Nancy Guthrie Missing ////// 902 | Forensic Files

This podcast is presented by AMC Plus's Gangs of London, which Vulture has called action at its most sublime.
Season 3 ignites a new war, bigger, darker, and more explosive than ever as London's crime families battle for
control. Gangs of London, new episodes Thursdays only on AMC Plus. Picture this. It's the end of a long
week. You're unwinding in the tub listening to your favorite true crime podcast, and then chronic hives come
back again in the middle of the episode. What a wet blanket. Looks like another spell of
itchy, swollen, red, or skin-colored hives. If you have chronic spontaneous urticaria or CSU,
there may be a different treatment option. Worried about your chronic hives erupting our next episode? Learn more at
treatmyhives.com/garage. >> [music] [music] [music] [music] >> The FBI is investigating the
disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, an 84-year-old grandmother who was last seen at her residence in the Catalina
Foothills neighborhood of Tucson, Arizona on the evening of January 31st, 2026. She is considered to be a vulnerable
adult who has difficulty walking, has a pacemaker, and needs daily medication for her heart condition. The FBI is
offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the recovery of Nancy Guthrie and or the arrest and
conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance. If you have any information concerning this case, please
contact the FBI at 1-800- call FBI. That's 1-800-225-5324. Or you can submit a tip online at
tips.fbi.gov. [snorts] This is True Crime Garage. >> [music] >> Welcome to True Crime Garage. Wherever
you are, whatever you are doing, thanks for listening. I am your host, Nick, and
we are going to Arizona for this one, where the frantic search for 81-year-old Nancy Guthrie continues. The story began
with an urgency that felt like a clock ticking somewhere out of sight. We have worked feverishly through the night to
bring you this report today with a lot of information coming from many different outlets. Some of it clear and
concise, and some of it left open to interpretation. So, bear with us as we do our very best to deliver to you the
news and updates in this ongoing story and investigation. Officials confirm several ransom notes. One of the ransom
notes sent to media included a 5:00 p.m. deadline, which expired yesterday, which
was Thursday, February 5th. Though no one could say which time zone the sender was referring to, but it is assumed
that the abductor or abductors were meaning the 5:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time. More concrete was another grim
detail, blood found on Nancy Guthrie's porch has been confirmed as hers. The Pima County Sheriff has tried to
instill hope in this case saying he believes Nancy Guthrie is still alive. Quote, "We believe Nancy is still out
there. We want her home." The Sheriff's Department, the FBI, and a network of agencies are working non-stop on this
case. The message repeated and reinforced through the official voice that sought to calm panic while
projecting relentless effort on behalf of law enforcement. The hope is simple, and its simplicity made it feel all the
more urgent. Bring Nancy home and then get to the truth. Bring Nancy home and get to the truth. On the ground in
Tucson, reporter Jonathan Hunt offered up a sobering update saying the most important
questions remain untouched. Where is Nancy Guthrie? Who is controlling her right now?
Without answers to those, we turn to the details, the kind that stitched together
a timeline. We know that Nancy had dinner Saturday night with family members believed to be her daughter
Annie and Annie's husband Tomasso. Then, the pivotal window of time, 41 minutes beginning at 1:47 a.m. Sunday morning.
So, at 1:47 a.m., Nancy's doorbell camera was disconnected. Around 2:12 a.m., another camera indicated and
detected something, a person, perhaps, but no one can say whether any visible video exist from that moment. It was as
if the cameras were aware but silent. Then at 2:28 a.m. a telling disruption occurred.
Nancy Guthrie's pacemaker disconnected from her Apple Watch and her iPhone. This break in the chain, technological
and medical, suggesting separation from these devices. And the point at which she was likely taken from her home, 2:28
a.m. But the largest question remained unanswered, who took her? The sheriff's words were deliberate and carefully
withheld from speculation. They are saying at this time no suspect has been identified, no person of interest named.
The sheriff's department emphasized that they were working at their best to develop leads, but no
one should be considered a prime suspect and no one would be officially ruled out. The
sheriff's remarks at the press conference, cautious. That's how I would describe them, as cautious. Better to
hold the possibility of someone's involvement than to prematurely absolve them and later discover an overlooked
connection. So, nobody ruled out, no suspects named. Earlier in the week, officials said the crime scene at
Nancy's home had been released. The investigative work there was done and complete, but that turned out to be a
temporary conclusion. Because less than a day later, the home became a point of focus again.
Deputies returned, this time with reinforcements. Border Patrol agents with K9 units alongside FBI personnel.
They carried out more items from the home, one of which appeared to be a computer terminal or monitor wrapped
neatly in brown paper. This item was placed into a law enforcement vehicle and driven away. So,
many wondering had something shifted in the investigation, something new or an insight
that possibly led investigators to want to come back to the scene of the abduction, Nancy's
home, and look again, further this time, more detailed, looking harder at the crime scene.
We also have the ransom notes. So, the caveat here, listeners, is these ransom notes are not fully
authenticated, and as you will later hear with some more information we have, there's some problems with these ransom
notes, these ransom letters. But, of course, you have to take this very seriously
at the same time. The FBI agent in charge spoke directly to those who might be holding
Nancy captive. The appeal was human, pleading, and practical, stating simply that Nancy Guthrie is an
84-year-old grandmother who needs vital medication. The window for doing the right thing, they added, still exists.
The FBI agent saying there's still a chance to return Nancy home to prevent things from getting worse. If she were
to pass because she's denied medication that she needs, vital medication, and she's in the control of these abductors,
that's murder. Your charges go from kidnapping and extortion to murder. Now, neither the FBI nor the
