BREAKING: Individual Detained For Questioning In Nancy Guthrie Case
An individual has been detained for questioning in connection with the abduction of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie. The latest report comes after SWAT vehicles were seen staging for a potential raid amid a massive spike of law enforcement activity near Guthrie’s Catalonia Foothills home.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department, in collaboration with the FBI, confirmed the detention late Tuesday night. According to law enforcement sources, the individual was taken into custody south of Tucson, and officials are preparing to search a location associated with them.
While details about the detainee’s identity remain undisclosed, sources familiar with the investigation told Fox News that they do not have any relation to the Guthrie family.
Authorities have not disclosed whether the detained individual will be facing any criminal charges, nor have they disclosed whether it is the same person of interest identified in newly-acquired doorbell camera footage that was released earlier in the day. NBC News has reported that the detained individual is a male, but did not provide any identifying information.
The New York Times reported that the person of interest was detained in Rio Rico, Arizona, located about an hour south of Tucson near the U.S. border with Mexico.
In a social media post, the Pima County Sheriff’s office confirmed that a “subject” was detained following a traffic stop south of Tucson. The post further confirmed that the individual is being questioned in connection with the Nancy Guthrie investigation.
Subject detained in connection to Nancy Guthrie investigation. pic.twitter.com/B2pgIwqODt
— Pima County Sheriff’s Department (@PimaSheriff) February 11, 2026
The arrest comes just hours after the FBI released the first images of the suspected kidnapper after they managed to access residual data from a disabled doorbell camera at Guthrie’s home. The individual could be seen dressed in a ski mask, jacket, and long pants as they approached the door and attempted to block the camera.
Authorities noted that the individual was also armed and was carrying a backpack that appeared to be full.
Earlier in the day, Fox News reported that SWAT and bomb squad vehicles were seen leaving the Pima County Sheriff’s Office headquarters. Police in nearby Oro Valley confirmed to local outlet KGUN that their SWAT units had been requested for assistance with an operation headed up by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.
Investigators with the FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department could be seen combing the area around the home of Annie Guthrie, Nancy’s daughter, for several hours on Tuesday afternoon and evening. Authorities went door-to-door asking residents if they could view any available doorbell or security camera footage before conducting searches of the area surrounding the property.
Particular emphasis appeared to have been placed on brush areas, sheds, and other outlying areas around several properties. The latest round of searches comes just days after teams were seen canvassing a nearby drainage pipe.
TMZ has reported that the detained individual had no relation to any members of the Guthrie family.
As of this report, the search for Nancy Guthrie is dragging through its 10th day. The detained individual has not yet led to Guthrie’s recovery, though a search of a property connected with that person is reportedly ongoing.
TMZ had previously reported that a Bitcoin account associated with the suspected ransom notes sent to themselves and a number of Arizona-based outlets had shown signs of “activity” for the first time as of Tuesday evening. KGUN — which also received a note — soon confirmed that a little less than $300 appears to have been transferred to the account.
The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for any information leading to Guthrie’s return.