What Happened to the Camera on Nancy Guthrie's Property the Night She Vanished?

Something triggered a camera in the early hours of a Sunday, but whatever passed through that frame has become unclear. Days later, investigators were forced to admit that one of the most crucial moments in the case may be lost forever.

This is a chilling new layer to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, who vanished from her Arizona home late Saturday, January 31, 2026.

As investigators continue searching for answers, officials finally addressed the mystery surrounding the security footage many hoped would be the key.

A Notification With No Proof

During a press conference on February 5, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos revealed that Nancy's doorbell camera disconnected around 1:47 a.m. on Sunday. Less than half an hour later, something unexpected happened.

"At 2:12 a.m. [local time], software detects a person on a camera, but there's no video available," Sheriff Nanos said, as reported by Page Six.

Still, that single alert landed squarely within the window investigators believe Nancy was taken from her bed. But when detectives tried to pull the footage, there was nothing to review.

Why the Footage Is Gone

The harrowing truth of what happened with the footage was then revealed.

"They had no subscription and therefore it would rewrite itself," the sheriff continued. "It just kind of loops and covers up. That's what our analysis teams have told us."

Without video, investigators are left guessing what triggered the alert in the first place because the movement could easily have been an animal.

Unfortunately, despite their best efforts, authorities had no way to recover the clips from Nancy's house.

One Last Attempt

Officials did attempt to salvage something from the device. Sheriff Nanos later told CNN that investigators sent what data they could to an outside company, but it led nowhere.

But he stressed that they're still working on it. "We're not done with our efforts in that," he added, while also confirming that authorities are exploring other places where the camera could be sent. The brand of the item itself has not been revealed yet.

A Timeline That Keeps Tightening

The security alert was not the only technology to go silent that night. Nancy's pacemaker disconnected from her phone app around 2:28 a.m. on February 1, just minutes after movement was caught.

By Sunday morning, concern turned to fear when Savannah's mother failed to attend church. Her family checked on her home around 11:56 a.m., and police were called shortly after.

Officers arrived at 12:15 p.m., and blood was found outside the home and later confirmed to be Nancy's.

Ransom Notes Raise the Stakes

Investigators are also examining ransom notes sent to two media outlets, including TMZ. The messages included deadlines and a threat that read, "Or else."

According to the popular outlet, the note demanded millions in Bitcoin.

At the same press conference, FBI Phoenix Special Agent Heith Janke revealed a few more insights, including a second demand for Monday, February 9. But he didn't reveal the exact details.

Instead, he said the note talked about Nancy's watch and the floodlights in her house. Ultimately, Agent Janke said that any ransom decision was up to the Guthrie family.

Still No Clear Suspect

The FBI has announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to Nancy's location or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance. Officers are "actively looking at everyone" as a potential suspect, though no one has been publicly named.

For now, one of the case's most important pieces of evidence can't be accessed. The camera noticed something in the darkness, but whatever it was may be gone forever.

Meanwhile, more updates have surfaced as this case has attracted national attention. As previously reported, Savannah's sister, Annie Guthrie, and her husband, Tommaso Cioni, were photographed in public for the first time since Nancy vanished from her home.

First Public Sighting Since Nancy Vanished

The photos were taken on February 3, two days after Nancy was reported missing. In the images, Annie is seen pulling a pink hoodie up around her face. Tommaso raises his sweatshirt over his nose and wears sunglasses as they sit inside their vehicle.

The sighting marked the first time either had been photographed publicly since the investigation began.

Public Reaction Was Immediate

The images quickly spread online, prompting a flood of reactions. "This is getting more and more strange," one commenter wrote. Another added, "I mean, why do you have to cover your face so much and hide if you have nothing to hide🤔."

Others asked bluntly, "Why are they covering their faces?" and "Why are they hiding?" One commenter went further, writing, "It's such a guilty look. IMO."

Not everyone agreed with the criticism. One person pushed back, saying, "Geeeeez leave them alone they want privacy, obviously." Another described the sighting as "Strange behavior."

FBI Activity Raises Questions

The photos surfaced just one day after federal agents were seen at Annie's Arizona home.

According to Page Six, FBI agents and sheriff's deputies arrived at the residence on Tuesday afternoon and remained there for roughly two hours.

Law enforcement officers were photographed leaving the property. Officials did not respond to questions as they exited. Savannah was also believed to be at the home during the meeting.

Around the same time, TMZ reported that additional law enforcement units were involved at the same address.

Photos showed a deputy wearing an ICAC badge, associated with the Internet Crimes Against Children task force, arriving with what appeared to be a forensic extraction device.

The device is reportedly capable of retrieving data from smartphones, SIM cards, and deleted or encrypted material. Reporters outside the home said agents appeared to remove items, though authorities have not confirmed what, if anything, was taken.

Pima County officials later stated that detectives from multiple units are assisting and stressed that "this does not mean an acronym or unit name on the shirt is indicative of a particular crime associated with this case."