sheriff would discuss what was threatened in the ransom letters, the ransom notes,
or what was promised if the deadlines were missed. But, the key word there is deadlines. There are deadlines in these
ransom letters. So, what do we have in this case? Everybody's watching. What do we have? We have uncertainty.
No one knows, not even Nancy's famous daughter, Savannah. In a video plea to the abductors and to her mother,
Savannah says, "Mom, please come home if you can." The phrase, "if you can" is a complicated one.
Because some are even wondering, is this a kidnapping or a hoax? Without proof of
life, there is a line that the family says they will not cross. Without proof of life, there is a
line that the family, Nancy's family, says they will not cross, saying, "No money
will be wired to a Bitcoin account without knowing 100% that Nancy Gauff free is alive and will be returned." So,
some very good questions here. It would appear that this is about money, but if this is about money,
we know that the abductors have chose to communicate not through the family, not
through law enforcement, to seek this money, but through the media, through national media and
through local media there in Tucson and around Tucson, Arizona. So, if it's about money, why involve the
media? Why turn it into this big spectacle? Do they want everyone's eyes on this?
To me, I think that the publicity feels a bit intentional. How couldn't it not? It feels intentional. Aimed at creating
national attention, something a kidnapper typically, normally, would avoid. Unless there is some strategy
behind it. And if that is the case, what is that strategy? Again, we have the blood trail, house to
driveway, then stopping. We can surmise that this implies a struggle and resistance
>> [snorts] >> before the abduction and departure by a vehicle. So, we might go in circles here a bit,
but we want to give to you everything that we have on this case. Again, a lot of
information coming in fast and furious here, and we're doing our best to sift through it and give it to you in the
most concise manner possible. So, first, the timeline. All right, we will go through this completely, and then as a
follow-up, we can go through this in greater detail before we wrap up here and go back to
collecting more information as this story progresses, and hopefully as this leads to the capture of the
person or persons involved and the safe return of Nancy Guthrie. The timeline starts
with January 31st, 2026 at 5:32 p.m. Nancy traveled to a family member's home. This is a local
visit. At 9:48 p.m., family members or a family member dropped Nancy off at home,
and her garage door was opened. 2 minutes later at 9:50 p.m., her garage door is closed as it closes.
Now, to the small hours of February 1st, 2026 in the early early morning, we have
1:47 a.m. This is when everything starts to get very scary. 1:47 a.m., her doorbell
camera disconnects. And of course, given the result, we know this is intentional. 2:12 a.m.
Software security software detects a person on camera. Now, we need to be clear here.
There is no video available for this. They as far as we are being told, law enforcement
and the family does not have video of this person. Just simply a an alert an alarm saying that a camera has picked
something up, something in motion, we believe a person. Okay, so what's going on here? They have no video available.
There was no subscription at the time. Uh no current subscription for this security software that was
active. 2:28 a.m. Nancy Guthrie has a pacemaker. Her pacemaker app shows that it's
disconnected from her other devices. Okay, so she has devices, smart devices, her phone and Apple Watch monitoring and
keeping in contact with this pacemaker. The pacemaker app shows a disconnect at this time, 2:28 a.m.,
from her other devices. 11:56 a.m. Her family goes to check on her. And again, we'll get more into these
details as we go through the information. The devil's in the details, some say, and some say God is in the
details as well. 12:03 p.m. 911 is called. The 911 call goes to PCSD. That's the Pima County Sheriff's
Department. This is alerting them that something is wrong and that Nancy is missing. She's not at
her home where they expected her to be. 12:15 p.m. Patrol and Sheriff's Department personnel, the deputies are
on the scene. They're at Nancy's home. So, the disconnection of the camera or cameras
would suggest professionalism, precision, and then the movements prior of our victim, of our missing person, Nancy
Guthrie. She goes to a family member's home. She's returned just before 10:00 p.m.
Garage door open, garage door closes. You have to wonder what was going on in the home, if anything,
during that time that she was gone. Perhaps a person or persons, maybe they were inside before Nancy was
dropped off just before 10:00 p.m. on that Saturday night. Now, as we said, there was a second look
at the home, at the crime scene by FBI and deputies. While this may be standard protocol,
the FBI conducting their own sweep, or it could be something else, maybe prompted by some type of new discovery,
triggering them to return to the scene. Agents also went to the sister's house, Savannah's sister's
home. So, Savannah's sister has been met with some media scrutiny, internet scrutiny, directed at the
sister and particularly her husband. It looks like electronics have been taken for data downloads and digital
evidence both at Nancy's home and the sister/daughter's home. And there's been some confusion
that has stemmed from mixed statements coming out from law enforcement in this case.
We have forced entry that was mentioned and then retracted, and then information withheld. So,
changing details about whether there was forced entry or not forced entry into the home, changing
details about who dropped Nancy off. First, that person was mentioned by name at one point.
It So, it went from being she was dropped off by someone to family dropped her off to a specific person in the
family dropped her off to now back to just saying that family or a family member
was the one to return Nancy to her home on Saturday evening. Not just confusion here, but there's
also a level of scrutiny against the sheriff's department. Many citing the absence of a patrol car.
So, it's believed that nobody was guarding the scene for days. So, once they left initially and before they came
back, nobody was locking down the crime scene. So, you have reporters that were able to approach the house. And we know
that there's evidence outside of the home, outside of those four walls. We have the blood spatter on the front
porch. Could leaving this scene unsecured and not locked down, could this potentially compromise
the crime scene? The site of the abduction. Some even calling the sheriff's department's work
