Lead
Federal agents have released a new description of an individual linked to the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, who vanished the night of Jan. 31–Feb. 1, 2026, from her Tucson home. The FBI said the person is a male roughly 5 feet 9 inches to 5 feet 10 inches with an average build, and was seen carrying a black, 25‑liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack on doorbell camera footage. The bureau increased the reward to up to $100,000 and has reviewed thousands of public tips as the multiagency probe continues. Investigators have canvassed neighborhoods, collected physical evidence and are asking residents to upload relevant surveillance video.
Key Takeaways
- The FBI described the subject as a male about 5’9″–5’10” with an average build; the individual was captured on Guthrie’s doorbell camera wearing a black 25‑liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack.
- The FBI announced a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to Guthrie’s location or to an arrest and conviction of anyone involved.
- The bureau said it has reviewed more than 13,000 tips; Pima County agencies have reported receiving many additional calls related to the case.
- Investigators recovered a set of black gloves about 1.3 miles from Guthrie’s residence; those items are being tested and their connection to the disappearance is under investigation.
- Authorities requested surveillance video from residents within roughly a two‑mile radius and specific footage covering Jan. 1–Feb. 2, 2026, and narrower windows on Jan. 11 (9 p.m.–midnight) and Jan. 31 (selected morning hours).
- Federal forensic teams, including the Operational Technology Division and video forensic analysts, processed the Guthrie residence, using a white tent at the front entry to control conditions while examining evidence.
- One person accused of sending a fake ransom message, Derrick Callella, was charged and released under conditions; investigators continue to pursue potential leads and detainments.
Background
Nancy Guthrie, the mother of television journalist Savannah Guthrie, was reported missing after last being seen at her home in the Catalina Foothills area of Tucson, Arizona, during the night of Jan. 31–Feb. 1, 2026. Local law enforcement and federal agents have now been involved in the search and evidence recovery, and the case has drawn national attention due to Guthrie’s public profile and the unusual circumstances captured on home surveillance.
Doorbell camera footage released by investigators shows a masked individual at Guthrie’s front door near the time she vanished. The FBI’s Operational Technology Division performed a forensic analysis of that footage, enabling agents to provide a physical description and identify distinctive clothing and accessories, including the 25‑liter Ozark Trail backpack. Authorities say the analysis included laser measurements and scene recreations intended to refine height and gait estimates.
The investigation has expanded beyond the house. Canvasses and public appeals have targeted homes and businesses within miles of Guthrie’s residence; agents have asked neighbors to preserve and submit any video from specified windows in January and early February. Law enforcement teams also reported locating potentially relevant items along nearby roadways and conducting targeted searches where digital or physical leads suggested activity.
Main Event
After the bureau reviewed inaccessible footage captured at the Guthrie residence, FBI Phoenix publicly released a suspect description and still images. The person on the doorbell footage wore a mask and gloves and was seen near the front entry prior to Guthrie’s disappearance. Forensic teams erected and later removed a white tent at the front door while processing the scene to limit contamination and to recreate lighting conditions for analysis.
Investigators expanded their search zone, canvassing neighborhoods and requesting video from residents. Agents identified a separate Ring camera clip recorded about five miles from Guthrie’s home that appears to show a person carrying a backpack dressed similarly to the doorbell footage subject. That clip was shared among investigators and media outlets, and authorities said they want to speak with the individual recorded there to determine whether there is any link.
Physical evidence developments included recovery of a pair of black gloves found roughly 1.3 miles southeast of the house. Those items have been collected for laboratory testing. Federal and local teams also transported video forensics equipment and used calibrated height boards and other measurement tools to compare the scene and footage and produce the current suspect profile.
Meanwhile, the probe encountered disruptions and noise: someone allegedly sent an imposter ransom demand to Guthrie’s family via text and phone call on Feb. 4, 2026. The Department of Justice charged the sender, Derrick Callella, with transmitting a ransom demand and using telecommunications to harass; he was released under court‑imposed conditions pending further proceedings. Authorities emphasized that false leads and opportunistic hoaxes complicate an already time‑sensitive investigation.
