Authorities Spoke About a Possible Motive Behind Nancy Guthrie's Disappearance

Authorities are digging deep into the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, and now they're hinting at a possible motive. As a chilling new video surfaces, investigators say the case may be far more personal than anyone imagined.

The mystery surrounding Nancy Guthrie's disappearance has taken a chilling turn, and now, authorities are hinting at something far more personal than a random crime. Behind the scenes, investigators say the motive may be the key to everything.

Nancy, 84, vanished from her home outside Tucson on February 1, 2026, sending shockwaves through Arizona and beyond. She is the mother of the "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie, instantly making the case national news.

Authorities quickly determined this was no burglary gone wrong. Instead, they began treating it as a kidnapping.

The Man Leading the Search

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has been at the center of the investigation, overseeing a massive, around-the-clock effort involving roughly 400 personnel from his department, the FBI, and other Arizona agencies.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, Nanos said he still believes Nancy may be alive, though he admitted the search could take "weeks, months, or years."

Between 40,000 and 50,000 tips have poured in. At times, investigators have faced as many as 5,000 tips an hour.

A Breakthrough Hidden in the Cloud

At first, it seemed as though security cameras at Nancy's home would be of little use. The devices were offline or not actively recording because their subscriptions were inactive.

But then came what Nanos described as a breakthrough. Specialists working with Google's cloud systems were able to retrieve disturbing footage showing a masked intruder at Nancy's front door.

"Google said at first we don't have anything, but we're going to do our best to try to what they call 'scratch,'" Nanos explained.

"It's hard. It's like scratching through layers, think of it like you have eight layers of paint on your house. They want to go to the sixth or seventh layer and they have to be very delicate about it not to destroy what's there." He added:

"I just hope they can scrape a camera shot down that driveway to identify a vehicle. Because, my goodness, you can't put a mask on a vehicle, right?"

The FBI later revealed that a black glove recovered near the scene is believed to match the one worn by the masked figure in the footage. Initial DNA results have already been received from a Florida lab.

Meanwhile, authorities launched aerial searches over the desert using high-tech Bluetooth equipment in hopes of detecting a signal from Nancy's pacemaker. Each development has only deepened the mystery.

Federal Stakes Rise

The case has also reached the White House. According to the New York Post, President Donald Trump said those responsible must release Nancy unharmed or face "very, very severe — the most severe" federal consequences.

Asked whether that meant seeking the death penalty if she is killed, Trump answered: "The most, yeah — that's true."

Trump reportedly called Savannah on February 4, 2026, to offer federal assistance in the case.

Scrutiny and Speculation

As the search intensifies, so has public speculation. Nancy's daughter, Annie Guthrie, and her husband, Tommaso Cioni, have faced intense online scrutiny, particularly after it was noted that Nancy had been at their home for dinner and game night before being driven home.

Nanos did not hide his frustration. "People out there can get pretty ugly and mean and nasty and not have the facts," he said. "I tell my journalists, you guys need to be a little more responsible… because that's just really nasty stuff."

He emphasized that "nobody" has been cleared, including workers at Nancy's home and individuals linked to two recent SWAT raids. 'I stay in touch with them, mostly Savannah. I've not been in touch with Tommaso or Annie too much,' he added.

'I have talked to them a little bit, but I know the investigators are in touch with them. But I've really told people, this is a lot of stress. If he [Tommaso Cioni] is guilty, if he's the one who did it, and we're able to prove that, then at that time jump on it but don't come out of nowhere with this.

Still, he urged caution. "I understand the pundits are out there. They're gonna say, well, he's the last one to see her alive. We understand that stuff. But, my goodness, you're putting a mark on somebody who could be completely innocent. And more important than that, he's family."

The Question That Won't Go Away

Despite all the forensic work, surveillance footage, the glove, and federal pressure, investigators remain stuck on one crucial issue. Why? In that same interview with the Daily Mail, Nanos revealed what troubles him most.