amateurish. Of course, very strange too is the multiple deadlines that we get in these
ransom letters, ransom notes. To me, that also feels a bit amateurish. Multiple deadlines?
So, we still have the deadline looming on Monday, this coming Monday at 5:00 p.m.
Now, a kidnapping for ransom involving someone with medical needs, I would say that there's reason to
believe that this person knew in advance that the victim has medical needs has medication that they need. She's not
extremely mobile, either. So, I think this could very well suggest more than one person is likely involved.
If that is the case, this would be an opening for the investigation to find weaknesses through
communications between co-conspirators. Find those communications. Those communications, often digital,
leave a footprint, leave a, for lack of better term, paper trail, a breadcrumb trail. These would be
extreme vulnerabilities to this operation and to avoid going undetected. Just a lot of questions and concerns looming
within the details on this ongoing story and investigation. The cameras that went dark, the blood
confirmed as Nancy's, the pacemaker disconnecting, these points form a skeleton of facts.
Law enforcement's returning to the house, then the removal [snorts] of electronics.
We also have the appeals to the potential kidnappers. The silence >> [snorts] >> from the media and from law enforcement
about the threats in the ransom note. The investigation is unfolding under intense pressure.
Pressure to bring Nancy home and now media pressure, as well. The family's pleas have echoed alongside
with caution. And yet, as this case drags on, hope is holding on steady that Nancy Guthrie is still alive
somewhere and there is still a chance to bring her home safely. More after this quick beer break.
>> [music] >> This show is sponsored by BetterHelp. Everyone is still just figuring it out,
whether it's single, dating, or in a relationship, we're all still trying to figure it out. February is the month of
hearts, roses, and chocolates. No matter where you are on your romance journey, single, dating, or just focusing on you,
therapy can be a helpful way to sort through it all. Signing up for therapy with BetterHelp can help you find your
way by understanding what you want from a relationship and taking some of the pressure off yourself. BetterHelp is the
world's largest online therapy platform and handles the initial therapist matching work for you. Just take a short
questionnaire to share your needs and preferences, and thanks to BetterHelp's industry-leading match fulfillment rate,
they usually get your match right the first time. You can also feel confident knowing BetterHelp therapists work
according to strict code of conduct and are fully licensed in the US. Everyone is still finding their way. Find yours
and feel lighter. Sign up and get 10% off at betterhelp.com/garage. That's betterhelp.com/garage.
Treat yourself by checking out betterhelp.com/garage today. With shorter days and packed schedules,
it's easy for kids to lose focus. IXL gives them a simple, stress-free way to keep skills sharp and stay engaged
without adding pressure. IXL is an award-winning online learning platform that helps kids truly
understand what they're learning. Whether they're building math confidence, strengthening reading and
writing skills, or reviewing science concepts, it covers math, language arts, science, and social studies from pre-K
through 12th grade with personalized interactive content that adapts to each child's level and pace. IXL's used in 96
of the top 100 school districts in the US. It's an easy way to support learning as the school year moves into its most
important stretch. Make an impact on your child's learning. Get IXL now and True Crime Garage listeners can get an
exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ixl.com/garage. Visit ixl.com/garage
to get the most effective learning program out there at the best price. A well-built wardrobe is about pieces
that work together and hold up over time. That's what Quince does best. Premium materials, thoughtful design,
and everyday staples that feel easy to wear and easy to rely on even as the weather shifts. Quince has the everyday
essentials with quality that last. Organic cotton sweaters, polos for every occasion, lighter jackets that keep you
warm in the changing seasons. The list goes on. Quince works directly with top factories and cuts out the middle men,
so you're not paying for brand markup, just quality clothing. I've told you before, one of my favorite and best
purchases I made late last year was Quince's men's cotton pique knit overshirt. It comes in three colors and
I love it so much that I got two of them. And I always pick up tees and some socks while shopping Quince. And
quince.com is not just great clothing. Shop for furniture, jewelry, travel, men's, women's, baby, and kids. Get a
Valentine's gift for her. Get a Valentine's gift for him. I love quince.com. Refresh your wardrobe with
Quince. Go to quince.com/garage for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too.
That's q u i n c e dot com slash garage. Free shipping and 365-day returns. quince.com/garage.
Stop paying too much for wireless just because that's how it's always been. Mint Mobile exists purely to fix that.
Same coverage, same speed, just without the inflated price tag. The premium wireless you expect, unlimited talk,
text, and data, but at a fraction of what others charge. And this is why I love Mint Mobile. It's the same wireless
that I always got. Unlimited talk, text, and data, but guess what? At a fraction
of the price. I'm saving roughly around $100 per month. That's crazy. That's $1,200 a year. With Mint Mobile, I'm
getting great coverage at a fraction of the price. I couldn't be happier. Ready to stop paying more than you have to?
New customers can make the switch today and for a limited time get unlimited premium wireless for just $15 per month.
Switch now at mintmobile.com/tcg. That's mintmobile.com/tcg. Upfront payment of $45 for 3 months, $90
for 6 months, and $180 for 12-month plan required. $15 per month equivalent. Taxes and fees extra. Initial plan term
only. Over 50 GB may slow when the network is busy. Capable device required. Ability, speed, and coverage
varies. Additional terms apply. See mintmobile.com. Switch now at mintmobile.com/tcg.
>> [music] >> Welcome back and cheers. The disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie from her home just outside of
Tucson, Arizona has triggered a frantic search, a puzzling ransom demand, and a family's desperate plea for her safe
return. Now, here is some very, very recent news, maybe connected, maybe not, but very interesting and it's difficult