Analysis & Implications
The FBI’s release of a specific backpack model and a height range serves tactical and public‑facing purposes: it narrows the pool of potential matches and gives the public concrete details to watch for. A named, widely available pack (the Ozark Trail 25L) and a precise height estimate focus canvassers and tipsters on verifiable attributes rather than vague descriptions.
Forensic video work — including frame‑by‑frame enhancement, spatial measurement, and gait or posture comparison — can meaningfully narrow suspects but rarely produces an immediate positive identification on its own. Investigators are combining imagery with physical evidence, witness canvasses, and digital records to build corroborative links. That multilayered approach explains why the FBI emphasized reviewing every tip for credibility and actionable leads.
Operationally, collection choices — for example, where evidence is sent for laboratory testing — affect timelines and legal defensibility. Public reporting has highlighted tensions over which labs process items; regardless of lab location, scientifically rigorous chain‑of‑custody and testing protocols are required to preserve admissibility. Any delays or disputes about processing can slow results that might otherwise provide decisive matches, such as DNA or trace evidence from the recovered gloves.
Public reaction and intense media scrutiny carry both benefits and drawbacks. Widespread attention can generate tips and jog memories of potential witnesses, but it can also produce false claims and speculative narratives that demand investigative resources to vet. Maintaining a steady flow of verified information while protecting sensitive details is a central challenge for investigators in high‑profile missing‑person cases.
Comparison & Data
| Item | Reported Count / Detail |
|---|---|
| FBI‑reviewed tips | More than 13,000 (agency statement) |
| Pima County calls / tips reported | Agency reports indicate thousands of additional calls, including a single day surge (e.g., ~4,000 calls reported on one day) |
| Reward | Up to $100,000 (FBI announcement) |
| Recovered item | One set of black gloves found ~1.3 miles from Guthrie’s home |
The comparison above shows the scale of incoming information and the tangible evidence points investigators have highlighted publicly. Large tip volumes require triage by Threat Intake Examiners; usable intelligence is a much smaller subset. The reward increase to $100,000 is intended to incentivize high‑quality information that leads to location or prosecution.
Reactions & Quotes
“They’re asking everyone within a two mile radius to pull video and have they seen a truck…”
Nancy Grace (commenting on investigative appeals)
Grace has suggested investigators are seeking a gray truck reported by neighbors; authorities have not publicly confirmed such a vehicle is linked to the case.
“This kind of work is painstaking and laborious, but it does yield leads just like this one.”
Jason Pack (former FBI supervisory special agent)
Pack emphasized the methodical canvass and evidence‑gathering work that often produces incremental but crucial leads in missing‑person investigations.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI will continue to hold this defendant accountable and any other individuals who seek to interfere with federal investigations or profit from the victim family’s grief.”
U.S. Department of Justice (on charges related to an alleged ransom message)
The DOJ statement refers to charges filed over an alleged imposter ransom message and underscores prosecutors’ intent to pursue those who impede the investigation.
Unconfirmed
- Whether a gray truck mentioned by neighbors is connected to Guthrie’s disappearance remains unverified by law enforcement.
- The recovered gloves have been submitted for testing, but any direct link to the person in the surveillance footage has not been publicly confirmed.
- The individual recorded about five miles from Guthrie’s house wearing a backpack has not been publicly identified as a suspect; investigators say they want to speak with him but have not linked him to the disappearance.
- Reported internal disputes about evidence handling and claims that the Pima County Sheriff blocked FBI access to certain items are based on law‑enforcement sources and have not been fully corroborated in public court records.
Bottom Line
Investigators have released a focused physical description and a distinctive item of clothing — a black 25‑liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack — to help the public narrow potential matches. The FBI’s reward increase to $100,000 and public appeals for surveillance footage reflect an effort to convert broad public attention into verifiable leads.
The case remains active and fluid: forensic testing, witness canvasses and digital records analysis are ongoing, and several reported leads remain unconfirmed. Members of the public with footage or relevant information are urged to contact the FBI at 1‑800‑CALL‑FBI or submit tips at tips.fbi.gov; prompt, verifiable information has the best chance to move the investigation forward.
Sources
- Fox News Digital (news media) — original live reporting and aggregation of official statements and court filings.
- FBI tip portal (official) — submission site and public contact for reporting information to the FBI.
- Pima County Sheriff’s Department (local law enforcement) — public notices and requests for community video and information.