"This is somebody who's disappeared from the face of the earth, and now we have a camera that says here's the person who did this," he said, adding:

"And that's what makes me say this is a kidnapping. The motivation for it is where we get stuck, right? Is it for money? I mean, we had the one demand where they asked for money. But is it really for money, or is it for revenge for something?"

And with that, the case took on a far more unsettling dimension. Because if it wasn't about money, investigators might be looking into something deeply personal. Until that motive is uncovered, the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie remains not just a search for a suspect but a search for answers.

While authorities debated whether Nancy Guthrie's disappearance was about money or revenge, a crucial piece of physical evidence quietly emerged in the Arizona desert.

Fifteen days after the 84-year-old vanished from her Tucson-area home, the FBI confirmed a major development. According to Fox 13 News, one glove recovered during the search appears to match the gloves worn by the masked man seen on surveillance footage outside her home.

The Glove That Changed the Timeline

An FBI spokesperson said on Sunday, February 15, that several gloves had been collected during the search. But one stood out.

It appears to match the gloves worn by the suspect captured on recovered Nest camera footage — the same footage showing a masked man approaching her front door and attempting to cover the camera with leaves.

Even more significant? The glove contains a DNA profile.

In a breaking update shared by Fox News, the FBI confirmed that the DNA found in this glove is different from other gloves previously recovered.

It is also not the same DNA that was found earlier inside Nancy's home. That detail could prove critical.

Why the DNA Matters

Investigators are now waiting for final lab results before uploading the DNA profile into a national database.

Former FBI agent Jonathan Gilliam explained how powerful that step could be. He said the profile can be run through CoDIS, the FBI’s national DNA system that contains felony offenders and missing persons.

If there is a match, identification could be almost immediate.

Gilliam also noted that investigators can expand the search to family members. That means even if the suspect has never been arrested, a relative’s DNA could lead authorities to a name.

He described the development as "a move towards the right area of operation."

But former Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb urged caution. "DNA is not like a TV show where you get the results within no time and you figure out who did it by the end of the show," Lamb said.

He added that DNA testing takes time and pointed out that specialized labs, including one in Florida, can process familial DNA connections.

A Separate DNA Mystery

This new glove adds another layer to the case.

The sheriff's department previously confirmed that someone's DNA was found on Nancy's property. That DNA does not belong to Nancy or anyone in close contact with her.

Now, authorities are working with two separate DNA threads — the unknown profile found earlier and the new profile pulled from the glove that appears to match the masked suspect.

Investigators believe DNA could be the key clue that finally identifies the person responsible.

Surveillance, Signals, and Border Questions

The glove discovery follows intense investigative efforts on multiple fronts.

Law enforcement flew over Nancy's home using a Bluetooth signal detector in an attempt to track a signal from her pacemaker, which disconnected from her phone app just before 2 a.m. on February 1.

Cybersecurity expert Morgan Wright said analysts are reviewing ping data that could reveal specific locations and timestamps.

Meanwhile, a new twist emerged through a message obtained by TMZ.

A man claiming to know the kidnapper sent a money demand that ended with the line: "for the man hunt of the main individual that can give you all the answers and be prepared to go International."

The wording suggests the suspect could already be outside the United States — possibly in Mexico, which is a short drive south of Tucson.

Authorities have not confirmed that claim.

Savannah's Emotional Plea

Amid the growing developments, Savannah Guthrie shared a new video message on Instagram. The "Today" co-host addressed the person responsible directly.

"It's been two weeks since our mom was taken. And I just wanted to come on and say that we still have hope. And we still believe,"

Later in the video, she added, "It's never too late." In the caption, she wrote, "Bring her home. It's never too late to do the next right thing."

Savannah has previously said the family would comply with alleged ransom demands, though there has been no update on whether any payment was made.

What Happens Next

For now, investigators are waiting on lab confirmation.

If the DNA in the glove matches the profile of the masked man seen in surveillance footage, and if that profile hits in the national database, authorities could identify a suspect quickly.

But if there is no match, investigators may expand the search to family DNA — a process that could take longer but still provide answers.

What remains clear is this: the glove may be the strongest physical evidence yet.

