A person of interest was detained on February 10 in connection with the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, the mother of NBC “Today” show co-host Savannah Guthrie, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed.
The detention comes after a second ransom deadline passed and after authorities discovered what they described as a blood trail and surveillance footage at the elderly woman’s Arizona home.
Pima County Sheriff’s deputies stopped the unidentified subject south of Tucson hours after SWAT vehicles were spotted leaving the department. The sheriff’s department posted to X on February 10, stating, “Earlier today, Pima County Sheriff’s Department deputies detained a subject during a traffic stop south of Tucson. The subject is currently being questioned in connection to the Nancy Guthrie investigation. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.”
On February 10, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, along with the FBI Evidence Response Team, conducted a court-ordered search of a property in Rio Rico, Arizona, in connection with the Guthrie investigation, Fox 4 KDFW reported. As of early Wednesday morning, PCSD has not released any further details about the search.
Guthrie vanished from her Catalina Foothills home near East Skyline Drive and North Campbell Avenue on January 31. Her family reported her missing the next day when she failed to appear at church.
The 84-year-old relies on medication and uses a pacemaker, according to family pleas posted on Instagram.
Ransom notes reportedly sent to TMZ and Tucson television station KOLD demanded payment in Bitcoin. Two deadlines passed without resolution on February 5 and February 9.
TMZ reported on February 10 that $300 appeared in the Bitcoin account referenced in the ransom demand.
Federal and local investigators intensified their search after discovering a blood trail and surveillance footage of an armed suspect at Guthrie’s residence. Authorities haven’t confirmed whether the detained person matches the surveillance footage.
Authorities continue questioning the detained individual as the investigation remains active.