Nancy Guthrie Update Today: Day 36 — Wi-Fi Jammer Theory Investigated, Dedicated Task Force Formed, Body Found in Phoenix Canal Not Connected
Day 36 in the search for Nancy Guthrie has delivered three significant new developments — and one very alarming false alarm. The FBI is now formally investigating whether a Wi-Fi jammer was used on the night of the abduction to disable neighborhood cameras, a full-time dedicated task force has been established, and a body discovered Saturday in a Phoenix canal has been ruled out as connected to the Nancy Guthrie case. The 84-year-old mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie has been missing since February 1, 2026.
Wi-Fi Jammer Theory: The Most Chilling Development Yet
A significant new development surfaced this weekend after the FBI began investigating whether a Wi-Fi jammer was used the night Nancy Guthrie was abducted from her Tucson, Arizona home, potentially disabling neighborhood cameras and internet connections to prevent detection. Investigators from both the Pima County Sheriff's Department and the FBI returned to the Catalina Foothills neighborhood this week, going door to door asking residents whether they noticed any disruptions or issues with their internet service the night Nancy Guthrie went missing. According to multiple homeowners, agents told them that several people in the area had already mentioned glitches in their connectivity that night.
One neighbor told NewsNation that his Ring camera history is mysteriously marked "not available" from the night Guthrie disappeared. An antenna-like device spotted in the pocket of the masked suspect captured on Guthrie's doorbell camera has prompted serious questions about whether it was a signal jammer capable of causing an internet outage across the neighborhood.
This is important since a Wi-Fi jammer would certainly suggest that the event was pre-planned. Someone procuring a device to use in a crime can strongly suggest premeditation, pointing investigators away from a spontaneous burglary-gone-wrong scenario and toward a calculated, organized abduction.
Dedicated Task Force Formed: FBI and Sheriff Deputies Go Full-Time
A dedicated task force has been formed solely for the Nancy Guthrie case. Four detectives and a sergeant from the Pima County Sheriff's Department have been moved to the FBI's Tucson office, where they will work full-time alongside federal agents on the investigation.
By definition, a cold case is one in which activity grinds to a halt — but that is not happening here. The formation of a dedicated task force dispels any notion that the case is going cold. After all, investigators being overwhelmed with tips that go nowhere can slow investigations, so a reduction in incoming tips combined with a focused task force may actually be a sign that the case is narrowing.
Savannah Guthrie visited the Today show studio in New York City and said she plans to return to her post. "While she plans to return to the show on air, she remains focused right now supporting her family and working to help bring Nancy home," a spokesperson for the show said in a statement.
Body Found in Phoenix Canal: Not Connected to Nancy Guthrie
The most alarming headline of the weekend turned out to be a false alarm — but the Pima County Sheriff's Department moved quickly to address it. Authorities are addressing new questions after a body was discovered in a Phoenix canal, as the search for Nancy Guthrie continues. The sheriff's department confirmed it is aware of the discovery and is working to determine whether the case is connected in any way to the disappearance of Nancy. According to Fox 10 Phoenix, the body of a woman was found near 27th Place and Grand Canal Trail on Friday, March 6. The woman's identity has not been released and an investigation is underway.
"PCSD says it has not been advised of any law enforcement activity at the canal in Phoenix this morning being connected to the Nancy Guthrie case," Fox News Digital confirmed on Saturday. For reference, it is about 120 miles from Phoenix to the Catalina Foothills where Nancy lives.
DNA Evidence and the Suspect's Backpack: Where the Investigation Stands
Authorities have put some DNA into the national FBI data bank but received no hits. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said he still believes the DNA could be a viable lead but that it will take more time to extract an identification. The mixed DNA found at Guthrie's property is proving difficult to process — the mixture could be from several people, making it hard to extract a profile for one individual.
Nanos confirmed that investigators have not been able to identify the clothes worn by the masked man seen on doorbell camera video — described as 5 feet 9 to 5 feet 10 with an average build — carrying an Ozark Trail 25-liter Hiker Pack backpack exclusive to Walmart. Investigators are also reviewing footage of a vehicle captured on a Ring camera approximately 2.5 miles from Guthrie's home at 2:36 a.m. on February 1 — the same window when Nancy's pacemaker last synced with her iPhone.
41-Page Volunteer Search Plan Still Awaiting Sheriff Approval
New details about a 41-page volunteer search plan that would deploy thermal drones, 25 specialized canines, and coordinated desert grid sweeps have surfaced. The plan was submitted by the United Cajun Navy to the Pima County Sheriff's Department — but has yet to receive the required approval to move forward.
The Sheriff's Department has asked private search parties to give investigators the space they need to work, citing concerns about safety, evidence destruction, and losing control of search areas. Sergeant Aaron Cross, president of the Pima County Deputies Organization, has expressed personal support for additional help, saying "more help is always better than less." Anyone with information is urged to call the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI. The $1 million reward offered by the Guthrie family can be paid in cash and tips can remain fully anonymous.
