The FBI has released images of an “armed individual” who appeared on Nancy Guthrie’s doorstep on the night she went missing.
Authorities investigating the disappearance of the 84-year-old mother of a US TV host more than a week ago have not identified any suspects or persons of interest.
FBI director Kash Patel shared the images on X, writing: “The video was recovered from residual data located in backend systems.”
He said the images show “an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie’s front door the morning of her disappearance”.
Investigators had been hoping cameras at the home would provide new evidence about Ms Guthrie’s disappearance from her home just outside Tucson, Arizona, but the doorbell camera had been disconnected early on Sunday 1 February.
Although software recorded movement at the home minutes later, Ms Guthrie did not have an active subscription, so none of the footage could be recovered, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos had said.
Authorities have released few details about who may have abducted Ms Guthrie, the mother of NBC News’ Today show host Savannah Guthrie, or whether she is still alive.
They have left it unclear if ransom notes demanding money – whose deadlines have already passed – were authentic, or whether the Guthrie family has had any contact with the abductors.
The family previously said they were willing to pay for their mother’s return after a note asking for $6m (£4.4m) by Monday at 5pm MT (12am GMT) emerged.
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Savannah Guthrie and her family have posted several videos over the last week.
In the latest, posted on Monday, the presenter said: “We are at an hour of desperation.” She told the public: “We need your help.”
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Investigators believe Ms Guthrie was taken against her will. She was last seen at her home on 31 January and reported missing the next day after she did not attend church.
DNA tests showed blood on her front porch was a match to her, Mr Nanos said.
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On Monday, a spokesperson for the FBI, Connor Hagan, said the agency was not aware of ongoing communication between Ms Guthrie’s family and the suspected kidnappers.
He said authorities had not identified any suspects or persons of interest.
“Someone has that one piece of information that can help us bring Nancy home,” he added.
