WEEK three of the search for Nancy Guthrie has begun on a troubling note as the sheriff leading the investigation admitted it could take “months or years” to find the missing mother.
Guthrie went missing during a suspected kidnapping incident at her home in the Catalina Foothills, north of Tucson, Arizona, on February 1.
Nancy Guthrie was believed to have been taken from her home against her will on the morning of February 1Credit: Courtesy NBC Universal
An aerial view shows a Pima County Sheriff’s deputy guarding Nancy Guthrie’s residence in Catalina Foothills, north of Tucson, ArizonaCredit: Getty
Investigators navigating the rugged, desert terrain that surrounds Nancy Guthrie’s homeCredit: Reuters
Pima County investigators said the 84-year-old was forcibly taken from her home against her will in the dark of night, sometime after 2am – the same time her pacemaker app disconnected from her phone.
Terrifying footage from Guthrie’s doorbell camera captured a masked intruder outside her front door just minutes before she is believed to have been snatched.
However, the footage released on February 10 raised more questions than answers as Guthrie’s family continues to plea for her safe return.
LAST MOVEMENTS
It remains unknown what happened to Guthrie during those frightening minutes before she was allegedly kidnapped.
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But investigators found a trail of her blood on her front porch.
Since the high-profile disappearance, Pima County investigators have been under intense pressure to locate Guthrie.
Yet, it took over ten days before they were even able to release footage from a doorbell camera at her home.
NO SUSPECT LEADS
With Tucson becoming ground zero for the biggest news story of the year, the decision by local and federal authorities to detain three people has been called into question.
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Investigators claimed each of the three people were detained for hours in connection to Guthrie’s disappearance.
But the individuals were never arrested or charged with any crimes.
One of the men, Carlos Palazuelos, was detained and grilled for hours near his home in Rio Rico, about 60 miles south of Tucson, by Pima County deputies over Guthrie’s disappearance.
Palazuelos, 36, maintained his innocence after he was released and sent back to his home, telling news outlets that he had never heard of Guthrie or her famed TV anchor daughter, Savannah.
FAMILY STILL BEING CONSIDERED SUSPECTS?
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, who is leading the case, previously claimed that investigators had not ruled out Guthrie’s family as potential suspects, telling CBS affiliate KTVK that “nobody” has been cleared in the case.
However, on Monday, Nanos confirmed in a statement that Guthrie’s family, including “all siblings and spouses,” had been cleared as possible suspects.
The sheriff again added that the family, including Guthrie’s daughters, Annie and Savannah, as well as her son-in-law, Tomasso Cionni, had been cooperating with investigators.
Investigators have executed multiple searches at Guthrie and Annie’s homes.
Annie and her husband, Cionni, authorized the latest search of the home, which was conducted on February 10, Pima County officials said.
Nancy Guthrie’s children, Camron (left), Savannah (middle), and Annie Guthrie (right)Credit: Reuters
This combo from images provided by the FBI shows doorbell surveillance footage at the home of Nancy Guthrie the night she went missingCredit: AP
NO CLEAR MOTIVE
Investigators have still not clearly established a motive behind Guthrie’s disappearance.
Local news outlet KTVK recently reported that Guthrie’s alleged abduction could have stemmed from a burglary gone wrong.
However, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department called the reports “inaccurate.”
“PCSD has never stated that this was burglary gone wrong,” the department said in a statement on Monday.
“Any reports indicating otherwise are inaccurate. This remains a very active investigation.”
Nanos told the Daily Mail that he still believes the incident was an outright kidnapping.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said ‘nobody’ has been cleared in the investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, including her immediate familyCredit: Reuters
A Pima County Sheriff’s deputy keeps guard outside of Nancy Guthrie’s residenceCredit: Getty
WERE THE RANSOM NOTES REAL?
A series of ransom notes that were sent to news outlets in the days after Guthrie’s disappearance have not been established as credible by law enforcement.
At least three alleged ransom notes demanded Bitcoin in exchange for Guthrie.
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However, the notes reportedly did not provide any signs of life or clues about Guthrie’s whereabouts.
Investigators and the Guthrie family remain hopeful that the 84-year-old mother and grandmother is still alive.
