We're learning new details in the case of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old Arizona grandmother whose family reported her missing midday Sunday after church members alerted them that she wasn't there for morning services.
As RedState previously reported, Mrs. Guthrie, who is a mother to three adult children, including NBC "Today Show" co-host Savannah Guthrie, was last seen around 9:45 pm local time Saturday after being dropped off by a family member at her Catalina Foothills home.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said early on in the investigation that he believed Mrs. Guthrie may have been abducted as she was sleeping. And amid reports of a substance that looked like blood being found on the walkway near her front door, Nanos noted that DNA samples had been sent off for testing. As we also reported, a purported ransom note was sent to select media outlets as well.
READ MORE: Concerning New Info in Nancy Guthrie Missing Person Case - Plus, a Ransom Note?
On Thursday, a press conference featuring Nanos and FBI Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke from the Phoenix division was held to provide updates, which included a revised timeline of events, DNA test results, and more information on the ransom note.
That timeline includes an intriguing new detail - that the camera detected a person outside of Mrs. Guthrie's residence at 2:12 a.m.:
Saturday, Jan. 31
5:32 p.m.: Nancy Guthrie took an Uber to her daughter’s home for dinner, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said. Investigators have spoken with the Uber driver, he said.
9:48 p.m.: Nancy Guthrie was dropped off at home by her family, Nanos said. Her garage door opened at approximately 9:48 p.m. and her garage door closed at 9:50 p.m., he said.
Sunday, Feb. 1
1:47 a.m.: Nancy Guthrie's doorbell camera disconnected, the sheriff said.
2:12 a.m.: The camera software detected a person on camera, but no video is available, the sheriff said. "They had no subscription and therefore it would rewrite itself, kind of -- it just kind of loops right and covers up," the sheriff said. "That's what our analysis teams have told us. We're not done with that." The sheriff said there were multiple cameras at the home.
2:28 a.m.: Nancy Guthrie's pacemaker app disconnected from her phone, Nanos said.
From the press conference a bit ago: Here is the Nancy Guthrie approx timeline. pic.twitter.com/SKYMnppkOb
— AZ Intel (@AZ_Intel_) February 5, 2026
While the "person detected" news is an interesting development, keep in mind that sometimes these cameras will detect an animal, a bug/spider/flying insect, or a moving vehicle and report it as a "person detected" (as our home cameras have), depending on sensitivity settings.
During the press conference, it was also revealed that three ransom notes had been sent, with only one of them - the one sent to KOLD and other media outlets - being taken "seriously" by the FBI. Also, an arrest has been made related to what they called an "imposter ransom demand":
The arrest took place the morning of Feb. 5.
“We have made one arrest related to an imposter ransom demand, and a complaint will be presented to a magistrate judge later today,” Janke said.
Janke urged members of the public to avoid taking advantage of the situation, noting that they will be prosecuted.
There was also this. It's unclear if this person is the same one Janke was referring to during the presser:
A Los Angeles man named Derrick Callella has been arrested by the FBI for allegedly sending texts to the Guthrie family to ask for bitcoin and see if they would respond. His text messages are *not* believed to be connected to the ransom demand.
How they caught him & DOJ criminal complaint below
(Feds say he tried to use a VOIP app which they were able to quickly get around via an emergency disclosure request to their mobile carrier, then they found his IP address and linked it to his California address).
BREAKING: A Los Angeles man named Derrick Callella has been arrested by the FBI for allegedly sending texts to the Guthrie family to ask for bitcoin and see if they would respond. His text messages are *not* believed to be connected to the ransom demand.
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) February 5, 2026
How they caught him &… pic.twitter.com/BrPjcgYHxt
Nanos confirmed that the blood found on the walkway by the front door belongs to Mrs. Guthrie:
BREAKING: Pima County, Ariz., sheriff confirms blood found on porch of Guthrie home belongs to Nancy Guthrie, after DNA testing pic.twitter.com/OpJuN41MQo
— Fox News (@FoxNews) February 5, 2026
Nanos maintains that there are no suspects or persons of interest yet in the case.
In a heartwrenching video released Wednesday evening, Savannah Guthrie and her sister, Annie, and brother, Camron, described their mother as a bright light, a woman of strong faith, and a "beacon" to the family.
Savannah also mentioned her mom's health issues, noting that "her heart is fragile" and that she is "in constant pain," and needs her medications to live. She also said the family was "ready to talk" to the alleged ransom note-writing kidnappers but needed solid proof that Nancy Guthrie was alive.
President Trump has also pledged his full support and resources to try to help solve this case and bring Mrs. Guthrie home to her family. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt talked about it some during the Thursday press briefing:
"The President, as you all know, spoke directly with Savannah yesterday, and told her that the federal government is here to help...and our hearts and our prayers are with Savannah and her entire family as they search for her dear mother."
.@PressSec: "@POTUS and I were watching the press conference about the search for Savannah Guthrie's mother, which is just a heartbreaking situation. The President, as you all know, spoke directly with Savannah yesterday, and told her that the federal government is here to… pic.twitter.com/ppyKCWREy0
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 5, 2026
The FBI announced Thursday that they were offering a $50,000 reward "for information that would lead to the return of Nancy Guthrie or the arrest of suspects." Anyone with information is urged to contact the sheriff's office tip line at 520-351-4900 or 1-800-CALL-FBI.
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