two cousins who worked together to repeatedly abduct and murder women.

Are loners more common? Yes. Look at work situations you’ve experienced…the best team workers tend to be stable people who are comfortable with themselves. That description hardly fits psychopathic killers.

I am of the belief that two men were involved. As is common, one is very dominant, one dependent and submissive. (One former FBI agent has described the on camera guy with the improperly holstered firearm as “the server” and the dominant one as “the chef.”)

As for EAR, victims in several attacks believe they heard another person in their living room during the attack. To my knowledge, this has not been substantiated, and of course DeAngelo hasn’t talked.

As for the serial nature of the probable suspect(s) I’m sure there are unsolved burglaries in Tucson.
And homicides. Those would have been reviewed and apparently have lead nowhere…

But look at the geographic location.
How easy would it be to abduct migrants illegally crossing the desert, sexually molest them and make their bodies disappear? Who would raise an alarm about an abducted migrant if no one was aware of their presence? It would be the perfect “school system.”

Toward the known end of his career, EAR invaded homes in gated communities. Practice makes perfect…

So you are saying that LE should look at other types of serial killers? Ones who had targeted less affluent, less noticeable victims? This perp could be someone escalating his crimes, and even showing off how proficient he has become.

That would be one reason to target the mother of a rich, famous, TV celebrity. To show off your improved skill level. In your theory he must be thrilled to have gotten the best of 400 FBI agents.

Of course in your theory our perp is quite foolish. A weak junior partner with no backbone is going to be easy for LE to manipulate and flip. In which case your perp is looking at the death penalty.

And don't usually serial killers like this tend to leave calling cards at the crime or some sort of signature behavior? Almost to taunt LE? So maybe LE is already aware??

 

[SMK777]

I was wondering if she recently fired anyone. A caregiver or routine maintenance worker. Was anyone stealing or doing something unethical or inappropriate. Was she about to report anything or anyone?

This was my initial theory.
But I feel FBI would have apprehended them by day 70.

 

[SlimPickens]

I am thinking 1/2 Bitcoin Bandit™ could very well be an FBI creation and an attempt by them to facilitate online chatter/activity by the perp(s), or to tempt him/they to contact them (or the family) directly.

JMO.

 

[SlimPickens]

This was my initial theory.
But I feel FBI would have apprehended them by day 70.

Plus, someone that technically proficient isn't going to be folding her laundry for a living.

JMO.

 

[Love Never Fails]

I would think more than one perp indicates a business/financial crime. One perp might indicate a personal crime of some sort. SA, revenge, manipulation of SG, etc.

Unless of course a personal crime perp has talked someone into committing the crime for him or with him.

Or one perp has the confidence level to kidnap someone and manage the ransom.

I believe the perp was the mastermind and he hired someone to help. The payoff wasn’t good. Now they are stuck.

 

[Cassie P]

I believe the perp was the mastermind and he hired someone to help. The payoff wasn’t good. Now they are stuck.

In your theory is Lantana man the brains or the hired help?
And they did not get any ransom cash at all?

How are they stuck?
Do you mean they are liable for a death penalty crime but got nothing in return?

Or something else?

Stuck with a body they cannot dispose of?

 

[SMK777]

Plus, someone that technically proficient isn't going to be folding her laundry for a living.

JMO.

Definitely.

 

[factseeking]

And, I do believe this crime was motivated by a strong sexual paraphillia.One which achieved its ultimate expression in the abduction of an elderly helpless female.

So yes, I think he is a serial offender, and very possibly a serial killer.

<snipped and BBM>

Thank you for the details on the EAR. If there was a "shiver" emoji I would have used it. I've gotta believe the FBI/LE has been looking at similar crimes looking for the possibility of escalation to NG's abduction/murder.

Regarding your theory the crime was motivated by a strong sexual paraphilia, what have you seen about this case that leads you to that theory? Very interested to hear.

And I agree, she might have been lulled into naivety, being with Christians, trusted them and their family members. Possibly a grandson or other connected friend with bad intentions came up with a plot.

JMO

<snipped and BBM>

Sara I was thinking yesterday when the question came up about a religious motivation that the only way I could see it is what you say here. A relative or friend of one of the other church women is possible. Did they rotate houses or always meet at the same person's house? If always same person I wonder if they had staff or had work done on their house?

