The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has amplified its reward to $100,000 for credible leads that would assist in the recovery of Nancy Guthrie or facilitate the arrest and conviction of those responsible for her disappearance.
In the latest report from the FBI's Phoenix Field Office, officials indicated that a forensic analysis of doorbell camera footage has revealed a masked suspect, described as a male standing between 5 feet 9 inches and 5 feet 10 inches tall, possessing an average build. This individual was seen carrying a black 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack.
Since February 1, authorities have amassed over 13,000 public tips and are maintaining a 24-hour command post to thoroughly scrutinize every lead for actionable insights.
Meanwhile, TMZ has reported receiving an email from someone claiming to know the identities of Guthrie’s kidnappers. This latest communication allegedly included “ominous” statements from the sender, who complained of not being taken seriously. An earlier message had demanded one bitcoin, approximately valued at $65,000, in exchange for information, although no confirmed deposits have been made into the provided cryptocurrency wallet. TMZ has stated that it is collaborating with law enforcement agencies.
Recent surveillance footage shows an individual carrying backpacks akin to those seen outside Guthrie’s home, attempting to scale a wall in Tucson at around 1:52 a.m., shortly after the disconnection of her Nest camera at 1:47 a.m., and about 20 minutes before another motion was detected at 2:12 a.m.
This footage, captured roughly five miles from her home, is currently undergoing federal examination. However, according to two officials cited by NBC News, the male figure in the video has since been cleared by investigators.
There have been reports of mounting tensions between federal and local law enforcement. An FBI representative informed NewsNation that the Pima County Sheriff’s Office is withholding crucial evidence from federal agents, which hampers the bureau’s ability to offer comprehensive assistance in the investigation.
Evidence, including a glove and DNA samples, has been sent to a private lab in Florida for evaluation. The FBI has requested that these materials be expedited to its national crime lab in Quantico, Virginia, indicating that retesting could hinder further progress.
A source familiar with the situation disclosed that the FBI engaged in the case at the sheriff’s request and remains concentrated on locating Guthrie.
Local authorities have called upon residents within a two-mile proximity of Guthrie’s home to submit any surveillance videos recorded between January 1 and February 2, particularly those showing vehicles, pedestrians, or suspicious activity.
Previous ransom deadlines mentioned in communications sent to the media have elapsed, and investigators have yet to confirm whether Guthrie’s family has interacted with the presumed abductors or the authenticity of the ransom messages.
On Thursday morning, investigators erected a forensic tent outside Guthrie’s residence while they continued to search for evidence. Additionally, an osteometric board, typically used in forensic investigations to estimate a person’s height based on skeletal measurements, was brought to the scene.
Authorities confirmed that a black glove was found approximately one and a half miles from Guthrie’s residence on Wednesday, though no official connection has been made to the case.
Guthrie was reported missing on February 1 after an Uber driver dropped her off at her home shortly before 10 p.m. on January 31. Investigators reported that her doorbell camera lost connection at 1:47 a.m., motion was detected at 2:12 a.m., and her pacemaker lost connectivity with her phone at 2:28 a.m.
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