A man detained in connection with Nancy Guthrie’s abduction was just miles from the Mexican border and was being grilled by law enforcement on Tuesday night.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI took the unidentified individual into custody Tuesday night in the town of Rio Rico, Arizona, with authorities now preparing to search a property associated with the individual, CNN reports.
The update comes hours after federal officials released doorbell camera footage showing a male figure, wearing a ski mask and thick gloves, approaching Nancy’s $1 million home before realizing that there was a camera recording him and tearing it off.
Search and rescue teams were then seen going door-to-door near Nancy’s eldest daughter’s home in Tucson, as a Bitcoin account referenced in a ransom note for the 84 year old’s release started to see activity.
Her alleged captors had set up a cryptocurrency account, asking her family members to deposit $6 million in Bitcoin to the account by Monday night.
The deadline then passed without any money posted, but on Tuesday, TMZ’s Harvey Levin reported that ‘we have seen activity in the account,’ without offering any specifics.
Local news outlet KGUN later reported that the activity amounted to less than $300.
Follow along for the latest updates.
Breaking:Person detained for questioning
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI have detained an individual for questioning in connection with Nancy Guthrie’s abduction, ABC News reports.
The suspect was detained during a traffic stop, and law enforcement is now preparing to search a location associated with the individual.
He was reportedly taken into custody in Rio Rico, Arizona – a small town near the US border with Mexico.
It is unclear whether the individual who was detained Tuesday night is the same person who was caught on Nancy’s surveillance camera.
‘Court authorized search’ in small town known for smugglers
The FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department are carrying out a ‘court-authorized search’ in Rio Rico, Arizona, from where a man was taken into custody for questioning on Tuesday night, The New York Times reports.
The search is expected to last several hours in the small town that has long been a key transit point for smugglers due to its proximity to Interstate 19 and the vast desert that stretches across the border with Mexico.
A Border Patrol agent, Brian Terry, was killed near the town of about 20,500 people in a shootout with armed bandits in 2010.
Nancy Guthrie case person of interest detained near Mexican border
The person of interest detained for questioning in connection with the Nancy Guthrie case was just miles from the Mexican border when police nabbed him.
CNN reported that the man was taken into custody during a traffic stop in Rio Rico, Arizona.
The man was reportedly being grilled as police searched a property connected to the individual.
FBI looking at more than one ‘person of interest’
Federal authorities are looking at more than one ‘person of interest,’ FBI Director Kash Patel told Fox News Tuesday night.
He explained that the bureau’s outreach to the private sector has shown ‘there might be persons of interest in and around the area related to this event.’
Patel did not elaborate on who may be under suspicion, but said authorities were working to eliminate anyone who might not actually be involved, adding that the agency’s first priority is finding Nancy and ‘right behind that is to find any others involved in this kidnapping case to make sure they’re brought to justice.’
FBI Hostage Rescue Team arrives in Tucson amid search for Nancy Guthrie
The FBI Hostage Rescue Team (HRT), an elite tactical unit, has been deployed to Tucson amid the search for Nancy Guthrie.
A federal source told Fox News Digital that the specialized team ‘always forward deploys in a situation like this.’
The HRT is the FBI’s premier tactical unit, deployed in high-risk and complex operations, Fox said.
SWAT teams and a bomb squad were also deployed as investigators reportedly zero in on suspects within Tucson city limits, according to KGUN.
‘When those units roll out, it means a lead has been vetted to the point there is a reasonable possibility of a high-risk situation — but deployment does not mean resolution,’ retired FBI agent Jason Pack told Fox.
Nancy Guthrie cops DNA twist as hired home help are swabbed
Nancy Guthrie’s household employees have been swabbed for DNA as the investigation into her disappearance takes a new turn.
Investigators are now taking swabs from Nancy’s landscaper, pool cleaner and other hired help according to Fox News.
It comes as the FBI released new images of a masked person tampering with Nancy’s doorbell camera the night of her disappearance.
Kash Patel thanks team
FBI Director Kash Patel posted a message Tuesday thanking his team for their work.
It comes as authorities work to track down a suspect caught on Nancy Guthrie’s Nest doorbell camera.
FBI offering $50,000 reward
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the recovery of Nancy Guthrie and/or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance.
They rolled out a billboard campaign across the country and are encouraging anyone with information to contact their tip line.
‘Activity’ reported in Bitcoin account linked to alleged kidnappers
A Bitcoin account referenced in reported ransom letters sent to various news outlets saw some activity on Tuesday, TMZ founder Harvey Levin said.
‘I can only tell you that we have seen activity in the account,’ he reported without elaborating.
Local news outlet KGUN later reported that the activity amounts to less than $300.
TMZ is one of three outlets that received alleged ransom notes in connection with Nancy’s abduction.
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Kidnapper is believed to be from Tucson area
Law enforcement officials are working under the theory that the person who kidnapped Nancy Guthrie is from the Tucson area, according to TMZ.
Unidentified sources involved in the investigation told the outlet that officers believe the ransom notes that were sent to local news networks and TMZ were, in fact, written by the kidnapper.
The ransom notes also reportedly provide clues on where the suspect lives, with sources noting that the person who sent the letters was intimately familiar with the media in Tucson.
Authorities see more tips since release of footage
Authorities are seeing an increase in calls after the FBI released surveillance footage from Nancy Guthrie’s front door, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department told CNN’s Jake Tapper.
It said it is vetting all tips that are coming in.