And with DNA now at the center of the investigation, the next update could change everything.

As we had previously reported, the glove may hold the key to solving Nancy's disappearance, but a turf war between federal and local authorities is threatening to derail the investigation.

The glove was pulled from desert brush near Nancy's Tucson home. On its own, it could represent a major breakthrough.

Instead, it has become the center of a jurisdictional standoff that is costing investigators valuable time.

FBI Doubles Reward to $100,000

As tensions simmer behind the scenes, federal investigators made a public move.

On February 13, the FBI announced they're increasing the reward to $100,000 for information leading to Nancy's location or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her kidnapping. The dramatic boost signals mounting urgency nearly two weeks after she vanished from her Tucson home on the night of January 31, 2026.

More than 13,000 tips have flooded in since early February. Threat Intake Examiners at the National Threat Operations Center work around-the-clock reviewing every submission for credibility and actionable intelligence.

Dozens of agents and investigators staff a 24-hour command post, processing leads every shift. The FBI continues urging anyone with information to call 1-800-CALL-FBI or visit tips.fbi.gov.

New Suspect Details Confirmed

The reward increase coincides with refined identifying details about the perpetrator following forensic analysis by the FBI's Operational Technology Division. Investigators now describe the suspect as a male standing approximately 5'9" to 5'10" tall with an average build.

In recovered doorbell camera footage, he's carrying a distinctive black "Ozark Trail Hiker Pack" backpack with a 25-liter capacity. Officials hope the added specificity will sharpen public tips and narrow the search.

Yet even with the video evidence and thousands of leads, investigators still lacked something tangible. Then came the discovery in the desert.

Critical Evidence Pulled from Desert Brush

FBI Evidence Response team members recently recovered a piece of physical evidence from low desert shrubbery roughly one and a half miles from Nancy's secluded residence at the edge of Tucson. Agents photographed the item as they pulled it from the brush.

The discovery could represent the most significant physical clue yet. The recovered item is a black glove that closely matches the type worn by the armed perpetrator visible in surveillance footage.

For investigators hunting Nancy's abductor, the glove offers potential DNA evidence, fingerprints, or other forensic traces. But there's a major problem preventing the FBI from analyzing it.

Sheriff Reportedly Blocks FBI Access to Key Evidence

The case has now shifted from the desert to a dispute over who controls the evidence.

A federal law enforcement source revealed to Fox News Digital that Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos is blocking the FBI from obtaining crucial evidence in the case. The jurisdictional standoff threatens to slow an investigation where every minute matters.

The evidence Nanos refuses to release includes the desert-recovered glove and DNA collected from inside Nancy's home. Federal officials requested that all materials be sent to the FBI's national crime laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, where the country's top forensic experts could process everything immediately.

Private Florida Lab Chosen Instead of FBI Facility

Instead, Sheriff Nanos has insisted on sending the evidence to a private laboratory in Florida rather than cooperating with federal analysts. That decision has sparked concern within federal ranks.

An unnamed official criticized the decision, warning it "risks further slowing a case that grows more urgent by the minute." The source also cited "earlier setbacks" in the investigation and questioned why Nanos waited so long to request FBI involvement.

Under the current protocol, the Pima County Sheriff's Office remains the primary investigative authority in the case. The FBI may assist, but only when formally invited.

Time Running Out as Standoff Continues

The bureaucratic battle drags on while the clock ticks. Nancy's pacemaker stopped transmitting data to her phone app at 2:28 a.m. on February 1, just 16 minutes after her doorbell camera registered motion at 2:12 a.m.

Family members found splatters of blood outside her residence that Sunday morning after she failed to attend church. Forensic testing confirmed it belonged to Nancy.

The FBI keeps pushing for cooperation while urging the public to submit information that could bring the "Today" show co-host's mother home safely.

Now, with motive still unclear, DNA under review, a masked suspect on camera, and a jurisdictional standoff slowing the clock, the investigation stands at a critical crossroads.

Until answers emerge, one haunting reality remains: the key to finding Nancy Guthrie may already be in investigators' hands; they just have to unlock it.