Masked Intruder Stole Cacti Near Nancy Guthrie's Home as Search Enters Fourth Month

Key facts

• Nancy Guthrie, 84, mother of 'Today' co-host Savannah Guthrie, has been missing for three months after a suspected abduction from her home in the Catalina Foothills, north of Tucson, Arizona.
• A masked intruder was captured on video stealing potted cacti from a private driveway in the same neighborhood on Wednesday night, just before 11 p.m.
• The intruder drove a gray Ford F-150, wore gloves, a face mask, and a baseball cap, and loaded several potted cacti into the truck.
• Nancy Guthrie's doorbell camera disconnected at 1:47 a.m. on February 6; a masked, armed suspect was seen at her front door on recovered video.
• Her pacemaker app disconnected from her phone at 2:28 a.m. on the same date.
• Crime scene DNA samples were sent to the FBI after a private lab in Florida failed to analyze a hair sample.
• Retired FBI supervisory agent James Gagliano said the blood pattern on the front porch suggests a single abductor.
• Pima County Sheriff's Department says the search 'remains active and ongoing' and urges tips to 88-CRIME or the FBI tip line.

A Neighborhood on Edge After 90 Days Without Answers

Friday marks 90 days since Nancy Guthrie vanished from her home in the Catalina Foothills, a quiet enclave north of Tucson, Arizona. The 84-year-old mother of 'Today' co-host Savannah Guthrie is believed to have been abducted from her bedroom in the early hours of February 6. Law enforcement presence in the neighborhood has remained heightened ever since, and a new Ring camera video has now stirred fresh unease among residents. The footage, recorded Wednesday night just before 11 p.m., shows a gray Ford F-150 pulling into a private driveway. Moments later, a man wearing gloves, a face mask, and a baseball cap gets out, walks toward the front of the home, and begins loading several potted cacti into the truck. The homeowner, who wished to remain anonymous, posted the video to the Ring app, where it quickly circulated through the Catalina Foothills.

Intruder Video Raises Questions About Security and Investigation

There is no indication the cactus theft is related to Nancy Guthrie's disappearance, but the incident has amplified concerns about safety in the neighborhood. 'It is someone walking on your property late at night, uninvited, it might be a small crime but committing a crime, and it is disturbing,' said Jeff Lamie, a neighbor. Lamie stressed the need for vigilance: 'This drives the point home that we have to be watchful, be aware of our homes but also of our neighbors.' The Pima County Sheriff's Department, which is leading the investigation, said it had not been advised of similar activity. 'We will do some research and keep you posted,' the department wrote in an email. Authorities continue to ask residents to submit relevant video footage in the Guthrie case.

The Night Nancy Guthrie Disappeared: A Timeline of Events

Nancy Guthrie was driven home from dinner at the home of her other daughter, Annie Guthrie, and her husband, Tommaso Cioni, arriving just before 10 p.m. on February 5. Her doorbell camera disconnected around 1:47 a.m. the following morning, but investigators recovered video showing a masked, armed suspect at her front door. At 2:12 a.m., home security software detected a person in front of one of her cameras, though no video was obtained. At 2:28 a.m., her pacemaker app disconnected from her phone. Savannah Guthrie has described terrifying new clues: a propped-open back door, blood on the doorstep, and a disabled Ring camera. Retired FBI supervisory agent James Gagliano, analyzing the challenging desert terrain in Tucson, emphasized the difficulty in finding the abductors. He believes the blood pattern on the front porch suggests a single abductor.

Evidence Delays and the Role of the FBI

The investigation has faced delays in forensic analysis. Last month, 11 weeks into the case, the FBI finally received a hair sample obtained from the crime scene after it was sent to a Florida forensics lab that could not process it. Experts have said advanced testing could take weeks or months. A private lab in Florida later sent crime scene DNA samples to the FBI. Despite these setbacks, the Pima County Sheriff's Department stated it 'continues to work closely with the FBI as investigators follow up on leads, review information, and pursue the facts surrounding this case.' A spokesperson said the search 'remains active and ongoing' and urged anyone with information to contact 88-CRIME or the FBI tip line at 1-800-225-5324.

Savannah Guthrie's Return to Work and Burden of Guilt

Savannah Guthrie returned to 'Today' after a two-month absence following her mother's disappearance. She has expressed profound guilt, fearing she is responsible for the abduction, which she believes was connected to her fame. The emotional toll has been compounded by the lack of progress in the case. Meanwhile, a retired agent has probed a theory that Savannah Guthrie received wrong information from her sister Annie after the kidnapping, though this remains unconfirmed. Friends of Nancy Guthrie have been told to remain quiet amid the investigation, following a reported family request.

What Comes Next: Open Questions and Community Vigilance

As the search enters its fourth month, the Pima County Sheriff's Department continues to ask for public assistance. The new Ring video, though unrelated, has reminded residents to remain watchful. 'We have to be watchful, be aware of our homes but also of our neighbors,' Lamie said. The key unanswered questions include the identity of the masked intruder seen on Nancy Guthrie's doorbell camera, the significance of the blood on the doorstep, and whether the cactus theft signals broader criminal activity in the area. any arrests or named any suspects in the Guthrie case.

The bottom line

• Nancy Guthrie has been missing for 90 days after a suspected abduction from her home in the Catalina Foothills; a masked, armed suspect was seen on her doorbell camera.
• New Ring video shows a masked man stealing cacti from a nearby driveway, but police say it is not linked to the Guthrie case.
• Crime scene DNA samples have been sent to the FBI after delays in forensic testing; results may take weeks or months.
• Savannah Guthrie has returned to work but expressed guilt, believing her fame may have motivated the abduction.
• The Pima County Sheriff's Department and FBI continue to investigate, urging tips from the public.
• Neighbors remain on high alert, with law enforcement presence still elevated in the area.