to believe that this is 100% a coincidence. So, on the very same day that Nancy Guthrie vanished from her
Tucson residence, a separate, yet strangely parallel, dramatic drama unfolding just 2 hours
away. This is in the affluent city of Scottsdale, Arizona. Beautiful city of Scottsdale, Arizona. If you get the
opportunity, go there. Experience Scottsdale. It's great. While law enforcement officials have remained
tight-lipped on this one, making no official statements connecting this incident with the
incident in the ongoing investigation into Nancy Guthrie's disappearance and abduction,
there are simil- similarities. There are similarities here between them that are
very hard to ignore and we won't. So, the Scottsdale case centers around a multi-million dollar cryptocurrency
scheme allegedly orchestrated by two teenagers whose identity is known. They've been apprehended, but
their identities are being protected due to their status as minors. And as the information goes,
we know that on January 31st, these two young individuals reportedly approached a Scottsdale home
under the guise of being delivery drivers. This ruse, this disguise, simple, yet effective,
was designed to lower the guard of the residents within side that home. Once the door was opened, they allegedly
forced their way inside with their intentions quickly turning from delivery to domination. The victim was swiftly
overpowered and bound with duct tape, now a prisoner in their own home. According to court documents, the story
of how these two teenagers arrived at this moment is as convoluted as the crime itself, as convoluted as the Nancy
Guthrie story. But, the pair only recently met, which is very strange, and they were were reportedly being extorted
by some shadowy figures, known only by the cryptic monikers Red and Eight, persons identifying
themselves only as Red and Eight. These mysterious individuals allegedly dispatched the two teens from
California, providing them with a sum of $1,000 to procure provisions to carry out this abduction
or hostage situation. Okay, so this money is not for personal use. This was was earmarked for specific nefarious
purposes. To purchase supplies for this criminal enterprise. The shopping list included disguises to conceal their
identities, restraints to subdue their target, and an assortment of burglary tools. Once inside the Scottsdale home,
the home invasion began to unravel. The teenagers confronted one of the victims,
demanding that they turn over their cryptocurrency. However, the victim denied possessing any such digital
assets. Unbeknownst to the intruders, another person was actually in the house. This is an adult son was in a
different room. He managed to quietly call the police, alerting them that this situation is unfolding in real time. We
have a home invasion going on here. The arrival of law enforcement officers sent
the teenagers scrambling. They fled the scene in a desperate attempt to escape, but
the chase was short-lived. They were soon apprehended and taken into custody. Now, the case took another turn when one
of the teenagers' mothers discovered a series of alarming text messages on her son's phone.
The messages detailed a plan involving dressing up in a delivery uniform and committing a burglary. Critically, these
texts also contained the specific home address in Scottsdale that was the target.
The concerned mother immediately contacted law enforcement authorities in California, in the state of California,
who then turned over and notified Scottsdale Police Department about this what was looking like a potential burglary
attempt. So, these people have to endure this home invasion because unfortunately
this crucial piece of information actually arrived, made its way to Scottsdale Police
after the home invasion had already taken place. So, following their arrest, the two teenagers are now facing a
handful of serious felony charges, including burglary, aggravated assault, and kidnapping. During their capture,
police reported that the teens were in possession of a 3D printed gun. We're starting to see this pop up in other
cases, very recent cases, some of them that we have covered here in the garage. However, police noted that the weapon
contained no ammunition. Now, its actual functionality remains uncertain at this
time. This violent home invasion in Scottsdale, a city just 2 hours north of Tucson, where Nancy Guthrie has been
abducted, cast a long shadow over that ongoing investigation. The ongoing investigation
into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie. Now, as investigators work tirelessly to
piece together the final moments before she went missing, there's still those strange echoes between a kidnapping plot
for cryptocurrency and a woman's sudden disappearance, Nancy Guthrie's sudden disappearance,
that is leaving many more questions than answers. And then, we also have this. There is this as well, separate story
here. A 42-year-old California man was arrested for allegedly sending fake ransom text.
I'm saying the plural there, text, to Savannah Guthrie's family in connection to missing mother Nancy Guthrie.
A criminal complaint in that situation was filed on Thursday, February 5th, identifying this man as Derek
Calella. And I'm going to spell that because I don't feel confident that I'm saying it
correctly. Derek c a l l e l l a. Quote, "We have made one arrest related to an impostor ransom demand, and a complaint
will be presented to a magistrate judge later today." Said FBI agent Heath Jenke during a news
conference that took place early on Thursday. Quote, "My next message is to those imposters who are trying to take
advantage and profit from this situation. He's talking about missing Nancy Guthrie. And he adds, "We will
investigate and ensure you are held accountable for your actions." End quote. Now, let's go through this Nancy Guthrie
abduction timeline in some greater detail. This was to be an ordinary Saturday night. Nancy Guthrie, a regular
churchgoer, it's reported she took an Uber to the nearby home of her daughter Ann and her son-in-law, Tomasso. And
after an evening of dinner and games, a family member, remember it's now reported as a family member, dropped her
back at her house. This would be at 9:48 p.m. This sounds like a lovely evening together with family.
If it were me getting dropped off, little TV, maybe a glass of wine, hitting the hay. But that's not going to
be the case here. So, initial reports were vague about who this family member was, with the local sheriff only
confirming that it was family. However, subsequent report in The New York Times,
quoting the sheriff, identified the individual who dropped her off as the son-in-law, Tomasso.
And according to that report, he also allegedly ensured that Nancy made it safely inside the home before he pulled
