Sheriff Vows Breakthrough As Nancy Guthrie Search Enters New Phase

The search for Nancy Guthrie has entered a critical new chapter, and at the heart of it is a promise from law enforcement that answers may finally be within reach. 

As investigators dig deeper into digital clues and thousands of tips, the case surrounding the missing 84-year-old mother of “Today” anchor Savannah Guthrie has intensified. 

Now, with new forensic efforts underway and a masked intruder caught on camera, authorities believe a breakthrough could be coming.

The sheriff leading the investigation says technology could hold the key to solving Nancy Guthrie's disappearance. 

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos revealed that specialists are working to extract hidden data from cloud-based video systems connected to Nancy’s Arizona home.

Initially, investigators believed the home’s cameras would be of little use because they were offline or not recording due to inactive subscriptions. 

However, that changed when authorities recovered shocking footage of a masked intruder at the front door.

“Google said at first we don’t have anything, but we’re going to do our best to try to what they call ‘scratch,’” Nanos explained. 

He compared the process to peeling back layers of paint to reach something buried deep beneath the surface. 

Nanos expressed hope that technicians might uncover footage down the driveway that could identify a vehicle, adding pointedly, “Because, my goodness, you can’t put a mask on a vehicle, right?”

That image of the intruder has now become one of the most crucial pieces of evidence in the case.

As the investigation expands, the pressure on Nancy Guthrie’s family has grown alongside it. 

Nanos confirmed that between 40,000 and 50,000 tips have been received so far, with surges reaching as many as 5,000 per hour at certain points. 

Each tip must be sifted through, categorized, prioritized, and analyzed.

The sheriff maintains that the case is a kidnapping, not a burglary gone wrong. “This is somebody who’s disappeared from the face of the earth, and now we have a camera that says here’s the person who did this,” he said. 

While a ransom demand was made, Nanos acknowledged uncertainty about motive, questioning whether it was truly about money or possibly revenge.

He also pushed back against critics who accused his department of mishandling the crime scene. 

“My officers were there for almost 20 hours, and they processed their scene, got it done, and brought in all the evidence,” Nanos stated, emphasizing that the FBI later conducted its own work after re-sealing the home.

Despite online speculation, Nanos stressed that nobody has been cleared, including workers, individuals involved in recent SWAT raids, or even family members.

Amid the scrutiny, Nanos said he stays in touch primarily with Savannah. “I stay in touch with them, mostly Savannah,” he shared, noting limited contact with other family members but confirming investigators remain engaged with everyone involved.

The sheriff addressed online accusations targeting Tommaso Cioni, who is married to Nancy’s daughter Annie. 

While some reports identified Cioni as the last person to see Nancy alive when she was dropped off at 9:48 p.m. on January 31, Nanos said authorities adjusted their public wording to simply say “family” drove her home. 

The change, he admitted, was made to deflect overwhelming rumors. He cautioned against rushing to judgment, saying critics can become “pretty ugly and mean and nasty and not have the facts.” 

Nanos warned that placing suspicion on someone who could be completely innocent, especially a family member, only deepens the trauma.

According to Nanos, the Guthrie family has been nothing but cooperative, providing everything investigators have requested despite what he described as an ongoing nightmare.

The case has also drawn heavy federal involvement. Nanos spoke shortly after the FBI confirmed that a black glove recovered from the scene is believed to match the one worn by the masked intruder in the video. 

The agency has also received initial DNA results from a Florida lab. More than 400 personnel from the sheriff’s department, the FBI, and other Arizona law enforcement agencies are now working around the clock. 

Still, Nanos acknowledged the timeline remains uncertain, admitting it could take weeks, months, or years.

He declined to reveal specific details about forced entry, camera placement, or whether Nancy Guthrie was taken through the front or back of the home. 

However, he said that, to his knowledge, the dismantled camera seen in the footage was the only one tampered with.

When asked about reports claiming he blocked the FBI from obtaining evidence, Nanos firmly rejected the accusation. 

“That’s just so far-fetched,” he said, adding that ransom notes and other materials were immediately handed over to federal authorities.

For Nanos, the doorbell-camera image remains the centerpiece of the case. He believes someone in the community recognizes the masked figure. 

“I believe somebody out there knows who this is,” he said, urging the public to look closely at the footage.

Drawing comparisons to historic cases, he noted that criminals are often identified because someone speaks up. 

Still, he cautioned against underestimating the suspect. “You never underestimate anybody,” he warned, pushing back on suggestions that the intruder appeared amateurish.

The sheriff also delivered a direct message to the suspect, saying, “Let her go.” He made clear that the immediate priority is Nancy’s safe return, not prosecution.

And if Nancy herself could hear him, Nanos had one final promise. He said, “We’re not giving up on you. We’re gonna find you. Just… stay safe as best you can. We’ll find you.”