Nancy Guthrie Update Today: Day 44 — DNA Evidence, $1.2M Reward, and Sheriff's Warning to the Public
The search for Nancy Guthrie enters its 44th day Monday, March 16, with no arrest, no confirmed location, and new forensic developments that investigators hope will crack the case wide open. The 84-year-old mother of TODAY show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie remains missing, with new investigative leads emerging but still no suspect publicly named and no confirmed location.
What Happened to Nancy Guthrie — The Case So Far
Nancy Guthrie was last seen at her home on January 31 in Tucson, Arizona, and was reported missing the following day when she failed to show up for church. Authorities believe she was kidnapped, and drops of her blood were found on the front porch. There has been continual concern expressed for her health because she needs vital medication every day.
The FBI released a video from a doorbell camera on February 10, showing a man wearing a ski mask, a jacket, long pants, gloves, and a handgun holster on her porch the night she disappeared. There have been reports from multiple outlets that ransom notes were received, at least one demanding payment in cryptocurrency — but authorities have not verified the authenticity of those notes.
FBI Recovers New Surveillance Images From Nancy Guthrie's Home
The FBI recovered additional imagery from motion-activated cameras at the 84-year-old's Tucson-area home. The newly recovered images came from cameras covering the swimming pool, backyard, and side yard of the property. Investigators were unable to pull full video footage, but thumbnail images triggered by motion were retrieved. Those images revealed several people in the back and side yards over an unspecified period prior to the abduction, and law enforcement officers appear near the pool area afterward.
The cameras recorded nothing the FBI has described as suspicious, but the images expand the visual timeline investigators are working with. Additionally, the masked man seen on the front doorbell video appears to have been at Nancy's front door earlier than February 1 — the night she vanished — suggesting premeditation.
Sheriff Says the Attack Was Targeted — and Warns Public to Stay Alert
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told NBC Nightly News that investigators believe they know why Nancy Guthrie's home was targeted. "We believe we know why he did this, and we believe that it was targeted," Nanos said. "We're not 100% sure of that, so it would be silly to tell people, 'Yeah, don't worry about it, you're not his target.' Don't think for a minute that because it happened to the Guthrie family, you're safe."
Federal investigators are also examining whether internet service disruptions in Nancy Guthrie's Tucson neighborhood on the night she vanished could be tied to the abduction. Neighbors reported home security camera footage from that night marked as missing or marked as not available.
DNA Evidence Could Identify the Suspect
A forensics professor at Arizona State University and former DNA analyst said she was hopeful that investigators will find DNA samples at Guthrie's home that might help identify the suspect. She noted that images showing the suspect was not wearing a mask over his mouth and nose was a positive development, because it means he may have left saliva samples inside the home.
Sheriff Nanos expressed hope the DNA will lead investigators to a suspect, saying it is going to get them to somebody. Authorities continue to process mixed DNA recovered at Nancy Guthrie's property.
Cadaver Dogs Pulled, Home Released Back to Family
The Pima County Sheriff's Department confirmed that cadaver dogs are no longer being used in the search for Nancy Guthrie. The shift in search strategy signals a change in how investigators are approaching the case at the six-week mark.
Nancy Guthrie's home outside Tucson will no longer be sealed off as a crime scene, and the family can return to it, according to two federal law enforcement sources. The decision to release the property suggests the primary forensic collection phase at the scene has concluded.
Savannah Guthrie and the Ashleigh Banfield Controversy
At the Variety True Crime Summit in Austin, Texas, Nancy Grace said she does not believe any family members are responsible for Nancy Guthrie's disappearance, citing her personal knowledge of Savannah Guthrie's character.
A separate controversy erupted after journalist Ashleigh Banfield reported on her podcast that Tommaso Cioni — husband of Savannah's sister Annie — could be investigated as a possible suspect, a claim that spread rapidly across social media. Savannah Guthrie is reportedly furious over the podcast claim. Authorities have reiterated that nobody has been declared a suspect.
$1.2 Million Reward — How to Submit a Tip
The combined reward now stands at $1.2 million. The Guthrie family is offering $1 million for information leading to Nancy's recovery. A separate reward of more than $200,000 — including $100,000 from the FBI — covers information about her whereabouts or that could lead to an arrest and conviction.
The suspect remains described as a male approximately 5 feet 9 to 5 feet 10 inches tall with an average build, last seen wearing a black Ozark Trail hiker backpack. Anyone with information is urged to contact the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI or the Pima County Sheriff's Department tip line at 520-351-4900.
