Nancy Guthrie, 84, (mother of TODAY Show host Savannah Guthrie) missing - last seen in the Catalina foothills area on Jan 31, 2026

Gunther Toody · Feb 17, 2026

Scooby-Doo said:
View attachment 646086
This has always been my thought from day one: a targeted, premeditated attack. But we wait and see....

“I believe that was a kidnapping, targeted kidnapping. I believe whoever did that knew what they were up to, knew who they were after,” the Arizona sheriff said.

Pima County Sheriff Tells Fox News He Believes Nancy Guthrie Is Victim of ‘Targeted Kidnapping’ - NewsBreak

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told Fox News on Tuesday that he believes 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie is the victim of a “targeted kidnapping” as the search

www.newsbreak.com

I don't understand how he can arrive at that conclusion. What kidnapper works alone, wears a backpack, walks right up to the front door of a house in a crowded neighborhood, is recorded on doorbell camera, and makes no effort other than a mask to conceal himself?

fridaybaker · Feb 17, 2026

elmomom said:
I have followed many, many cases here on WS, though not too many very recently. The biggest complaint about LE in the past was always not hearing enough from them. It blows my mind how common the LE bashing is on this thread, and the complaining that there is too much info, that the info changes over time, and so on. Despite the moderators requesting that we stick to the facts and give LE a break. When they look at one thing, people chime in, “really? What a goose chase”. I want to remind those people, they are perfectly capable of pursuing multiple theories at one time and nothing is a waste of time until a suspect is arrested. They can send multiple DNA samples for IGG. They can entertain multiple theories at one time. They can actually release intentionally vague info, or intentionally misleading info.
People complaining about how much time this is taking, it isn’t a TV detective show, and Idaho (which did take months) was abnormally fast to reach a conclusion.
Please stop bashing LE.

Well, I think, no matter what criticisms one may have about anyone on the case, there is no doubt that they must have about 1,000 things/directions/tips to run down. We’ve heard where they’ve worked through the night. Where they’ve combed what must be miles of geography (gloves found two miles from the home). We’ve heard about video being analyzed, about SWAT raids, about DNA being examined, about homes and vehicles searched. We’ve heard about “sniffer” technology, involving cloning some aspect of the pacer and then using helicopters to slowly search a grid.

While no investigation is ever perfect, I don’t think anyone can say they aren’t working like crazy to try to get this solved. It appears like it’s been “all hands on deck” from day one.

Sadly, no results yet, but I have hope that she is still alive. I know thats a dwindling prospect, but I do believe it’s possible.

Keep going, LE!!

SMK777 · Feb 17, 2026

Derdew said:
Omg if I recall correctly, that’s the same neighbor wearing a ring similar to lantana man ring!

Like one of those criminals who deliberately inserts themselves into media discussions of their own murder. Interesting idea.

I remember watching some forensic files type of true crime show where a woman was murdered in her apartment and police noticed one particular neighbor kept showing up in media interviews. Turned out to be the suspect.

imstilla.grandma · Feb 17, 2026

Dr Martinelli explains that DNA recovery from gloves depends heavily on how they were removed – and whether biological material was preserved inside. "You're going to get the DNA from inside of the glove, not outside of the glove," he says. "It really depends on how the person removes the gloves."

If latex gloves are pulled off in a way that turns them inside out, the interior – where sweat and skin oils are present – may be better preserved. "When you sweat, you sweat water and you also sweat oil," he explains. "So we can definitely get DNA from that."

He notes that even if initial testing did not produce a match, advances in forensic science mean evidence can continue yielding results long after it is first collected.

You're starting to see now cases that are 30 years old that could not be solved before are now being solved because they're running the cold case DNAs through the new DNA technology," he says.

Beyond standard DNA comparisons, Dr Martinelli points to the growing role of genealogy databases in modern investigations.

"With genealogy, you may not get the person, but you're going to get a relative of the person," he says. "And then that really narrows down your search." He adds that the key step will be ensuring any viable DNA is submitted to the FBI’s CODIS database.

Exclusive: Crime expert reveals what DNA twist means for Nancy Guthrie case

After investigators confirmed gloves recovered near the scene did not contain matching DNA from inside Nancy Guthrie's home, forensic consultant Dr. Ron Martinelli explains why the case is far from over

www.hellomagazine.com

SMK777 · Feb 17, 2026

fridaybaker said:
Sadly, no results yet, but I have hope that she is still alive. I know thats a dwindling prospect, but I do believe it’s possible.

It's possible, but what reason to take care of a vulnerable elderly person week after week unless you are going for ransom $$$ and intend to show proof of life? And that never happened.

PayrollNerd · Feb 17, 2026

Monepone said:
I've changed cameras and canceled my Ring subscriptions, but AFAIK and remember Ring's default cloud expiration is 60 days (after which it is deleted) if you have a subscription. However, users can change that to a much shorter time period if they want. Ring flood light cameras do not have local storage. If you have no subscription, no video is saved just like nest. In theory though, video is saved, they just delete/overwrite it instead of saving it according to your preferences.

I pay $25/year subscription for each of my 5 cameras. Three in the front, two in the back. It’s come in handy, like when I’ve evacuated for a hurricane, and I watch my yard explode from the wind, before the internet drowns. Proof of damage for insurance too.

I’ve had neighbors ask for footage for police investigations (stolen car, random adult assaulting a teen, broken mailbox, etc. but LE has never asked directly.

