Images of an armed individual who appears to be tampering with a security camera at the front door of Nancy Guthrie’s Tucson home the day of her disappearance were released Tuesday by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.
Image capture from Nancy Guthrie‘s front door the morning of her disappearance.
The images show a person wearing a ski mask and gloves, with a weapon visible at the their waist, reaching for the camera.
The images were recovered from a Nest camera recording at Nancy Guthrie’s residence, according to a sheriff’s department news release. Investigators said the video was “recovered from residual data located in backend systems.”
The FBI and Sheriff's Department has been working with private sector partners over the last eight days to recover video footage or images that investigators said may have been “lost, corrupted, or inaccessible” after video cameras at Guthrie’s home were damaged or removed.
Nancy Guthrie's daughter, Savannah Guthrie, shared the images on Instagram not long after the FBI released them.
"We believe she is alive. Bring her home," the NBC "Today" show host posted.
The images came a day after Guthrie pleaded in a new video Monday for the public to tell law enforcement if they see or hear anything that might be useful to the search for her missing mother, Nancy.
Image capture from Nancy Guthrie‘s front door the morning of her disappearance.
"We are at an hour of desperation. And we need your help," she said in the video posted to Instagram, anguish in her face and voice.
The FBI issued a statement later Monday saying officials were "not aware of any continued communication between the Guthrie family and suspected kidnappers, nor have we identified a suspect or person of interest in this case at this time." That came as a Feb. 9 payment deadline, contained in an alleged ransom letter sent to Tucson television stations, passed.
"We are currently operating a 24-hour command post that includes crisis management experts, analytic support, and investigative teams. But we still need the public's help," the FBI's statement said.
This image was captured from Nancy Guthrie‘s front door the morning of her disappearance.
"Someone has that one piece of information that can help us bring Nancy home. We need that person to share what they know. Please call us at 1-800-CALL-FBI."
Savannah Guthrie opened her Monday video, in which she appeared to be speaking without using a prepared statement this time, by saying she wanted to share some thoughts "as we enter into another week of this nightmare."
On behalf of herself, her sister and her brother, she said, "Thank you so much for all the prayers and the love that we have felt."
"We believe our mom is still out there," that she has been able to feel the love and prayers, as well, and that "God is lifting her up" even in this dark time, Guthrie said, adding:
"She was taken and we don't know where."
Guthrie did not address any potential kidnappers directly in the new video, as she and her siblings did in three previous videos shared since their mother went missing from her Tucson home more than a week ago.
She also did not mention any ransom, after saying in a video Saturday with her sister Annie and brother Camron: "We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her. This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us and we will pay."
Nancy Guthrie
At last report, authorities had said the family had no way of directly communicating with ransom seekers. In previous videos, the siblings also begged the ransom seekers to provide proof they have their mother.
Nancy Guthrie, an 84-year-old retired University of Arizona communications professional known for community leadership, is believed to have been abducted in the early morning hours Feb. 1 from her longtime home near North Campbell Avenue and East Skyline Drive, authorities have said.
The Pima County Sheriff's Department said Sunday that investigators still had not identified any suspects, persons of interest, or vehicles connected to the case.
A passerby walks a dog past Nancy Guthrie's home Monday as a deputy is stationed in front of the property.
The latest update Monday afternoon from the Sheriff's Department said investigators were following up on new leads, adding:
"Many of you observed an active law enforcement presence at the Guthrie residences over the weekend. That activity will continue tonight and into tomorrow as part of the ongoing investigative process, including the expansion of the search and follow-up on new leads. This is all part of the investigative process, as the search for Nancy expands and new leads come in. To preserve the integrity of this criminal investigation, details of that process are not being released at this time."
Savannah Guthrie said in her new video "law enforcement is working tirelessly" to try to find Nancy and bring her home, but needs help from anyone, whether in Tucson or far away, who might have information that could help the search.
The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to her recovery and/or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance.
Image capture from Nancy Guthrie‘s front door the morning of her disappearance.
"Thousands of calls have been received across multiple tip lines, and investigators continue to review them," the Sheriff's Department said Monday.
"Anyone who believes they have information that may assist investigators is asked to contact 1-800-CALL-FBI, the PCSD non-emergency line at 520-351-4900 or 88-CRIME. Video or pictures can also be uploaded via the QR code" created by the Sheriff's Department for this case. Law enforcement tip lines have received thousands of calls, the Sheriff’s Department said Monday.
The QR code where the public can upload any photos or videos they think might be of interest to law enforcement investigating the Nancy Guthrie disappearance.
The Sheriff's Department has also urged people not to use the law enforcement phone lines to call in general messages of sympathy, support and prayers for the Guthrie family, however.
"We respectfully ask that these messages be shared on social media and not through the PCSD non-emergency phone line," the department said last week. "Calls expressing condolences have overwhelmed our communications staff, and it's critical that the line remain available for law enforcement purposes."
Fox News reported Monday that "a source close to the Guthrie family" said details of how Nancy Guthrie was found to be missing have been inaccurately reported. It wasn't that she failed to attend a local church service on Feb. 1, that source told Fox, but that she didn't show up to a regular Sunday morning gathering of friends here to watch a service broadcast via livestream from a New York church attended by Savannah Guthrie.
Savannah Guthrie says "We need your help" in a new Instagram video posted Monday afternoon. Source: Savannah Guthrie's Instagram
