Sheriff Reveals New Details About Suspect in Nancy Guthrie’s Disappearance

Investigators have been steadily releasing clues in the search for the "Today" show co-host's mother. But now, a newly revealed detail, something small, almost easy to miss, is raising fresh questions about the masked suspect at her door. And it may be more important than anyone first realized.

Nancy Guthrie is the mother of "TODAY" co-anchor Savannah Guthrie. She was reported missing around noon on February 1, 2026, in Tucson after she failed to appear for her regular virtual church service, according to NBC News.

She had last been seen the evening before, after dinner at her daughter Annie Guthrie's home. Savannah later shared one of the newly released clips on Instagram, writing, "Someone out there recognizes this person. We believe she is still out there. Bring her home."

The Footage That Sparked a Surge

Authorities previously released black-and-white doorbell footage from Nancy's home, and experts immediately called it pivotal. The video shows a person wearing a ski mask, gloves, a dark jacket, and light-colored pants. The individual also appears to have a front-holstered gun and a black backpack.

Eric Draeger, a former Milwaukee police detective who specialized in high-tech tools, underscored the significance of the footage. "When you get video, it opens up many new avenues and details," Draeger said. "Detectives hope to get something like this in a case like this."

Bryanna Fox, a criminology professor at the University of South Florida, agreed. "This is the game changer we were waiting for," she said. An FBI source told NBC News that tips dramatically increased after the images and videos were released.

Movement That Raised Eyebrows

The footage offered more than just clothing clues. Draeger pointed out that the person did not immediately move to tamper with the camera.

Instead, the individual looked to the camera's left before turning toward it and manipulating it with a gloved hand, suggesting the person was not a regular visitor to the home.

Moments later, the suspect walked back into the yard, grabbed a handful of plants, and attempted to cover the doorbell camera. "He's trying to conceal his identity, but he's not exactly a ninja here," Draeger said. Authorities have not released the person's gender.

The New Revelation

Investigators had already shared several identifying details. The FBI described the suspect as a man of average build, standing between 5'9" and 5'10" tall.

He was seen wearing a black Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack with reflective strips, stitching, and multiple pockets, which could help pinpoint where it was purchased.

But now, according to NBC News live updates, the sheriff revealed something new. It's possible the suspect at the door was wearing a ring.

In a case where nearly every inch of the individual's identity was concealed, mask, gloves, dark clothing, that small accessory stands out. Jewelry can be distinctive. It can carry meaning. And it can be recognized.

Why That Tiny Detail Matters

Investigators have emphasized that even the smallest clues can make a difference. The backpack brand. The suspect's height. The way the person moved around the house. And now, potentially, a ring. Each detail narrows the field.

For Nancy's loved ones, the hope is that someone watching the footage will spot something familiar, a stance, a bag, or even that subtle glint of metal.

Savannah's message remains clear: "Bring her home." And as new revelations continue to surface, authorities are betting that one of them, perhaps the most unexpected one, could finally lead to answers.

As investigators zeroed in on the masked suspect's ring and backpack, a stronger and far more unsettling possibility emerged that Nancy Guthrie's disappearance was driven by a motive far more personal than anyone first believed.

The mystery surrounding Nancy's disappearance took 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.

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.

With a masked suspect on camera, a glove tied to the scene, and a possible personal motive emerging, investigators believe the answer is out there. Until the "why" is uncovered, every clue, even a simple ring, could be the key to bringing Nancy Guthrie home.