off, before he drove off. Now, this discrepancy would later become a point of confusion and speculation as the
sheriff's office reverted to the more ambiguous quote family member end quote description a day later.
We know that Nancy entered her home through the garage, according to that report.
And for 2 minutes, the garage door remained open before closing. It is unknown if she locks her doors.
It's unknown if someone was already inside the home lying in wait. Now, the first sign that something was
terribly wrong occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning at 1:47 a.m. Nancy's doorbell camera was
disconnected. Authorities would later state that it had been physically physically removed
from the house and remains missing. So, not just disconnected, whoever disconnected it took it with them when
they took Nancy from the home. Then, just 25 minutes later at 2:12 a.m. security software connected to another
camera at the residence flagged the presence of a person. However, a critical failure in
the system meant no video was recorded. The homeowner, Nancy Guthrie, did not have a subscription for the service, so
the system was set to overwrite its own data like in a continuous loop. So, this
is a leaving investigators with the notification and alert, but actual no visual evidence,
or at least we are being told. At 2:28 a.m., this is 16 minutes after the person was detected on the property,
Nancy's pacemaker app, which was connected to her phone, was disconnected. It disconnected from that
device. So, this makes sense as her phone was later found left behind in her bedroom along with her Apple Watch. So,
somebody was mindful enough about these items or didn't care for them regardless
of the situation. We would probably be you know, we'd be able to find Nancy or have a better better lead as to her
location if either of these items were removed from the home or remained on her person. So, this 41-minute window,
right, from the disconnection of the doorbell camera to the pacemaker app going offline, This is going to be the
critical point of focus for the investigation. And as we said the following morning,
Nancy's absence was noted when she failed to show up for church, which was extremely unusual for Nancy. This was a
big time deviation from her routine. So by noon on Sunday, concerned family members went to check on her at the
house. They found the home empty. Nancy was gone. It's not known if they discovered the blood that has been
reported on the porch. The police were immediately called and what began as a wellness check quickly
escalated to a kidnapping investigation. Investigators arriving at the scene discovered evidence that pointed towards
a violent struggle. They were saying that very quickly that this was a crime scene that Nancy did not want to leave.
This has got to be from what they're seeing inside the home, obviously, but what's been reported, what we do know,
of course, is that blood found on the porch of the home. And then forensic analysis of that blood later confirmed
that it belonged to Nancy Guthrie. The case immediately after this entering a critical forensic
phase, authorities began the painstaking work of piecing together what happened. They started
reviewing surveillance footage from neighboring homes, analyzing cell tower data, and checking license plate cameras
in the area. And we're being told that all of this there's no signs of Nancy. Now, the investigation took a strange
and public turn with the emergence of a ransom note. However, this does not seem to be a typical kidnapping
scenario, right? Cuz instead of contacting the family directly, the note was sent to media outlets including a
local news station and the celebrity news site TMZ. If you have been alive and breathing the
last few years, you know exactly what TMZ is. They're all over social media, they're on
they're creeping into every body else's shows across all networks constantly. So, the
details of this ransom letter were described as the as as of this recording those ransom letters have not been made
public. If we have an arrest, if she's returned safely if this thing goes to court
we'll see those ransom letters. But from what we're being told, they're described
as terrifying, quote terrifying. This is how a local news anchor described the one they received saying that
the ransom communication they received contained sensitive information that only someone
directly involved in the abduction would know. The letter reportedly began by stating that Nancy is okay, but scared
and that she was aware of the letter and the demands within that letter. Crucially though, the ransom note
provided no proof that Nancy was alive and just as puzzling, no method for communication. How do we get in touch
with you? How do we communicate with you so we can execute giving you the money in return for the safe return of our
mother? The ransom letter did, as we state stated earlier, laid out a series of deadlines with the first set for 5:00
p.m. Thursday. That's come and gone. And a second deadline for this coming Monday. So, the
first deadline came and went with no contact from the supposed kidnappers. The lack of communication channel is
highly unusual for a kidnapper for ransom case, a kidnapping [snorts] for ransom case.
Because typically the primary goal of the perpetrators is to establish a direct private line of
communication to negotiate payment and receiving that payment. The family left in an agonizing state of
uncertainty made a public appeal. In a video message Nancy's son, his name is Cameron, so Cameron Guthrie spoke
directly to the captors saying, "Whoever is out there holding our mother, we want
to hear from you. We need you to reach out. We need a way to communicate with you so that we can move forward, but
first we have to know that you have our mom. We want to talk to you and we are waiting for contact." End quote. The
family later released a second video reiterating their desperation for proof of life. Quote, "We are ready to talk.
However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated. We need to know without a doubt that she is
alive and that you have her." During a second search, we talked about them going back, law enforcement going back,
during a second search of Nancy's home federal agents including border patrol and canine units
were seen removing items from the home including what appeared to be a computer monitor wrapped in brown paper. As the
investigation broadened, the FBI's presence became more prominent. FBI agents, federal agents were seen at the
home of Nancy's daughter, Annie, carrying a Cellebrite device. C E L L E B R I T E Cellebrite device. So this is
high-tech equipment. We often talk about the advantages these days that law enforcement have even at