Han · Feb 17, 2026

white rabbit said:
<modsnip>

LE cleared the family but (fact) they continued to visit AG's home, multiple times...
LE has not ever (fact) said definitively who dropped NG off the night of her disappearance...
LE flip-flops constantly (meaning the sheriff) on even the slightest details...entry/exit, etc...that's a fact, not JMO...
LE (MOO) and the FBI know exactly what's going on...or...IMO...they're both completely inept.

<modsnip>

Would love to be in the know.

Pharmasgirl · Feb 17, 2026

EncyclopediaBrownJr said:
FBI guy is right. Sophisticated criminals steal their gear or pay with cash at flea markets.

If Walmart is the perps “Criminal Depot”, he’s not sophisticated.

MOO

In all seriousness, we do not know where the ‘gear’ came from. Only guesses..nothing confirmed.

RayVon · Feb 17, 2026

Han said:
So “The day she was reported missing a neighbor called Adult Protective Services,” he says. “They sent an investigator to check on her.” Sounds like after, but why did the neighbor report then?

https://twitter.com/x/status/2023909355750650040

Because the neighbor was concerned that her friend was missing.

Napoli · Feb 17, 2026

Notthisshipsister said:
If somebody had those in their hand and rang my doorbell, I'd think something was fishy right away. Not like they were some nice bouquet from FTD.

In the middle of the night! no less! I dont think FTD has delivery at 2am. JMO

Luna20 · Feb 17, 2026

Gunther Toody said:
I don't understand how he can arrive at that conclusion. What kidnapper works alone, wears a backpack, walks right up to the front door of a house in a crowded neighborhood, is recorded on doorbell camera, and makes no effort other than a mask to conceal himself?

Watching Court Tv right now and the panel pointed out all of the mistakes that have been made. So the conclusions that are being made are 50-50 imo.

cathathorse · Feb 17, 2026

Forest_Wood said:
Would you have a link for this? That could explain "a burglary gone wrong".

I looked up the name of the neighbor's address using Google street view after various reporters posted pictures of LE examining the camera on the side of that neighbor's garage. Then I Googled that address and it came up with the name of the owner and what his profession is.

VegasGirl35 · Feb 17, 2026

RayVon said:
Because the neighbor was concerned that her friend was missing.

APS doesn't investigate missing persons, though. It makes me wonder if Nancy had confided something in him/her prior to the abduction and that's what the neighbor was reporting. Maybe someone was trying to take advantage of Nancy financially or pressuring her for a loan, etc. MOO.

Sdow · Feb 17, 2026

Gunther Toody said:
I don't understand how he can arrive at that conclusion. What kidnapper works alone, wears a backpack, walks right up to the front door of a house in a crowded neighborhood, is recorded on doorbell camera, and makes no effort other than a mask to conceal himself?

I'm not 100% convinced he worked alone. JMO. But we will see. We might also get another version of what the police believe tomorrow, it's such a fluid case.

clearskies1 · Feb 17, 2026

The perp(s) were smart/lucky enough to avoid capture this long, but they haven't gained anything. I think it was a kidnapping but unfortunately have the feeling Ms. Guthrie did not survive the first few hours. Hence there was never proof of life. JMO.

Derdew · Feb 17, 2026

MesquiteO21 said:
Good question. Did the neighbor try calling Nancy that morning or going over and didn’t get an answer? But why would you call Adult Protective Services instead of 911? Isn’t APS more for like ongoing suspected abuse issues and not if someone is missing??
Hmm

Moo

But maybe when neighbor called police, it is the procedure out there to send out APS when chking on a senior citizen?

Moonchime · Feb 17, 2026

Gunther Toody said:
The fear of getting caught makes people think irrationally and their behavior reflects that. If NG recognized his voice or look from a previous encounter, possibly as a lawn or pool maintenance guy for example, he would probably have panicked.

He either flees or takes the old lady with him until he can decide what to do with her.
I believe he left her somewhere in the desert, possibly tied up, and did so very quickly after the event. All my opinion, of course.

This is the only scenario that makes sense to me. He wasn't interested in ransom because he would have asked for that immediately, not 2 days later.

EncyclopediaBrownJr · Feb 17, 2026

Pharmasgirl said:
In all seriousness, we do not know where the ‘gear’ came from. Only guesses..nothing confirmed.

I thought it was confirmed some of the apparel was exclusive to Walmart. I’m not saying that’s the case but I’m fairly certain it has been. ( trying to be careful with my words. I’ve already been banned twice!!!)

Luna20 · Feb 17, 2026

factseeking said:
Here is the video from NBC News pointing out what could be a ring on the glove at 0:45

New clues in search for Nancy Guthrie

The Pima County sheriff says DNA from a glove found two miles from Nancy Guthrie’s home does not match profiles in the national database, but that DNA taken from her property could belong to a suspect. NBC News’ Liz Kreutz reports.

www.nbcnews.com

Pointing out a ring now will make the perp ditch the ring. The flip side could be that a ring is identified by someone who knows the person who has that ring.

Napoli · Feb 17, 2026

LRinCA said:
Does it look like a horseshoe-shaped ring to anyone else?

ETA: JMO - MOO

This is a screenshot from the link (New clues in search for Nancy Guthrie):

Possibly a Collège ring, it seems to be bulky. jmo

Nancy Guthrie, 84, (mother of TODAY Show host Savannah Guthrie) missing - last seen in the Catalina foothills area on Jan 31, 2026

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