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Man detained and released in Guthrie disappearance probe
Police in Arizona briefly held a man identified as Carlos on Wednesday in connection with the abduction of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC news anchor Savannah Guthrie, before releasing him hours later, CBS News reported.
Traffic stop leads to home search
Carlos was taken into custody during a traffic stop in Rio Rico, a town south of Tucson. Officers subsequently conducted a court-authorized search of his residence, according to sources familiar with the investigation.
Speaking to reporters outside his home after his release, Carlos denied any knowledge of Guthrie or her disappearance. "I don't follow the news," he stated. He claimed officers followed him while he was driving, detained him without questioning, and made him wait for hours in a parking lot.
Family and authorities plead for public help
Guthrie was last seen on the evening of January 31 when family members dropped her off at her home in the Catalina Foothills, an upscale neighborhood northeast of Tucson. Her disappearance has triggered a large-scale search and emotional appeals from her family.
Savannah Guthrie and her siblings have posted multiple videos on social media urging the public to help locate their mother. In the latest video, posted Monday, Guthrie pleaded, "She was taken, and we don't know where. And we need your help."
The family has also warned that Nancy Guthrie suffers from fragile health and chronic pain, and that she is without her essential medication. "She needs it to survive. She needs it not to suffer," Savannah Guthrie said in an Instagram video.
New evidence emerges as FBI offers reward
The FBI released previously unseen footage on Tuesday showing a masked, armed individual at Guthrie's doorstep on the night she vanished. The videos depict the person approaching the front door, checking the camera, and using vegetation to cover the lens.
"As of this morning, law enforcement has uncovered these previously inaccessible new images showing an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie's front door the morning of her disappearance."
FBI Director Kash Patel
Patel noted that authorities had worked to recover footage that may have been lost or corrupted, including from removed recording devices.
The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to a resolution in the case.
White House monitors case as ransom notes surface
The White House confirmed that President Donald Trump has been briefed on the situation and reviewed the surveillance footage. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described Trump's initial reaction as one of "pure disgust."
"The President directed me to please encourage all Americans with any information to call the FBI."
Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary
Investigators are examining a series of ransom notes linked to the abduction, including one with deadlines of February 5 and February 9. Authorities also reported finding blood on Guthrie's porch, which has been confirmed as hers. Additionally, the app connected to her pacemaker disconnected from her phone on the night she disappeared.
Health concerns grow as search continues
Officials have expressed grave concerns about Nancy Guthrie's health, particularly given her reliance on medication and the disconnection of her pacemaker app. The family has repeatedly emphasized her fragile condition in their public appeals.
As the investigation continues, authorities urge anyone with information to contact the FBI immediately.
