In the last 24 hours, significant developments have emerged regarding the high-profile case of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance.
One individual was apprehended for questioning but was subsequently released — and most importantly, the surveillance footage from Guthrie’s residence has ignited a strong public response.
Currently, a former FBI agent has indicated that the alleged kidnapper may have committed a critical error.
Raised red flags
The urgent search for Savannah Guthrie’s 84-year-old mother, who co-hosts the “Today” show, has now reached its eleventh day, and newly unveiled FBI images and video provide the first disturbing insight into the suspect.
The footage, which was released by the FBI and obtained from a Nest security camera positioned outside Nancy Guthrie’s Tucson home, depicts a masked individual dressed in light-colored attire approaching the residence during the night.
In one particular frame, the individual seems to be holding a firearm in a manner that immediately raised concerns for former FBI agent Mark Harrigan.
“That is an exceptionally unconventional method of carrying a firearm. Quite unconventional,” Harrigan remarked to The New York Post, indicating what seems to be the weapon situated at the front of the suspect’s body.
“He has it displayed openly, which is atypical, as one would generally prefer it concealed when committing a crime to avoid drawing attention to oneself with a visible firearm,” he stated.
As per Harrigan, who formerly directed the FBI’s Firearms Training Program, this aspect may imply a lack of experience.
A “rookie”
“This could indicate an individual who is not typically armed or does not carry a firearm in public. Typically, one would have it positioned on the hip,” he clarified.
“You do not carry it on your hip bone due to discomfort. He might have had it hidden in his backpack and opted to place it on his waist as he approached the door,” he further explained.
Harrigan’s perspective is echoed by veteran private investigator Andy Kay, who referred to the alleged kidnapper as a “rookie” because of the awkward manner in which their weapon was holstered.
The actions of the suspect near the camera attracted attention, particularly one notable detail: the masked individual appears to grasp nearby foliage in an attempt to obscure the lens.
“He clenches his fist, and then you observe him retreating from the vestibule. It seems he is searching for something to hide the camera. He bends down and collects some vegetation in a bid to cover the camera,” Harrigan elaborated.
“A more astute individual would have brought something from the outset. Perhaps a hammer or an item to detach the camera, or even spray paint,” he continued.
The release of the video occurred 10 days after Nancy’s disappearance — a delay that authorities attribute in part to the removal of her physical security camera and the fact that she did not subscribe to Google Home’s paid cloud storage service.
This situation resulted in the footage not being automatically saved.
Former prosecutor and current defense attorney John W. Day remarked that the recovery effort itself illustrates the extent to which investigators had to go.
“It provides us with some understanding of what Google is capable of,” Day informed The New York Post.
The $50,000 reward
FBI Director Kash Patel stated that the footage was “retrieved from residual data found in backend systems,” implying it needed to be reconstructed from corrupted or erased files. The FBI is still offering a $50,000 reward for any information regarding Nancy Guthrie or her supposed abductor.
Nancy’s daughter, Savannah, posted the disturbing images and videos on Instagram shortly after the new footage was released to the public.
“Someone out there recognizes this individual. We believe she is still alive. Please bring her home,” the 54-year-old host of the “Today” show urged, adding, “We have faith that she is still alive.”
Yesterday, FBI Director Kash Patel informed Fox News’ Sean Hannity that the agency is currently investigating several persons of interest in the search for Nancy Guthrie.
One man was detained.
“Without compromising the investigation, I can say we have made significant progress in the last 36-48 hours, thanks to the FBI’s technical capabilities and our collaborations. I believe we are examining individuals who, as we refer to them, are persons of interest. However, as you are aware, in any investigation, you remain a person of interest until you are either cleared or identified as the perpetrator or perpetrators involved, and that is the phase we are currently in,” Patel remarked.
Early Wednesday, a man who had been detained in relation to Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance was released without any charges. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department announced on Tuesday that deputies had stopped a vehicle south of Tucson and questioned the individual as part of the Guthrie investigation. Authorities have not officially identified any suspect or person of interest.
Carlos Palazuelos informed Fox News that he was the individual who was stopped and questioned, but he maintained that he had no connection to the case. “I make deliveries in the Tucson area,” he explained, noting that investigators inquired about his recent activities. He also mentioned that authorities had shown a photo of someone wearing a mask to his in-law, and “they supposedly resembled my eyes.”
