FBI issues new details of suspect in Nancy Guthrie case

Friday, 13 February 2026 13:19

The crime fighting agency has raised the reward to US$100,000 following a flood of public tips.

The FBI has issued new details of the suspect wanted over the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of US TV host Savannah Guthrie.

The law enforcement agency also says it is increasing its reward up to $US100,000 for information leading to finding Nancy Guthrie or an arrest and conviction of those involved in her disappearance.

The updated suspect description and details of a black backpack were released after forensic examination of doorbell CCTV footage showing a person at Guthrie's home in Tucson, Arizona, on the night of her disappearance.

"The suspect is described as a male, approximately 5'9" - 5'10" (about 1.7m) tall, with an average build. In the video, he is wearing a black, 25-litre 'Ozark Trail Hiker Pack' backpack," the FBI Phoenix office posted on social media.

"We hope this updated description will help concentrate the public tips we are receiving."

The FBI says the public has provided 13,000 tips since February 1.

Earlier on Thursday (Friday AEDT) media focused on a white tent erected by law enforcement agents at the home of Guthrie.

The FBI says it was part of a testing procedure to create nighttime conditions similar to the time of day the 84-year-old went missing, a law enforcement source familiar told CNN.

Once FBI specialists set up the tent to create a blackout environment, replica clothing and a backpack similar to what the suspect was believed to be wearing were examined through the lens of what a doorbell camera might see at night, the source said.

The source said examiners looked at the reflections of lighting against the items to ensure they were confident in their brand names.

– with CNN

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