Where things stand
• Some progress: Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said investigators have “good leads” in the Nancy Guthrie investigation, though there’s still no indication of where she may be, CNN affiliate KOLD reported.
• Hunt for evidence: People living within a 2-mile radius of Guthrie’s home have been asked to submit any surveillance footage that includes cars and people from about a month before she went missing. The FBI has also doubled its reward from $50,000 to $100,000 for any information leading to Guthrie’s location or an arrest.
• Details on suspect emerge: The FBI described the suspect seen in doorbell footage as a 5’9”-5’10” tall male with an average build and wearing an Ozark Trail Hiker backpack. Investigators have also recovered gloves, which are being analyzed. It’s unclear whether authorities believe they were worn by the suspect.
Authorities have "good leads" in Guthrie investigation, Pima County sheriff tells CNN affiliate
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said Thursday investigators have “good leads” in the Nancy Guthrie investigation, though there’s still no indication of where she may be, CNN affiliate KOLD reported.
He made the comment the same day the FBI released more information about the masked individual seen in surveillance footage obtained from a camera at Guthrie’s home and increased the reward to $100,000.
The FBI described the suspect as a 5’9” to 5’10” man with an average build who, in the security video, was wearing a black 25-liter “Ozark Trail Hiker Pack” backpack.
Sheriff under pressure as search for Nancy Guthrie continues
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos is in the spotlight as his department faces pressure and scrutiny over the search for Nancy Guthrie. CNN’s Elex Michaelson looks at the questions around the sheriff’s handling of the investigation.
Ex-FBI assistant director explains why backpack seen in doorbell footage is a good clue
The technology used to determine the height of the suspect in the Nancy Guthrie disappearance is “extremely accurate,” said Joshua Skule, former FBI executive assistant director for intelligence.
“The height and the backpack are very good clues,” Skule said of the FBI being able to determine what brand backpack the suspect was wearing in doorbell video released earlier this week.
The FBI said Thursday the backpack is a black, 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack.
Next, the FBI will investigate how many of these backpacks were sold and when, Skule said.
Investigators will also see what other brand names they can determine that could generate more leads.
FBI releases description of suspect seen in doorbell video and doubles reward. Here’s the latest
The FBI has released more information about the person they’re now officially calling a suspect in the search for Nancy Guthrie. It’s the same masked man seen in doorbell camera footage outside her front door 12 nights ago, and the reward for information leading to his arrest — or finding Guthrie — has just doubled.
Here’s what we have learned about the suspect:
Here’s the latest on the case:
- A profile emerges: The FBI says the suspect is a man between 5’9” and 5’10” with an average build, who was wearing a black 25‑liter ‘Ozark Trail Hiker Pack’ backpack. Their reward has risen from $50,000 to $100,000 as investigators field a flood of tips: more than 13,000 were submitted to the FBI alone since February 1.
- White tent: To refine their profile, agents used a white blackout tent at Guthrie’s home yesterday to recreate nighttime conditions similar to those when she went missing, a law enforcement source told CNN. Agents compared replica clothing and a matching backpack on camera, studied light reflections to confirm brand details, and used equipment to estimate the suspect’s height.
- Gloves recovered: Investigators said they collected “several items of evidence, including gloves,” which are being analyzed. It’s unclear whether authorities believe they were worn by the suspect.
- White van: Investigators have gotten a number of leads in the Guthrie case since she went missing, at least one of which involves a white van, law enforcement officials with knowledge of the case told CNN.
- Radius increased: Authorities are urging anyone living within a two‑mile radius of Guthrie’s home to submit surveillance footage of people or cars in the four weeks before she went missing. This gives us a hint about how authorities are narrowing their search for potential suspects.
- Still no sign of Nancy: A law enforcement source familiar with the investigation told CNN authorities have still not identified the whereabouts of Guthrie.
- Weather may hinder search: Rain showers are expected in Tucson and southwest Arizona today, potentially complicating efforts to find evidence connected to Guthrie’s disappearance. The FBI said it would continue the search regardless.
Rain expected over Tucson today, potentially hindering evidence collection
A winter weather system is expected to bring showers to Tucson and southwest Arizona today, according to the National Weather Service’s Tucson office, which could raise issues for law enforcement in their search for evidence related to the dissapearance of Nancy Guthrie.
About a quarter- to a half-inch of rain is predicted in Tucson, with the potential for thunderstorms this afternoon and evening, the National Weather Service said.
Outdoor crime scenes are already at risk for “loss, contamination, and deleterious change of physical evidence in a relatively short period of time,” and environmental conditions like rain, snow or wind can exacerbate the issue, according to the National Institute of Justice.
“The FBI will continue our investigation regardless of weather conditions,” said FBI Phoenix Public Affairs Officer Connor Hagan, adding “Bringing Nancy home is our priority.”
