The Pima County sheriff says video of a masked person tampering with Nancy Guthrie's Google Nest doorbell camera is the investigation's strongest lead as the search enters its 13th day. The clip, restored after digital forensics, prompted thousands of tips and may be used for facial-recognition checks against national databases. Nancy Guthrie, 84, who needs daily medication and has limited mobility, was last seen on Jan. 31; DNA confirmed blood on her porch came from her. The FBI has increased the reward to $100,000.
Masked Prowler Doorbell Video Emerges as Key Lead in Abduction of Savannah Guthrie’s Mother
A combination of images captured by a security camera show what the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) describes as an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie's front door the morning of her disappearance at her home in Tucson, Arizona, U.S., February 1, 2026. Pima County Sheriff's Department/Handout via REUTERS.
The Pima County sheriff leading the investigation into the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie says the clearest lead so far is newly released video showing a masked individual tampering with her Google Nest doorbell camera shortly before she vanished.
Doorbell Footage at the Center of the Probe
Sheriff Chris Nanos told Reuters that the person captured in the clip is the primary focus of investigators. The footage, recovered after days of digital forensics from discarded data likely not archived on Google servers, shows an armed individual wearing a ski mask, gloves and a backpack manipulating the camera outside Guthrie's Tucson-area home shortly before she disappeared.
That individual is who we're looking for, Nanos said. Are there others? We don't know that until we find him, or other evidence comes in to indicate that, but right now, he's who we want.
Tips, Technology and a Widespread Search
The release of the video generated nearly 5,000 tips, according to the sheriff, adding to roughly 30,000 calls fielded by the sheriff's office and the FBI combined. Investigators continue to gather imagery and data from traffic cameras, license-plate readers and neighborhood surveillance systems.
Experts say facial-recognition and forensic techniques are likely being used to produce a composite from the footage and run it against national databases, including Real ID driver records.
Victim Details and Investigation Status
Nancy Guthrie was last seen on January 31 when family members dropped her off at home after dinner; relatives reported her missing the next day. Officials say she has severely limited mobility and requires daily medication, making it unlikely she wandered far unassisted. Traces of blood found on her front porch were confirmed by DNA testing to belong to her.
At least two alleged ransom notes have surfaced, both initially delivered to media outlets and setting deadlines that have since passed. Savannah Guthrie, a co-anchor on NBC's Today show, and her siblings have posted video appeals asking captors to return their mother and urging the public to come forward; the family has said they would consider meeting ransom demands.
Authorities Remain Hopeful
Sheriff Nanos said there has been no proof of life since the disappearance, but emphasized there is no evidence of death either and that the working presumption is that Nancy Guthrie remains alive. He described a coordinated effort of roughly 400 officers from federal, state and local agencies and a community invested in finding her.
The FBI has doubled the reward for information leading to Guthrie's location or to the arrest and conviction of a suspect to $100,000.
Reporting by Herbert Villarraga in Tucson and Jana Winter and Jasper Ward in Washington; additional writing and reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; editing by Jonathan Oatis.
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