the local level, not just at the federal level, at the local level. The Batman utility belt. What tools do you have in
your crime-fighting Batman utility belt? How can you detect crime? How can you identify criminals? How can you stop
them? How can you apprehend them? This is just another great device. And this is one of the first times that I'm
hearing of such of a such a device. So, this is high-tech equip equipment used to extract data from phones and
computers. That's to put it as simple as possible. We'll go through the intricacies of such device. So,
the families' own devices were being searched as part of this investigation. Makes sense.
The sheriff publicly stated that no one has been ruled out as a suspect. When asked specifically about family members,
he reiterated, "We don't have any suspects. We don't have any persons of interest." So, yes, at this point
everyone effectively remains a suspect. Former FBI agent who was a hostage negotiator, his name
Kyle Van Wechel, described the family's public pleas for contact as quote, "Not a positive sign."
Noting that in a typical kidnapping, the captors are the ones initiating communication to secure the ransom.
The fact that they sent the note to the media instead of the family, he says suggested a desire for attention
or possibly an ulterior motive beyond just getting paid, just getting that bag. The passing of the first deadline
without any word is also deeply wor- worrisome. Quote, "That would be a reason potentially for
the captor not to communicate back if there's no reason to communicate back, Bow Winkle said.
This, of course, alluding to the grim possibility that something may have gone wrong during the abduction or
the threat has been neutralized, I guess, where the that's the other thing that we have to consider here. That's a
sad possibility. It's rare, but it's also a sad possibility. Just because they are
demanding a ransom for her safe return, that doesn't 100% mean that Nancy Guthrie is still alive.
There is a public cry, a public urge for help with $50,000 a $50,000 reward offered for information
leading to Nancy's location. Billboards with her picture, with Nancy's picture, have gone up across the state of
Arizona. The public is advised to watch for unusual behavior in their communities.
Person or persons stockpiling supplies, restricting access to their homes, or being obsessively fixated on the news
coverage of the case. Former FBI special agent Tom Baker expressed hope, stating that with a
kidnapping for ransom, the FBI has a strong track record of resolving such cases with the vast majority of the
victims being recovered alive. If the motive wasn't money, he noted, it would be much harder to predict the
kidnapper's actions. Baker also commented on the decision to reprocess the crime scene, stating it
was not surprising as initial searches can miss crucial evidence. Other questions we have and others have,
simple. Why kidnap an 84-year-old woman? We know that there's a lot of money this
family has considerable assets, but why kidnap an 84-year-old woman? This demographic accounts for a very
minuscule percentage of all kidnappings. If it was about money, why make it a public spectacle by sending notes to the
media? And most importantly, of course, where is Nancy Guthrie? And now with no suspects, no definitive
motive, and a chilling silence from these abductors, her family and the authorities
are waiting, clinging to hope, hoping that they receive a message, a message that they desperately need,
proof of life. Now, back to the communication coming from the family. Nancy's son, Cameron
Guthrie, released an emotional video on Instagram. He spoke plainly and directly on behalf
of the family. "Whoever is holding their mother," he said, "needed to reach out to establish
a line of communication, any line." They needed proof that she was in their custody. They wanted to talk. They are
waiting. They are ready, but first they needed confirmation that whoever they are
dealing with truly has their mother. We already mentioned one hoax here in the situation.
The local Arizona news anchor, who had eyes on the ransom note, one of the ransom communications, described the
moment that her her station, her news station, realized this was in the form of an email, that a
ransom email they received was legitimate. She said, "Tips arrive in our newsroom constantly,
but this message was different. It included a specific dollar amount, a precise deadline, and details only a
focused abductor would likely know." The team who first saw it flagged it immediately. A few sentences in, they
say the tone shifted. "This didn't feel like a prank. They say it felt structured, pointed, and potentially
real. So, they reported it. TMZ reported the second deadline. And live on air, their team stated that
the first deadline changed the demands while the second set for Monday was, quote, much more serious, end quote.
I would love to know the particulars and the details of those communications and
have the opportunity to cross-reference them. So, how do we save Nancy? Well, authorities,
as we said, this this is the high-tech way of solving these types of cases. Authorities appear to have removed a
UFED device, a Cellebrite device. So, this is, uh, UFED standing for Universal Forensic Extraction Device.
And it's believed that this was spotted removing it from Annie's home, one of Nancy's daughters,
and it being carried out of Nancy's home as well. So, Cellebrite technology can extract data from devices at multiple
levels. Physical, file system, and logical. It can pull deleted content, encrypted messages, app
communications, timestamps, fragments, virtually everything that's ever passed through the devices storage systems.
Okay, so any device in this general area inside these homes, it should be able to
extract information, any, as said, virtually everything that's ever passed through the devices storage systems. So,
if this investigation is digital, then the UFED is a critical step. So, investigators were looking for and from
which devices, right? What are they looking for and from which devices? The likely answer, everything digital
connected to the family's home ecosystems. Phones, tablets, laptops, routers, watches, cameras.
What do we know? Well, one thing, and I keep going back to this, there was a spike in Nancy's pacemaker around 2:00
a.m. Okay? So, this would be consistent with a moment of surprise, fear, or sudden
change in her physical state. Guesses here, based off of the the limited timeline we have, the abductor somehow
enters the home from somewhere other than the front door, right? Not picked up by that Nest camera. Navigates the
house without tripping visible, you know, visibly getting tripped up or seen on any cameras or devices, and manages
