Investigators are honing in on new details amid the ongoing search for Savannah Guthrie’s missing mom, Nancy Guthrie.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told CBS News on Monday, February 16, that investigators believe the clothing and face mask worn by the person in the images released last week were purchased at Walmart.
The outlet reported that authorities are still working to identify the brand. CBS News previously reported that the backpack of the person in the photos was a black Ozark Trail Hiker, which is sold exclusively at Walmart.
It is unclear whether the Walmart items were purchased in a local store or bought online. Nanos shared that investigators have spent days reviewing surveillance footage at local Walmart stores.
Nanos, who called the backpack one of the most promising leads in the case, shared that Walmart has provided records of all Ozark Trail Hiker online and in-store purchases over the past few months. This includes sales beyond the Tucson, Arizona, area.
Nancy, 84, was last seen on January 31 when she had dinner with daughter Annie Guthrie. (Nancy shared daughters Savannah, 54, and Annie and son Camron Guthrie with late husband Charles Guthrie, who died after a heart attack in 1988.)
Amid the ongoing search, the FBI released several black-and-white photos and video clips of a person captured outside of Nancy’s home. The person, who appeared to have a gun in their waistband, was wearing a full mask and gloves. The individual was seen attempting to block the home’s security camera with their fist and a plant.
Days later, the FBI released an official description of the person. In the Thursday, February 12, update, the FBI shared that the individual is likely “a male, approximately 5’9’’ – 5’10’’ tall, with an average build.”
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos denied that authorities found a glove at the home of Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy Guthrie, amid her disappearance. “We have no glove. We never found a glove on that property,” Nanos told Fox News’ Matt Finn on Friday, February 13. Nanos reportedly revealed in a local news interview that “they […]
“In [a newly-obtained security] video, he is wearing a black, 25-liter ‘Ozark Trail Hiker Pack’ backpack,” the FBI added.
On Sunday, February 15, the FBI issued an update on gloves found nearby Nancy’s residence.
“The gloves found approximately 2 miles from the Guthrie residence in a field near the side of the road were packed by PCOS and sent overnight on 2/12 and they arrived at their private lb in Florida on 2/13,” NewsNation Senior National Correspondent Brian Entin shared via X on Sunday.
He continued, “The FBI received preliminary results yesterday on 2/14 and are awaiting quality control and official confirmation today before putting unknown male profile into CoDIS, the national database unique to the bureau. This process typically takes 24 hours from when the bureau receives DNA.”
Authorities have found “DNA other than Nancy Guthrie’s and those in close contact to her” as the investigation into her disappearance continues. The DNA evidence was discovered and collected at her property, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department shared in a statement with multiple media outlets on Friday, February 13. “Investigators are working to identify who […]
Entin and the FBI claimed that investigators collected a total of 16 gloves in “various areas.”
“Most of them were searchers’ gloves that they discarded in various areas when they searched the vicinity,” Entin continued. “The one with the DNA profile recovered is different and appears to match the gloves of the subject in the surveillance video The FBI has and will continue to provide assistance on whatever timeline is provided to us.”
In a separate post, Entin admitted that the FBI’s update was “confusing” and that he is “trying to sort it out.”
