Federal authorities on Thursday provided critical updates in the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, mother of “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie, including the first official physical description of a suspect and a doubled reward for information that could lead to her recovery.
The suspect, captured on a Nest doorbell camera outside Guthrie’s Arizona home during the early hours of Feb. 1, is described as an average-built male, approximately 5-foot-9 to 5-foot-10 in height, wearing a black 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack. According to the FBI, the backpack images were shared for reference following a forensic analysis of the security footage. This marks the first time the individual seen in video evidence has been officially designated a suspect in the case.
“The FBI has received over 13,000 tips in connection with this investigation,” the agency said in a statement. Authorities have also doubled the reward for information leading to Guthrie’s safe return—or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved—from $50,000 to $100,000.
In addition to the suspect description, investigators recovered a pair of black gloves near Guthrie’s home, which appear similar to those worn by the suspect in the surveillance footage. The gloves are undergoing DNA testing to determine whether they provide a match to the individual captured on video.
Nancy Guthrie, 84, was last seen on Jan. 31 after having dinner at her daughter Annie’s home. She was later dropped off at her own residence shortly before 10 p.m. The next morning, after failing to attend church, family members reported her missing.
Officials have provided a timeline of activity from the early hours of Feb. 1: the Nest doorbell camera at Guthrie’s home disconnected at 1:47 a.m., recorded movement from a person on the property at 2:12 a.m., and Guthrie’s pacemaker app disconnected at 2:28 a.m. Surveillance footage and images were released 10 days later, recovered from residual data stored in backend systems.
Authorities briefly detained a man in Rio Rico, Arizona, following a traffic stop. He was considered a person of interest but was released without charges after asserting his innocence. Investigators have also been examining potential ransom demands involving Bitcoin as part of their ongoing inquiry.
Savannah Guthrie and her siblings have actively appealed to the public and the suspect through social media, emphasizing their willingness to pay for the safe return of their mother. Family members have consistently urged anyone with information, no matter how small, to come forward to assist law enforcement.
The FBI continues to review tips and leads as part of the investigation. Officials stress the importance of public vigilance, advising anyone with relevant information regarding the suspect or Nancy Guthrie’s location to contact the agency immediately.
