Nancy Guthrie news update: FBI details suspect, lifts reward to $100K as glove recovered near Tucson home
The search for Nancy Guthrie intensified Thursday (ET) as federal and local investigators expanded roadside sweeps around her Tucson-area neighborhood, released a sharper description of a masked suspect, and raised the reward to $100,000. A black glove recovered near the 84-year-old’s home emerged as a potential clue while agents urged residents to check surveillance video for a gray pickup.
FBI releases new suspect details and backpack ID
Investigators described the suspect as a man approximately 5 feet 9 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall with an average build. Newly highlighted imagery shows him wearing a black 25-liter “Ozark Trail Hiker Pack” backpack. Prior footage distributed by authorities depicted a masked individual in dark clothing who disabled a doorbell camera before leaving the scene.
Officials emphasized that members of the public should pay close attention to the backpack’s make, size, and color when reviewing any recordings, and should flag sightings of a similarly equipped person moving on foot or getting in and out of a vehicle in the vicinity of the Catalina Foothills.
Reward climbs to $100K as tip volume surges
The FBI raised the reward to $100,000 for information that leads to finding Nancy Guthrie and/or results in the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance. Investigators are processing more than 13,000 tips, reflecting a rapid increase in public engagement since the suspect description and video stills were publicized earlier in the week.
Authorities stressed that even small details—such as identifying the backpack from the images, recalling unusual late-night activity, or recognizing clothing similar to the recovered glove—can help narrow a sprawling set of leads.
Roadside searches expand in Catalina Foothills
Teams conducted an extensive sweep along multiple roadways in the Catalina Foothills area north of Tucson, targeting corridors that could have been used to enter and exit the quiet desert neighborhood. Early Thursday morning (ET), a forensic unit examined brush-lined stretches off a road near Guthrie’s home, sifting for items that might have been discarded during or after the abduction.
Additional canvassing is expected to continue across the coming days, with investigators coordinating ground teams, evidence specialists, and analysts reviewing surveillance feeds gathered from homes and businesses.
Recovered glove could be key evidence
Agents recovered a black glove about a mile and a half from the residence, roughly along the same general approach roads being searched this week. The glove resembles the type seen on the masked individual in previously released footage. Authorities have not attributed the item to any specific person and have not disclosed forensic results or whether a matching glove has been located.
Evidence technicians will assess the glove for DNA, fibers, soil, and other trace materials, which could help place it in time and space relative to the incident, or connect it to other items of interest.
Appeal for surveillance video and gray pickup sightings
Investigators asked residents within roughly a two-mile radius of Guthrie’s home to review doorbell and driveway cameras from late January 31 into the early hours of February 1 (ET) for a gray pickup truck and any persons on foot carrying a dark hiking-style pack. No make, model, or license plate has been publicly identified, and no specific truck has been confirmed as linked to the suspect.
Officials stressed that a vehicle of interest may have appeared multiple times or at unusual hours, and that quick turnarounds on neighborhood streets or parking briefly with lights off could be relevant behaviors to flag.
Letters and crypto demands surface as timeline sharpens
As the probe entered its 12th day on Thursday, investigators continued to evaluate a series of letters that have surfaced since Guthrie vanished overnight January 31–February 1. One recent message claimed knowledge of the kidnapper and pressed for a bitcoin payment in exchange for a name, following earlier notes that demanded a multimillion-dollar cryptocurrency sum with a deadline set for Monday, February 9 (ET). A follow-up from the same sender complained about not being taken seriously.
Authorities have not validated any of these communications and cautioned that false or opportunistic claims can divert resources. The priority remains to locate Guthrie safely and identify those responsible.
How the public can help
Residents and businesses across greater Tucson—especially in the Catalina Foothills—are urged to preserve and review footage from January 31 through February 2 (ET), watch for the black 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack, and report any sightings of a gray pickup or persons matching the suspect’s build and attire. Anyone with information should contact their local FBI field office or the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and reference the Nancy Guthrie case.
Nancy Guthrie, 84, the mother of television host Savannah Guthrie, has been missing since the overnight hours bridging January 31 and February 1. Investigators say they are treating every credible lead with urgency and are maintaining a high operational tempo as the $100,000 reward remains active.
