Guthrie case investigators question neighbors about any internet issues on the night she disappeared
Guthrie case investigators question neighbors about any internet issues on the night she disappeared
Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of TODAY co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, has been missing for over a month. Investigators are seeking clues from her Tucson neighborhood in the Catalina Foothills, where they’ve asked residents if they noticed disturbances in their internet service the night she vanished. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department and FBI conducted door-to-door inquiries on Thursday, focusing on connectivity problems and potential video footage from Jan. 11.
Several homeowners shared with NBC News that the agents specifically inquired about internet disruptions during the time of Guthrie’s disappearance. Some mentioned that multiple neighbors reported glitches in their services that night. Two residents added that the investigators also asked about video from Jan. 11, though authorities have not confirmed they are examining that date or explained the connection.
A couple living near Guthrie’s home told NBC News on Friday that they observed a glitch in one of their Ring cameras during the abduction timeframe. They own four cameras, but the one closest to her house displayed a “not available” message when accessed overnight. The others, further away, worked without issues. The couple said they had never seen the warning before and found it “uncanny” that it occurred precisely when Guthrie disappeared.
“That’s really weird, isn’t it?” the couple remarked.
NBC News contacted Ring for comment, but the FBI and sheriff’s department have not addressed the reported issues or clarified their focus on Jan. 11. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, when asked earlier this week about the possibility of a Wi-Fi jammer, replied: “I’ve not looked at that closely, but yeah, I know my team has examined it with the FBI from every angle.”
Guthrie was last seen at 9:45 p.m. on Jan. 31 after dinner with her daughter Annie. She was reported missing Feb. 1 when she failed to arrive at a friend’s house for a livestreamed church service. Authorities suggest the case may involve kidnapping, but details remain scarce. Last month, the FBI shared doorbell camera footage of an armed, masked man with gloves, described as a suspect, though no identification has been made.
The suspect is believed to be between 5 feet 9 inches and 5 feet 10 inches tall, with an average build. In the images, he is seen wearing a black, 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack. Meanwhile, Savannah Guthrie, currently in Arizona with her family, visited the TODAY studio in New York City and stated her intention to return to her role. A spokesperson noted that she remains dedicated to supporting her family and aiding efforts to locate Nancy.
The Guthrie family announced a $1 million reward for information leading to Nancy’s recovery. This joins rewards from the FBI and Crime Stoppers. Liz Kreutz is an NBC News correspondent, and Rebecca Cohen is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.
