Federal authorities have revealed new information about the suspect in the abduction of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today Show host Savannah Guthrie, as they increased the reward for information to $100,000.
Nancy was taken from her home in Tucson’s Catalina Foothills in the early hours of February 1, 2026. Surveillance footage showed a masked man wearing gloves attempting to obscure a Nest doorbell camera. The FBI now describes the suspect as a male approximately five-foot-nine to five-foot-ten with an average build, carrying a black 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack.
More than 13,000 tips have been received and authorities are also examining additional video from a residence 4.5 miles away, where a man wearing a similar backpack was reportedly seen.
Forensic criminologist Dr Ron Martinelli says several elements of the investigation stand out – particularly the erection of a forensic tent at Nancy’s home.
© FBI“Whenever you see a tent set up, that’s an indication that they have found something on the ground and they want to preserve that,” he told HELLO! “Usually if you set up a tent outside, then that’s where you have recovered something… it could have been a tyre track, they could have found a footprint.” He also explained that time and environmental conditions can affect what is found.
“Every single hour that passes when the environment is outside, the site deteriorates and deteriorates,” he added. “It really depends on the environment, the timing, and the expertise of the searchers.”
Addressing whether 12 days without a named suspect is still considered early, Dr Martinelli points to the nature of the crime. “Well, this is a kidnapping,” he said. “I would say that it’s unusual that this type of kidnapping has gone on for 12 days.” He added that what troubles him most about the case is not simply the passage of time, however.
“The things that really bother me about this case is that there has been no proof of life after 12 days,” he says. “And then whoever has represented themselves as being the kidnappers keep moving the date of the ransom… That’s extremely unusual and that’s distressing.”
At the same time, he stresses that investigations do not move from evidence to suspects in a linear fashion.
“We are always involved in both of those – evidence and suspect determinations. They go on simultaneously,” he explained. “The evidence leads you to the suspect. That’s why things take place.”
© Getty ImagesOne of the most compelling developments, in his view, is the second video showing a man without a mask at a property several miles away. “To me that has been the most interesting evidentiary aspect for comparison,” he said, referring to similarities in the backpack and other features. “That has been the most promising thing.”
He explained that tools such as photogrammetry – the science of measurement and reconciliation by video – can be critical. “You use it in order to try to reconcile, make determinations of heights, weights and the gait of an individual,” he said.
He noted that investigators can examine physical characteristics visible on video. “You can see the shoulders, you can see the hips,” he says. “It looks like he has distinctive eyebrows. He also has a moustache.”
He also references what he describes as a potentially important detail. “They’ve spotted what we call a salient feature, which could be a tattoo,” he says. “I believe it’s on the right wrist.” If confirmed, that detail could prove telling once enhanced.
Dr Martinelli also highlighted the discovery of a glove near the scene. “If it’s a glove… they may very well be able to extract DNA from that,” he said. As for how long it might take to identify and apprehend a suspect based on video evidence, he said it depends on investigative resources and databases.
“It really depends on the database that you’re going to source from,” he explained, adding that the FBI is “very good” at tracing distinctive items such as backpacks, clothing and equipment. The possibility that the same individual was seen 4.5 miles away is not something investigators would dismiss.
© Getty Images“Cops hate coincidence,” he said. “The fact that he was seen at that one residence… that’s too coincidental for us.” That raises a key question: was Nancy’s home specifically targeted, or was the suspect scouting multiple properties?
“They have to start thinking whether the Guthrie residence was a targeted residence from the very beginning,” he said, “or this is just somebody that’s scoped out several residences and looking for an opportunity.”
Despite the high-profile nature of the case and the urgency for answers and a resolution, Dr Martinelli said patience is key, as difficult as that is for the family and their supporters.
“This is an extremely unusual kidnapping,” he says. “These are time-consuming events.”
He noted that some kidnappings in history have taken significant time to resolve, while others were concluded quickly. “The only people that have any idea are the people that are actively involved in the case,” he said. “But I will say that this most recent video of what we’re just talking about now, the person doesn’t have a mask on. To me that’s been the most promising thing.”
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