Car towed, vehicle of interest sought in Nancy Guthrie case
Investigators towed a car and obtained video footage of a vehicle of interest but have no firm leads on the whereabouts of Nancy Guthrie, 84, after she went missing from her Tucson home early Sunday morning. Image by the Department of Justice/FBI
Feb. 7 (UPI) — Investigators towed a vehicle and searched Nancy Guthrie’s Tucson, Ariz., home and property and are seeking a vehicle of interest seven days after she went missing.
Investigators searched her home and property on Friday and towed a car that was parked near it, but they still have no suspects.
Instead, they have a vehicle of interest and obtained video footage of the vehicle and possibly one or more occupants that was recorded by a surveillance camera at an Arizona Circle K.
Digital billboards in Texas, New Mexico and California are assisting with the hunt for information that might lead to Guthrie’s recovery or identify her potential kidnappers.
The digital billboards mostly are placed along the I-10 corridor, from Houston to San Diego, and in Albuquerque, Los Angeles and Dallas.
Guthrie, 84, is the mother of NBC Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie and likely was abducted from her home during the early morning hours on Sunday.
Investigators have no persons of interest so far, despite receiving several ransom notes, including one on Friday that might be genuine.
They said she likely was abducted from her Tucson home early Sunday morning and are treating a prior ransom note that was sent to multiple news outlets as authentic due to the detailed information that matches what was found at her home.
A local television station received another ransom note on Friday morning, which authorities are trying to authenticate.
Investigators also confirmed that blood drops near her home’s entrance are Guthrie’s.
They have not received any proof of life regarding her condition, but they are working on the assumption that she is alive until proven otherwise, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told reporters on Thursday.
The FBI has issued a $50,000 reward for information leading to Guthrie’s recovery.
Before her disappearance, investigators said Nancy Guthrie visited with family members at 5:32 p.m. on Saturday and returned to her home at 9:48 p.m.
She obtained rides from the Uber ride-hailing service, and investigators spoke with the driver who took her home.
Investigators said a doorbell camera on her home was disabled at 1:47 a.m. on Sunday, but its software detected movement at 2:12 a.m.
Her pacemaker disconnected from her personal device at 2:28 a.m., and her family arrived at the home to check on her several hours later at 11:56 a.m.
They placed a 911 call minutes later at 12:03 p.m., and Pima County Sheriff’s deputies arrived about 10 minutes later.