TUCSON, Ariz. (Diya TV) — Authorities have released a person who was detained for questioning in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of “Today” show co-host Savannah Guthrie. Investigators say the case remains active and ongoing. Nancy Guthrie has been missing for more than 10 days. She was last seen around midnight on Jan. 31 at her home in the Catalina Foothills area of Tucson, Arizona. Law enforcement officials continue to investigate what they describe as a possible abduction.
Earlier this week, officers detained one person in connection with the case. Authorities located the individual south of Tucson near Rio Rico, Arizona. The area sits about an hour from Guthrie’s home. Officials said investigators developed several leads over recent days. Those leads led to the detention. However, authorities did not file charges. They later released the individual.
The FBI has deferred questions about the person’s identity to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. The sheriff’s department has not released the name of the individual. Officials have stressed that they have not labeled the person as a suspect. Investigators also completed a search of a property in Rio Rico. Authorities have not shared details about what, if anything, they found during that search.
The FBI recently released high-resolution surveillance images and video clips connected to the disappearance. The footage shows a person of interest outside Nancy Guthrie’s Tucson home on the morning she vanished.
Investigators recovered the footage from residual data stored in the home’s backend systems. Someone had removed the main recording device. However, technicians retrieved the video from the remaining digital data. The video shows an armed individual near the residence. The person wore a full-face ski mask, also known as a balaclava. The individual also wore dark gloves, a zip-up jacket, khaki pants, and sneakers. A backpack with reflective strips appears in the footage.
The person appears to carry a handgun. The video also shows the individual holding a flashlight in their mouth. This allowed the person to keep both hands free. Only the person’s eyes and eyebrows are visible through the mask. Investigators noted what appears to be dark facial hair or a mustache. The video shows the masked individual standing in front of Guthrie’s doorbell camera. The person later covers the doorbell with plants pulled from the garden.
Authorities have not confirmed the identity of the person in the footage. They have described the individual as a “person of interest” in what they call the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie.
As the investigation continues, social media users have shared theories about the masked person. Some claim the individual matches the physical build of Tommaso Cioni, who is Nancy Guthrie’s son-in-law and the husband of Annie Guthrie.
Online posts point to similarities in build and facial hair, including a mustache and beard. Others have mentioned Dominic Evans, described as a longtime friend and bandmate of Cioni in the group Early Black. Law enforcement officials have not named Cioni, Evans, or anyone else as a suspect. Authorities have urged the public to avoid speculation and allow investigators to follow verified leads.
The disappearance of Nancy Guthrie has drawn national attention due to her connection to Savannah Guthrie. Still, local and federal authorities say they are treating the case like any other serious missing person investigation. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI continue to work together. Investigators say they are examining digital evidence, surveillance footage, and tips from the public. They have asked anyone with information about the Tucson disappearance to contact law enforcement.
Officials have not disclosed a possible motive. They also have not confirmed whether they believe Nancy Guthrie remains in the Tucson area. As the search enters its second week, authorities say they remain focused on finding answers. They continue to ask the public for patience as they pursue every possible lead in the case of the missing Tucson woman.
