Masked Suspect Visited Nancy Guthrie’s Home Before Her Abduction? Doorbell Footage Raises Question

Last Updated:February 24, 2026, 11:54 IST

Savannah Guthrie and her siblings have made repeated attempts to contact the alleged kidnappers, who may have sent ransom notes demanding billions in bitcoin.

In a major lead in the abduction case of Nancy Guthrie, investigators believe the masked suspect seen on her doorbell camera may have visited her Tucson home before she was taken.

As per reports, investigators think that the masked intruder, featured in home surveillance footage released by the FBI, may have approached the property sometime before February 1, the day the 84-year-old mother of “Today" show host Savannah Guthrie was abducted.

Doorbell footage under scrutiny

The sources pointed to a still image released by the FBI showing the suspect at Guthrie’s front door without a backpack. That image was reportedly captured on a different day from the morning of her disappearance.

The FBI had also released images of the suspect wearing a backpack from “the morning of [Guthrie’s] disappearance."

One theory shared with ABC News suggests the suspect first approached the door but was frightened off by the camera. He allegedly returned later, tampered with the device and obscured the lens with branches.

However, others have speculated that the man without the backpack may be different from the suspect who blocked the camera.

Officials urge caution

So far, no suspect has been identified.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed it was aware that the released images show a suspect in different stages of attire, including with and without a backpack. However, the department said there is no date or time stamp linked to the images.

In a statement, officials cautioned that any suggestion the photographs were taken on different days is purely speculative and that speculation without factual support does not help the investigation.

The FBI has been contacted for further information.

Search enters third week

The search for Guthrie entered its third week on Sunday.

A group of volunteers recovered a suspicious Swiss Gear-brand bag from a storm drain near Guthrie’s home. The drain is known to double as a homeless encampment.

Investigators said the backpack did not appear to match the one worn by the masked suspect, which was identified as a black Ozark Trail Hiker backpack sold exclusively at Walmart.

Ransom notes and ongoing probe

Savannah Guthrie and her siblings have made repeated attempts to contact the alleged kidnappers, who may have sent ransom notes demanding billions in bitcoin. Their pleas have gone unanswered.

A fourth ransom note was sent to TMZ last week. The tabloid’s founder responded by telling the sender to provide the information to the FBI if they wanted payment.

Despite no major breakthroughs since early February, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said between 300 and 400 personnel remain assigned to the case, with staffing levels unchanged.

Evidence is still being examined, including blood traces found at Guthrie’s home. Sheriff Chris Nanos warned that analysing the DNA could take up to a year.

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