Guthrie case investigators question neighbors about any internet issues on the night she disappeared
Guthrie case investigators question neighbors about any internet issues on the night she disappeared
Law enforcement is seeking clues in the search for Nancy Guthrie by inquiring about residents in the area who might have noticed disruptions to their internet connections during the time she vanished. On Thursday, both the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI conducted door-to-door interviews in Guthrie’s neighborhood within the Catalina Foothills of Tucson, Arizona, to gather information.
Several homeowners in the community shared with NBC News that the agents visited their homes and specifically asked if they had encountered any connectivity problems the night of her disappearance. According to these residents, the investigators mentioned that multiple people in the vicinity had reported unusual internet glitches during that timeframe.
Two homeowners noted that the investigators also questioned them about video footage from January 11. However, authorities have not yet confirmed whether they are investigating events on that date or provided reasoning for their focus. Three other residents, who spoke to NBC on Thursday, stated they were either asleep or away from home at the time of the abduction and couldn’t verify if there were internet issues.
Couple reports unusual camera glitch
A couple residing next to Guthrie’s home told NBC News on Friday that they noticed a glitch with one of their Ring cameras the night she disappeared. They explained that among their four cameras, the one closest to her residence displayed a “not available” message when they checked footage from the early hours of the abduction. The other cameras, positioned farther away, did not experience the same issue.
“That’s really weird, isn’t it?” the couple remarked, highlighting the strange timing of the camera malfunction.
NBC News has contacted Ring for additional comments, while the FBI and sheriff’s department have not yet explained their interest in the reported internet anomalies.
When asked by NBC News earlier this week about the possibility of a suspect using a Wi-Fi jammer, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos responded: “I’ve not looked at that closely, but yeah, I know that my team has examined it with the FBI from every angle.”
Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of “TODAY” co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, has been missing for over a month. Despite extensive efforts, no suspects or persons of interest have been publicly identified in her disappearance. She was last seen around 9:45 p.m. on January 31 after having dinner with her daughter Annie. Her absence was officially reported on February 1 when she failed to appear at a friend’s house for a livestreamed church service.
Authorities believe the case may involve a kidnapping or abduction, but details have remained elusive. Last month, the FBI released doorbell camera footage and images of an armed, masked man wearing gloves and a black, 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack, which appeared outside Guthrie’s home early on the night she went missing. The individual is considered a suspect, though his identity remains unknown.
Savannah Guthrie, who has been on leave from the “TODAY” show and is in Arizona with her family, visited the New York City studio earlier this week. She expressed her intention to return to her position, though she emphasized her commitment to supporting her family and aiding in Nancy’s recovery.
The Guthrie family announced on February 24 that they are offering a $1 million reward for any information leading to Nancy’s safe return. This reward is joined by incentives from the FBI and Crime Stoppers.
Liz Kreutz is an NBC News correspondent. Rebecca Cohen is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.
