FBI Conducts Third Search of Nancy Guthrie's Home in Kidnapping Investigation
Federal investigators have returned to the Arizona home of Nancy Guthrie for a third intensive search since the 84-year-old mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie vanished under mysterious circumstances last weekend. Newly released infrared drone footage captured late Friday night shows multiple FBI agents meticulously combing through the rural Tucson property, with one agent seen disabling a wired camera on the roof of the home.
Disturbing Discoveries and Ongoing Search Efforts
Nancy Guthrie was declared missing last Sunday when she failed to appear for her regular church service in Tucson, Arizona. Authorities who initially searched her home made several alarming discoveries, including blood stains on a door and evidence that her Ring security camera had been removed. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has now joined forces with the Pima County Sheriff's Office in treating the case as a kidnapping investigation.
The infrared footage, obtained by Fox News's flight team, reveals the extensive nature of the latest search operation. Meanwhile, separate video from CNN and local NBC affiliate NBC 4 Los Angeles shows a car being towed from the Guthrie property on Friday night. This vehicle had previously been photographed parked inside the home's garage during earlier searches, though the FBI has not disclosed why it was removed or whether it constitutes evidence in the case.
Ransom Notes and False Leads Complicate Investigation
Several developments have emerged in what authorities describe as a complex investigation. Tucson news outlet KOLD reported receiving a second message allegedly from Nancy Guthrie's kidnapper on Friday evening, following an earlier ransom note received earlier in the week. Similar communications were reportedly sent to media outlet TMZ. While these notes demanded millions in bitcoin with a Monday deadline, the latest message contained neither ransom demands nor proof that Nancy remains alive.
Law enforcement officials confirmed they are treating these communications as serious leads, though their validity remains unverified. In a related development, California resident Derrick Callella was arrested on Thursday for allegedly sending false ransom notes to Nancy's daughter Annie and son-in-law Tommaso Cioni. Callella reportedly admitted to investigators that he sent the messages to capitalize on the family's turmoil, stating he was "just trying to see if the family would respond."
Health Concerns and Investigative Challenges
Nancy Guthrie's age and health conditions have added urgency to the search efforts. She requires daily prescription medication that could prove fatal if she lacks access to it, and she wears a pacemaker synchronized to her Apple Watch. Investigators confirmed this device stopped transmitting data around 2 a.m. on Sunday, shortly after her disappearance.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos expressed cautious optimism during a recent press conference, stating: "What I believe is that Nancy was removed from her home against her will, and that we need to find her. That's what I believe. She's still alive. I believe that I have no choice until something shows me, a piece of physical evidence shows me that that's different."
Witness Interviews and Potential Breakthroughs
Authorities have interviewed numerous individuals connected to Nancy Guthrie, including her landscape crew, pool maintenance workers, housekeeper, and an Uber driver who transported her to her daughter Annie's home the night before she vanished. Sheriff Nanos described these interviews as helpful, noting that all staff members have been cooperative.
A potential breakthrough emerged when authorities identified a "vehicle of interest" following a tip that led law enforcement to a car spotted at a local Circle K convenience store. While no person of interest has been publicly named, this development represents one of several leads investigators are pursuing in what they describe as a challenging case complicated by the secluded location, media attention, and the victim's vulnerable condition.
Former President Donald Trump commented on the investigation while speaking to reporters on Air Force One, stating that the probe was going "very well" and adding, "We could have some answers coming up fairly soon." As the investigation enters its second week, Nancy Guthrie's family, including her daughter Savannah who has publicly pleaded for her mother's safe return, continues to await developments in this troubling disappearance.
