In a dramatic escalation of the search for missing 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, SWAT officers and FBI investigators have detained at least four people across multiple operations in Tucson, Arizona. The developments come nearly three weeks after Guthrie vanished from her $1 million home in the Catalina Hills neighborhood during the early hours of February 1.
SWAT Operation Near Guthrie Residence
Late Friday night, Pima County Sheriff's Deputies executed a SWAT operation at a property approximately two miles from Nancy Guthrie's residence. According to Fox News reports, three individuals were apprehended during this raid—believed to be two men and the mother of one of them.
The Pima County Sheriff's Office confirmed this operation was directly connected to Guthrie's disappearance and stated it was conducted "at the request of the FBI." Authorities initially promised a statement would follow shortly but later indicated they had been asked to withhold further information at the FBI's request.
Unconfirmed Reports of Self-Inflicted Gunshot
Local NBC affiliate KVOA spoke with a neighbor who claimed to have witnessed one individual shoot themselves in the head during the SWAT operation. This alarming allegation remains unconfirmed by official sources, and neither the Pima County Sheriff's Office nor the FBI has commented on this specific claim.
FBI Traffic Stop and Vehicle Examination
In a separate but related development, FBI agents conducted a traffic stop involving a silver Range Rover Sport near a Culver's fast food restaurant in Tucson. Fox News reported this stop was connected to Guthrie's disappearance, and the driver was detained for questioning.
Photographs from the scene showed investigators examining the vehicle's contents with the trunk opened and covered with a white sheet. The driver's age and gender have not been disclosed, and it remains unclear whether they remain in custody. The SUV was subsequently towed away from the location.
Background of the Disappearance
Nancy Guthrie, mother of NBC Today anchor Savannah Guthrie, disappeared under mysterious circumstances from her Tucson home on February 1. Recently released doorbell camera footage shows an armed figure wearing a ski mask and black nitrile gloves apparently attempting to disable her doorbell camera shortly before her disappearance.
The case has taken an even more sinister turn with reports that multiple ransom notes have been sent demanding up to $6 million for Nancy Guthrie's safe return. Her children—Savannah, Annie, and Camron Guthrie—have stated they are taking these notes seriously, though the contents have not been verified by law enforcement.
Ongoing Investigation and Information Blackout
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has not indicated when the next update on the investigation will be provided. The FBI's involvement and subsequent request for information withholding suggest a complex, ongoing investigation with potentially significant developments still unfolding.
The combination of a high-profile missing person case, apparent kidnapping demands, and now multiple detentions by federal and local law enforcement indicates this investigation has entered a critical phase as authorities work to determine what happened to the elderly woman and who might be responsible.
