Pima County investigators have uncovered significant new leads in the abduction of Nancy Guthrie, focusing on specific items carried by the suspect. Authorities are now tracking a distinctive backpack and clothing believed to have been purchased at a local Walmart store.
The search for the "Today" show anchor's mother has entered its third week, with the FBI intensifying its forensic analysis. Agents are currently processing DNA evidence recovered from a glove discovered just two miles from the Guthrie residence.
Surveillance footage captured a masked individual wearing an "Ozark Trail" backpack near the home on the night of the abduction. Law enforcement sources confirmed that this specific hiking pack is sold exclusively at Walmart, narrowing the scope of the investigation.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has publicly addressed swirling rumors regarding the motive behind the high-profile kidnapping. In a recent press briefing, Sheriff Nanos officially ruled out the theory that the abduction was the result of a "burglary gone bad."
The sheriff emphasized that the evidence points towards a more targeted action rather than a random property crime. This statement comes as his department faces scrutiny over the handling of forensic materials sent to a private lab in Florida.
Meanwhile, Savannah Guthrie has broken her silence again with a heart-wrenching new video plea released on social media. The NBC anchor spoke directly to the abductors, urging them to return her 84-year-old mother safely and insisting it is "never too late to do the right thing."
Nancy Guthrie disappeared from her Tucson home on February 1, leaving behind traces of blood and a disconnected security system. The discovery of the glove and the new DNA profile represents the most promising physical evidence found since the investigation began.
Investigators are also examining data from the victim's pacemaker, which signaled a disconnection from her phone shortly after the abduction occurred. This technological footprint, combined with the DNA analysis, is helping authorities build a timeline of the suspect's movements that night.
The FBI has doubled the reward to $100,000 for information that leads to the safe recovery of Nancy Guthrie or an arrest. Community members in the Catalina Foothills remain on high alert as the search intensifies across the surrounding desert terrain.