Nancy Guthrie Update Today: Day 40 — Cadaver Dogs Paused, Kidnapper Still at Large, FBI Warns of Next Target
Thursday, March 13, 2026 marks Day 40 since Nancy Guthrie vanished from her Catalina Foothills home in Tucson, Arizona — and the investigation is entering its most critical and sobering phase yet. Cadaver dogs have been sidelined, a second retired FBI agent now says she was almost certainly carried out by two people, and a fresh warning has emerged that the kidnapper may strike again.
Cadaver Dogs Paused: What the Tactical Shift Means
The Pima County Sheriff's Department confirmed that cadaver dogs, previously deployed in searches of surrounding areas, have been placed on hold. Sheriff Chris Nanos told Fox News Digital they are available if needed in the future, emphasizing the decision reflects resource allocation rather than a conclusion about her status.
The move signals a tactical shift — from wide-area physical searches to a tighter, detective-driven operation focused on forensic evidence and active leads. Critics have interpreted the pause as a deeply troubling sign about investigators' current assessment of Nancy's condition after 40 days missing.
Retired FBI Agent: Two Kidnappers Carried Nancy Out, No Footprints Found
Retired FBI agent Maureen O'Connell offered a forensic read of the abduction for NewsNation: "What I do believe is she was carried out. I don't believe she walked out. I believe she was carried out by two people — because of the blood droplets, the fact that there's no void, the fact that there's no footprints."
O'Connell added that too much time has passed for her to feel confident Nancy is still alive. Bloodstains found at the residence were confirmed to be Nancy's. A second retired agent, Jennifer Coffindaffer, pushed the Pima County Sheriff's Department to hold a press conference and share any vehicle descriptions or additional time parameters with the public.
FBI Warning: The Kidnapper Could Strike Again
Coffindaffer posted on X Wednesday that there is a kidnapper — at least one — and a potential murderer possibly still on the streets. She asked whether this person will strike again, calling it a big issue and stating that protecting the community seems lost in the ongoing attention on finding Nancy.
Authorities have expressed concern since the early days of her disappearance about Nancy's health, because she needs vital daily medication to survive. No arrest has been made and no named suspect has been publicly identified.
Megyn Kelly Unearths 2013 Today Show Footage of Nancy's Bedroom
Megyn Kelly published a YouTube video on March 11 revealing a 2013 Today show clip featuring Nancy Guthrie inside her own bedroom. Kelly pointed out that the footage shows exactly where Nancy slept and how the room was set up — raising the possibility that a kidnapper could have used the publicly available broadcast to study the layout before the abduction.
Kelly said she could describe the inside of that room in complete detail from the clip alone, and wondered whether authorities were even aware the footage had been broadcast publicly. The observation has since ignited significant online debate about whether the abduction was the work of someone who had studied the family closely over many years.
Hearing Aids and Pacemaker: The Digital Devices Investigators Are Tracking
Digital forensics expert Heather Barnhart told Nancy Grace on Crime Stories that Nancy's phone — left behind at the scene — would have been the key to everything regarding her location. Barnhart explained that the phone was tied to Nancy's hearing aids and pacemaker, and that investigators should be able to access a location database from the phone showing her last known coordinates.
Nancy's hearing aids may have a Find My-type feature accessible through the phone's app, meaning investigators might know the last location the aids registered before the batteries died — a detail that has not been publicly disclosed by the Pima County Sheriff's Department.
Annie, Camron Visit Catalina Home and Savannah's Return to Today Studio
On March 10, Nancy's children Annie and Camron made a brief visit to the Catalina Foothills residence as the investigation continued with no suspect identified.
Savannah Guthrie returned to the Today studio in New York City for a tearful reunion with colleagues, hugging coanchors and receiving a kiss on the cheek from Hoda Kotb. A Today spokesperson said Savannah plans on eventually returning to the show but has no timeline for when that might happen.
Reward and How to Help: $1.2 Million Total on the Table
Coffindaffer told Newsweek her best assessment of how the case gets solved: someone coming forward who knows the suspect — a girlfriend who gets angry, a family member who finds a moral compass, or someone who wants the $1.2 million total reward on offer.
Anyone with information is urged to call the Pima County Sheriff's Department tip line at 520-351-4900 or the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI immediately.