to reach that doorbell camera, the the Nest device, and disables it or yanks it without being recorded. Then, around
2:00 a.m., that spike that pacemaker spike around 2:00 a.m., Nancy is likely awakened or startled, and the pacemaker
spikes then. We also know within 28 minutes the pacemaker's Bluetooth connection to her
iPhone disappears, indicating physical separation beyond normal Bluetooth range. Okay? So, this means
not a cardiac failure and not death. This is just distance. So, in that span, she is moved off of the premises.
These Celebrate devices retrieve communications broadly, and I'm going through a lot of what I'm learning about
the Celebrate device with you, as I've just learned a lot of this information myself. What remains on a
phone, according to the information I have, what remains on a phone is often far more than what the user
would even realize. So, some things, some key things, again, with this investigation here, and even with all
this data collection, we're still yet to identify any suspect or name a person of
interest. Of course, investigators will be looking and have looked at the family first, spouses, children,
siblings, including Savannah, the public figure. This is routine. The Cellebrite device, as said, it's a
physical extraction. These tools extract data at multiple levels. Physical extraction to the deepest level. A
comprehensive dump that can reveal touches, opens, fragment carvings, everything that a device ever did,
according to what they are saying publicly. Everything that a device ever did, right? File system extraction, they can
recover deleted files, deleted messages, emails, calls, and communications. And again, people often mistakenly believe
deleted items are gone. In reality, digital forensics can reconstruct or at least recover See, this is key, too. Can
reconstruct or at least recover vast amounts of data. Meaning the majority or mostly all.
We're hoping for all. Smart devices of all sorts, they can pull information from them. Phones, tablets, laptops,
routers, Apple watches, ring cameras. The other thing, too, I mean, even in this day and age, we have smart
refrigerators. It's going to be a mountain of data that will be pulled by these devices. And
even Nancy's phone, again, left behind, left at the scene, could ironically provide the FBI
with rich insight into everything around her, the house, the network, the house network, the ecosystem, patterns before
she was abducted, patterns in her lifestyle before she was abducted. The ransom letter's second deadline,
Monday, 5:00 p.m., is obviously the real real threat here. But, also these ransom
letters can deepen the digital footprints for [snorts] this case and investigation. So, we all know
the FBI uses sophisticated technology, sophisticated analytics, including AI-assisted crime analysis to trace
origins, IP addresses, and network behaviors. And while there are those in the public who can mask IP addresses,
law enforcement armed with warrants can work through service providers to peel layers of anonymity.
These efforts are already underway. They have to be already underway in this case.
And we know that because we have already seen deployment of teams specializing in
cellular activity examining cell phone data across dozens of towers within a defined radius of this kidnapping. On
this show, on True Crime Garage, in the last 15 to 18 months, we have talked a lot about license plate readers. We've
talked about several cases involving license plate readers. And how much they are helping us catch the bad guy.
Not only catch the bad guy, we can often track a a trail of the offender. We might be able to figure out how the
offender got to Nancy's home, how they left her home, what route they took, and where they are. Nancy's location, the
location of the abductors. We might be able to figure that all out with license plate readers, street cameras, and
surveillance systems. So, even if someone has used stolen plates, you know if you've listened to this show
long enough that these readers capture vehicle make, model, and color offering leads. And in some cases, they're so
detailed. In some locations, they're so detailed and close enough that the camera angle can provide you an idea of
what the driver may look like, a description of the driver. Someone disconnected and stole Nancy Guthrie's
doorbell camera. That to me is very interesting and again, it would appear I would think somebody from inside the
home opens up the front door and puts their hand and arm out there and rips that thing off of the wall. They're
never seen, never spotted by that camera. The camera, this doorbell camera was removed from the scene. Keep that in
mind. It's still missing from the scene. Very serious stuff. We hope and pray for the very best for Nancy
Guthrie. Nancy Guthrie is an 84-year-old grandmother with a pacemaker and she needs vital
medication. Okay, so she takes daily heart medication. She needs this presumably daily. I'm hoping and praying
it look Traditionally, the kidnapper takes a victim, demands a ransom, and in some cases gets that ransom and returns
the victim or lets the victim go. I'm hoping that that abductor or these abductors in Nancy's case were smart
enough and knew enough about her that they want to keep her alive. It It would seem to me that it is in their best
interest uh for a multitude of reasons to keep her alive. And if that is the case,
hopefully they brought this medication with them and can continue to give it to her, give her food and water, and at
least keep her comfortable. Please do not hurt her. Nancy Guthrie is an 84-year-old
grandmother with a pacemaker and she needs vital medication. Anyone with any information at all, please call. The
number for help here is 1-800-CALL-FBI. 1-800-C-A-L-L-F-B-I. The number for information
1-800-CALL-FBI. There is a $50,000 reward leading to the location of Nancy Guthrie. We thank you
for listening. We thank you for telling a friend about True Crime Garage. Join us back here in the garage next week
when we take a look at a cold case with some new information, some very new vital information on a cold case.
And until then, be good, be kind, and don't litter. >> [music] [music] [music] [music]
>> How do you make chicken nuggets like 7,000% better? >> [music] >> Short answer, you let Taco Bell make
them. Long answer, start with all white meat chicken nuggets, bread them in crunchy tortilla chips, and serve them
with Hidden Valley Diablo Ranch. >> [music] >> Yep, that's Hidden Valley Ranch mixed
with Taco Bell Diablo sauce. It's exactly what it sounds like [music] and somehow even better. Simple math, spicy
results. Crispy chicken nuggets from Taco Bell. >> [music] >> A brand new classic. At participating US
Taco Bell locations for a limited time only, while supplies last. >> [music]

