The search for Nancy Guthrie, reported missing on Feb. 1, has taken a new turn. Investigators released front-door camera footage showing a masked person near her entryway the morning she disappeared, and law enforcement is urgently asking Tucson residents to check and share any surveillance recordings dating back to early January. Canvass teams have walked neighbourhoods, collected items from properties and begun detailed forensic work. Experts say early doorbell clips can be decisive in missing-person cases—and investigators are treating this footage as a central lead.
New lead from doorbell footage
Federal and local teams say the front-door clips show a masked individual outside Guthrie’s home on the morning she vanished. Authorities have not identified the person or released a formal suspect description. Because images travel fast online, officials are urging the public not to repost or speculate about unverified material so the probe isn’t compromised.
What investigators are asking
Police want any doorbell, security or dash-cam video from early January through Feb. 1. They ask that people preserve original files with metadata when possible, and submit footage through official channels. Collected items from nearby properties will undergo forensic testing as teams work to pin down a timeline and trace movements around the residence.
What we know so far
– Person reported missing: Nancy Guthrie, reported Feb. 1. – Key evidence: front-door camera footage showing a masked person the morning she disappeared. – Focus area: Catalina Foothills and surrounding Tucson neighbourhoods, where canvasses and searches are underway. Authorities stress that new material could change the direction of the investigation as lab results and video reviews come in.
Forensic focus and items of interest
Investigators are synchronizing camera footage with witness statements to build a minute-by-minute sequence. Forensic teams have tested recovered items, including gloves found near the scene, and briefly deployed a forensic tent at the residence to document the porch and preserve trace evidence. The doorbell system’s backend data helped recover the clips, and specialists used fixed points on the porch to estimate the subject’s height.
The FBI described the person in the footage as a male roughly 5’9″–5’10” with an average build. Video frames also show a dark backpack identified as a 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack (a private-label model sold at Walmart). Investigators hope distinctive items like that will prompt focused tips from the public.
Search expansion and community outreach
Law enforcement widened its public appeal and stepped up physical searches around Guthrie’s home. Officers have canvassed within roughly a three-kilometre radius, checked brush and culverts, and knocked on doors in the Catalina Foothills interviewing neighbours about anything unusual. The FBI has raised the reward for useful information to $100,000; officials say clearer identifying details from private recordings could help sift through the more than 13,000 tips already received.
Medical urgency
Officials emphasize that Guthrie requires daily medications; missing doses could pose serious health risks. That medical concern adds urgency to the search and shapes investigative priorities. Investigators ask anyone with potentially relevant information to come forward quickly to help secure necessary treatments and assist the inquiry.
Community response and impact
The footage’s release rattled neighbours but also prompted acts of solidarity: flowers, notes and small vigils near the family home. Local groups and volunteers have organized extra check-ins and shared safety advice, especially for those who live alone or care for older relatives. While publicized imagery can heighten fear, neighbours say their efforts have moved from anxious conversation to practical support.
Cautions about tips and false leads
Investigators are sorting through tips alongside technical leads. Several ransom messages have circulated, and authorities are vetting their authenticity; digital forensics takes time. Separately, investigators allege a man in California sent fraudulent ransom notes and he has since faced legal restrictions while prosecutors prepare that case. Officials stress the importance of distinguishing genuine information from opportunistic hoaxes so the investigation stays focused.
New lead from doorbell footage
Federal and local teams say the front-door clips show a masked individual outside Guthrie’s home on the morning she vanished. Authorities have not identified the person or released a formal suspect description. Because images travel fast online, officials are urging the public not to repost or speculate about unverified material so the probe isn’t compromised.0
New lead from doorbell footage
Federal and local teams say the front-door clips show a masked individual outside Guthrie’s home on the morning she vanished. Authorities have not identified the person or released a formal suspect description. Because images travel fast online, officials are urging the public not to repost or speculate about unverified material so the probe isn’t compromised.1
New lead from doorbell footage
Federal and local teams say the front-door clips show a masked individual outside Guthrie’s home on the morning she vanished. Authorities have not identified the person or released a formal suspect description. Because images travel fast online, officials are urging the public not to repost or speculate about unverified material so the probe isn’t compromised.2