FBI Doubles Reward to $100,000 in Nancy Guthrie Disappearance Case
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has significantly escalated its efforts in the search for Nancy Guthrie, an 84-year-old woman who vanished from her Arizona home in the early hours of February 1, 2026. In a major development, the agency has doubled the reward for information to $100,000 and released new identifying details about the suspect captured on her surveillance camera.
Updated Suspect Description and Forensic Analysis
Following a forensic examination of doorbell camera footage by the FBI's Operational Technology Division, authorities have confirmed new information about the individual seen at Guthrie's residence. The suspect is described as a male standing approximately five-foot-nine to five-foot-ten inches tall with an average build. Crucially, he was wearing a distinctive black, 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack during the incident.
The chilling surveillance video shows a masked man wearing thick gloves as he attempts to obscure the Nest doorbell camera on Nancy Guthrie's front porch. This footage has become central to the investigation, providing the most concrete evidence in the case so far.
Expanded Investigation and Public Response
The FBI has been inundated with public tips since Guthrie's disappearance, collecting over 13,000 leads to date. Each tip undergoes rigorous review for credibility and actionable information by Threat Intake Examiners at the National Threat Operations Center and FBI personnel working around the clock.
"We hope this updated description will help concentrate the public tips we are receiving," stated the FBI in their latest announcement. "Every tip is reviewed for credibility, relevance, and information that can be acted upon by law enforcement."
Family's Emotional Appeal and Law Enforcement Coordination
Nancy Guthrie's daughter, journalist Savannah Guthrie, has made heartfelt public appeals for her mother's safe return. In a recent video statement, Savannah expressed the family's desperation, saying: "We are at an hour of desperation. She was taken and we don't know where... We need your help."
Law enforcement agencies are coordinating extensively on the case. The Pima County Sheriff's Department has expanded its request for security video from Guthrie's neighbors in the Catalina Foothills area. Authorities are specifically seeking footage from two time periods:
- 9pm to midnight on January 11, nearly three weeks before the disappearance
- 9:30am to 11am on January 31, hours before the abduction, when a suspicious vehicle was reportedly spotted in the area
The FBI maintains a 24-hour command post with dozens of agents and investigators assigned to follow up on leads during each shift. The increased reward of $100,000 is available to anyone providing information that leads to Guthrie's location or the arrest and conviction of those involved in her abduction.
