In a chilling development in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, NBC's national law enforcement correspondent has suggested her kidnapper may have deliberately disconnected her doorbell camera to test whether police would respond. The 84-year-old mother of Today Show host Savannah Guthrie vanished from her $1 million Tucson, Arizona home last weekend, with authorities believing she was taken against her will.
Critical Timeline of Events
According to NBC National Law Enforcement & Intelligence Correspondent Tom Winter, the doorbell camera at Guthrie's home was disconnected at 1:47 AM on Sunday morning, which he describes as a critical moment in the investigation. Software data then recorded movement at the property at 2:12 AM, though police acknowledge this could have been caused by either a person or an animal.
Complicating matters further, Guthrie did not maintain an active subscription with the doorbell application service, meaning the company was unable to recover any footage from the device. Then, at 2:28 AM, the application connected to Guthrie's pacemaker was disconnected from her phone, which Winter interprets as evidence that she was separated from both her home and her mobile device sometime before that moment.
Speculation About Police Response Testing
Winter, citing unnamed law enforcement sources, revealed on the Today Show Friday morning that investigators are speculating the abductor may have removed the doorbell camera and waited to observe whether police would arrive. What's with that 20-minute time gap? Winter questioned during the broadcast. The camera gets ripped off the doorbell, but then there's motion seen on the camera outside 20 minutes later. What's that about?
He continued his analysis, suggesting the perpetrator might have believed the coast was clear after no immediate police response and returned to the house. However, Winter emphasized that authorities don't know the specific details of which camera detected the subsequent motion.
Family's Emotional Plea and Investigation Details
Savannah Guthrie has been absent from her hosting duties since her mother's abduction, including withdrawing from NBC's coverage of the Milan Winter Olympics. She joined her siblings in an emotional social media plea on Wednesday, directly addressing whoever sent ransom notes. We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her, she stated while fighting back tears.
Turning to her mother directly, Savannah continued with a cracking voice, Mamma, if you're listening, we need you to come home. We miss you. Her sister Annie echoed this sentiment during the family's public appeal.
Medical Concerns and Investigative Progress
Guthrie was reported missing shortly before noon on Sunday after failing to appear at church. The Pima County sheriff noted that while she remains mentally sharp and capable of driving, she experiences difficulty walking even short distances. She requires daily medication vital to her health and manages high blood pressure, a pacemaker, and other heart-related issues.
Now entering the sixth day of the desperate search, authorities have yet to identify any suspects or persons of interest. DNA testing confirmed that blood discovered on Guthrie's front porch matched her own genetic profile. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos stated at a Thursday news conference, Right now, we believe Nancy is still out there. We want her home, while acknowledging investigators lack evidence confirming her current wellbeing.
Expanding Resources and Federal Involvement
Law enforcement agencies are deploying additional resources and personnel to the investigation. The FBI announced on Thursday it is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to Guthrie's location. This development followed President Donald Trump's social media post from the previous day, in which he directed federal authorities to provide assistance where possible.
The case continues to develop as investigators piece together the timeline of events and explore all possible leads in their search for the missing 84-year-old woman.