And don't usually serial killers like this tend to leave calling cards at the crime or some sort of signature behavior? Almost to taunt LE? So maybe LE is already aware??

<snipped by me>

Good point Cassie! Remember how we've been talking about whether the perp left something at the scene that prompted the sheriff to make the comments on how he'd seen a lot of crime scenes but this one was odd (paraphrasing here)? I'm not yet buying this is a serial but definitely food for thought.

 

[Cassie P]

I am thinking 1/2 Bitcoin Bandit™ could very well be an FBI creation and an attempt by them to facilitate online chatter/activity by the perp(s), or to tempt him/they to contact them (or the family) directly.

JMO.

Perps would know right away it was a fake message. And that it was a sign of desperation, FBI had nothing on them if they have to do random fishing.

But I suppose an amateur or insecure perp might take the bait. Especially if they had not received any ransom at all prior.

 

[Cassie P]

Good point Cassie! Remember how we've been talking about whether the perp left something at the scene that prompted the sheriff to make the comments on how he'd seen a lot of crime scenes but this one was odd (paraphrasing here)? I'm not yet buying this is a serial but definitely food for thought.

Yes those comments by LE made me think that perhaps we are looking at some sort of personal crime with a mentally ill perpetrator.

 

[rebel123]

A lot of attention has focused on the Nest camera video footage released by Law Enforcement. The footage would of contained a sound recording (if it had been enabled in the platform). So Law Enforcement may have sound on it.

 

[Cassie P]

Plus, someone that technically proficient isn't going to be folding her laundry for a living.

JMO.

You never know, but she could have a techie husband, son, boyfriend.

 

[Ghostwheel]

Good list, you forgot SA, and low level drug crime. Two very common, fit most facts.
JMO

There were only 10 slots I could use. If anyone wants to choose other and write SA or low level drug crime in the comments, I'll add them to the list in the first comment on the poll.

 

[wibbleflea]

My heart goes out to Nancy and her family.
Someone knows who Lantana man is.

Is it possible that no one who has seen the video has recognised him and that he had no accomplices? I still wonder, despite what we’ve heard from most of the former FBI and other LE personnel suggesting multiple perpetrators. They’re probably right, but… there’s a possibility that he’s a loner, told no one and remains unrecognised.

 

[Cedars]

I still wonder, despite what we’ve heard from most of the former FBI and other LE personnel suggesting multiple perpetrators. They’re probably right, but… there’s a possibility that he’s a loner, told no one and remains unrecognised.

Yes - IMO, an 84 year old woman, asleep in her isolated home, is probably the easiest type of victim for a solo perp to abduct - *if they are somewhat knowledgable about high-end security systems*...

And that could be partly why she was targetted.

JMO

 

[annpats]

You never know, but she could have a techie husband, son, boyfriend.

Exactly! Plus, being a techie and having a white collar job don't always go hand in hand.

Many people under 40 are experts at tech, as well as hackers and gamers, but don't have jobs in that field. Many of them don't even have jobs at all.

 

[shonyakay]

The card left on the door is puzzling me

Sheriff Nanos says a neighbor called in her concern the day Nancy was reported missing. BE says his producer saw the Adult Protective services lady place the card at Nancy's door on February 2nd or 3rd.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2023909355750650040

Edited: I said "her" concern. However, I do not know the sex of the neighbor. It may be a "he".

 

[SMK777]

She could have fired the whole care service (the company), not only the care giver (as we heard of), and chose another service. AG and SG would know about it though.

Theoretically, if it had happened very recently she may not have gotten around to telling them.

 

[shonyakay]

Is it possible that no one who has seen the video has recognised him and that he had no accomplices? I still wonder, despite what we’ve heard from most of the former FBI and other LE personnel suggesting multiple perpetrators. They’re probably right, but… there’s a possibility that he’s a loner, told no one and remains unrecognised.

I see no reason why one man couldn't have pulled this off on his own. Of course, I don't know what (if anything) was missing from the scene and if it was too heavy (i e. a safe) for one man to carry.

Sheryl McCollum has wondered where the footprints are if someone followed Nancy and the abductor out of the front door.

 

[shonyakay]

The perp may have noticed Nancy sitting outside in her patio area just outside of her bedroom, drinking coffee, reading a book, or writing in her journal.

<modsnip>

This perp may only have a tangential link to Nancy.