Thirteen days have now gone by since 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie was reported missing from her Arizona home on February 1, and the search effort remains intense and ongoing.
Authorities previously indicated that the case is being investigated as a likely abduction. Blood found on the front porch of Guthrie’s home was tested and confirmed to be hers, deepening concerns about her safety. Investigators are still working to piece together what happened during what they’ve described as a critical and unexplained 41-minute window on the night she disappeared.
During a February 12 press conference, a reporter asked President Donald Trump why the FBI had not taken over as the lead agency in the investigation and whether there were any updates. Trump explained that the case initially fell under local jurisdiction in Pima County and that local authorities chose to maintain control. He added that the FBI has since become involved and suggested that progress has been made, while acknowledging the complexity of the case.
Earlier, on February 10, FBI Director Kash Patel released images captured by security cameras inside Guthrie’s home the night she vanished. The photos show a man wearing a ski mask, gloves, khaki pants, and a jacket, carrying a backpack. In the footage, the individual appears to remove the Ring camera from Guthrie’s door.
On February 12, the FBI shared additional details about the suspect and raised the reward for information leading to an arrest to $100,000. The suspect is described as a male, approximately 5-foot-9 to 5-foot-10, with an average build. He was reportedly carrying a black 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack.
At the same time, reports surfaced suggesting tension between Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos and federal authorities, including claims that the sheriff had been uncooperative. Specifically, it was alleged that Nanos insisted all collected evidence be sent to a private lab in Florida rather than the FBI’s lab for testing.
Sheriff Nanos publicly rejected those claims during a February 12 press conference, calling them inaccurate. He explained that he believed it made sense to send all samples to one facility that already had the relevant DNA profiles and markers, and said the FBI agreed with that approach. Nanos also described a recent meeting with federal agents, during which he said an FBI representative urged cooperation and cautioned against allowing media narratives to create division between agencies.
As search and rescue teams continue their efforts, authorities are urging anyone with relevant information to come forward.
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