Nancy Guthrie Case Update: FBI Releases Profile, New Clues but Kidnapper Still Uncaught
The search for Savannah Guthrie’s mother entered its 13th day on Friday, with new clues emerging, but her captor is still at large.
The FBI on Thursday released a profile of the suspect, describing him as an approximately 5-foot-9 to 5-foot-10 male with an “average build” who was seen wearing a black 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack in security footage. He was donning a ski mask and gloves in the video – but disabled the doorbell prior to the kidnapping.
The NBC host’s mother, 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, was reported missing Sunday, Feb. 1, after she failed to show up that morning at a friend’s house to watch a virtual church service. She was last seen Jan. 31, and is believed to have been kidnapped after midnight.
The FBI also released full-color photos of an identical brand-new Ozark Trail backpack in hopes it will help the search. It is sold exclusively at Walmart.
Meanwhile, the FBI increased its reward to $100,000 for information leading to the location of Nancy Guthrie and/or the arrest and conviction of those responsible for her disappearance.
Today, the FBI is increasing its reward up to $100,000 for information leading to the location of Nancy Guthrie and/or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance.
— FBI Phoenix (@FBIPhoenix) February 12, 2026
New identifying details about the suspect in the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie have been… pic.twitter.com/GJcx4ra6wX
The new details about her captor were made possible thanks to a forensic analysis of the doorbell camera security footage by the FBI’s Operational Technology Division, the FBI said.
The department has received more than 13,000 tips since Feb. 1.
“We hope this updated description will help concentrate the public tips we are receiving,” the FBI said.
The Pima County Sheriff's Department is requesting that neighbors submit any security footage between the dates of Jan. 1 and Feb. 2 of “vehicles, vehicle traffic, people/pedestrians, and anything neighbors deem out of the ordinary or important to the investigation.” Presumably, the request suggests her captor may have canvassed the area in the days or weeks leading up to her disappearance.
The sheriff’s department also said gloves were recovered and sent to a lab for analysis, WRAL reported. It is not known yet if the gloves were owned by her captor.
The captor’s profile comes the same week the FBI released video and photos of the kidnapper retrieved from the cloud attached to her Nest doorbell.
Tips can be submitted to 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov.
On Thursday, Savannah Guthrie posted old footage of her mom as the host penned a hope-filled post: “our lovely mom. we will never give up on her. thank you for your prayers and hope.”
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Photo Credit: ©Getty Images / NBC / Contributor
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
Originally published February 13, 2026.