Nancy Guthrie Missing ////// 902

www.TrueCrimeGarage.com (http://www.truecrimegarage.com/)

On February 1, 2026 someone removed 84 year old Nancy Guthrie from her home. Several ransom communications have been sent to the media and to the family. Today we go through what is known and the questions that remain. There is a $50k reward for information leading to Nancy’s location. Nancy is a caucasian female, 5’4” tall, 150 pounds, with Brown hair and Blue eyes. She was last seen at her home in the Catalina Foothills neighborhood of Tucson, Arizona on the night of January 31, 2006. If you have information concerning this case, please contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or you can submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov (http://tips.fbi.gov/)

More True Crime Garage can be found on Patreon and Apple subscriptions with our show - Off The Record. Catch dozens of episodes of Off The Record plus a couple of Bonus episodes and our first 50 when you sign up today.

True Crime Garage merchandise is available on our website’s store page.

Follow the show on Insta @TrueCrimeGarage

Thanks for listening and thanks for telling a friend. Be good, be kind, and don’t litter!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com (https://pcm.adswizz.com) for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Brief Summary

Nancy Guthrie, 84, is missing; ransom notes complicate her abduction case in Tucson, Arizona.

Key points

The Disappearance of Nancy Guthrie. An 84-year-old grandmother goes missing, prompting an urgent FBI investigation.
Ransom Notes and Urgency. Ransom notes raise the stakes as the search for Nancy intensifies.
A Frantic Search. The search for Nancy continues with law enforcement working non-stop.
Nancy Guthrie's Disappearance. The sudden disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie triggers a frantic search and ransom demand.
Teenagers Arrested in Home Invasion. Two teenagers are apprehended after a violent home invasion linked to a cryptocurrency scheme.
Ransom Note Sent to Media. A ransom note is sent to media outlets, raising questions about the kidnappers' motives.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

We believe Nancy is still out there. We want her home.

Sheriff's Department statement about Nancy Guthrie's case

4:15WatchFeb 7, 2026

Tension

75/ 100High tension

More from True Crime Garage TV

Solve the Crime

Read a real case one clue at a time, then see how your call held up against the investigators.