By Gao Yun
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Tuesday, Feb. 10 released the first batch of key surveillance footage showing a masked suspect outside the home of Nancy Guthrie, an 84-year-old woman who went missing more than a week ago and is the mother of NBC Today host Savannah Guthrie.
Suspicious man appears on porch late at night, possibly carrying a weapon
According to the Associated Press, the footage released by the FBI on Tuesday shows a man dressed in black, wearing a backpack and a ski mask, standing in front of Guthrie’s home in the Tucson suburbs of Arizona. The mask had openings for the eyes and mouth, and the man deliberately kept his head down, apparently to avoid being filmed.
The video also shows the man attempting to cover the doorbell camera with his gloved hands and pulled plants from the yard.
FBI Director Kash Patel posted on social platform X: “On the morning of Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, an individual suspected of carrying a weapon attempted to tamper with the surveillance equipment at her front door.” In the footage, the man appears to have a device resembling a handgun holster attached to his waist. The FBI said this represents the first major breakthrough in the investigation.
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Video restored after several days reveals key clues
Patel revealed that the footage was extracted by technicians from “residual data in the backend system” and took several days to recover from among many lost, damaged, or inaccessible recordings.
Another clip shows the man lowering his head while approaching the porch, seemingly deliberately avoiding the camera.
Former FBI agent Katherine Schweit said, “Even if someone is fully covered, you can still make out body shape, facial contours, even the eyes and mouth. Gait can also reveal identity. Someone who knows him might recognize him immediately.”
CNN reported that former FBI supervisory special agent Steve Moore described the act as “clearly a highly premeditated operation,” but “very poorly executed.”
Moore noted that, based on the FBI footage, the individual “obviously lacks familiarity with firearms and doesn’t know how to handle or carry one.” He explained that the holster used was originally designed for a large revolver, but the man had placed a small handgun in it, attached near the belt buckle, indicating clear inexperience.
“This person appears to be an ‘amateur,’ clearly unprepared to cover the doorbell camera,” Moore said. “Judging by his actions in the footage, this is very likely his first time doing something like this.”
Disappearance raises serious concerns; Guthrie’s health a risk
Guthrie was last seen at her home on Jan. 31. The next day, she was reported missing by her family after failing to attend church. Police said she has high blood pressure, heart problems, a pacemaker, mobility difficulties, and requires daily medication.
Blood found on her porch has been DNA-confirmed as hers. Authorities initially concluded she was taken against her will.
At the beginning of the investigation, police had hoped the doorbell camera would provide clues, but Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said the device had been disconnected in the early hours of the day she disappeared. While some activity was recorded on the software backend, Guthrie had not activated a valid subscription, so all footage could not be recovered.
As the case developed, Guthrie’s daughter, NBC host Savannah Guthrie, repeatedly spoke out on social media. On Tuesday, she shared the FBI’s latest surveillance footage, writing: “We believe she is still alive. Please bring her home.” Within minutes, the post received thousands of comments.
The day before, she recorded a video saying: “We are in an extremely desperate moment. We need your help.”
Family publicly appeals to the kidnappers
On the third day of the disappearance, Savannah and her two siblings made a public appeal to the kidnappers via video: “We want to hear from you. We are ready to listen.”
In the video, they emphasized that they first wanted proof their mother was alive.
The next day, Savannah’s brother Camron Guthrie again urged the kidnappers to contact the family: “Whoever has our mother, we want to hear from you. We have received no direct communication so far.”
Over the past weekend, the family released another video with more subtle wording, prompting further speculation about Nancy Guthrie’s fate.
In the video, Savannah said: “We have received your message and understand what you mean. Now, we beg you to return our mother so we can celebrate together. This is the only way we can achieve peace of mind. We are willing to pay.”
White House and FBI take case seriously; digital billboards nationwide
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Trump has watched the video and called on anyone with information to contact the FBI immediately.
The FBI has deployed digital billboards in major cities including Texas and California this week, aiming to raise awareness and gather more leads.
FBI spokesperson Connor Hagan said that, at present, there has been no sustained contact with the suspected kidnappers, and no suspect identities have been confirmed.
