Chilling newly released surveillance images have captured a masked and reportedly armed figure outside the home of Nancy Guthrie in the critical hours before the elderly woman vanished — a development that has sent fresh shockwaves through the investigation.
Authorities say the disturbing footage shows the individual tampering with a security camera at the Tucson property on the very night the 84-year-old was taken from her bed.
Investigators revealed that the masked figure appeared to deliberately block the camera’s view by ripping plants from the yard and forcing them over the lens — a calculated move believed to have taken place just hours before Nancy disappeared.
One black-and-white image released by law enforcement shows a person wearing a balaclava, jacket, gloves, and a backpack, standing on a doormat while holding what appears to be a flashlight.
In another frame, the individual is seen hunched over, slowly approaching the front door while repeatedly glancing around the property — before stepping back, searching the ground, and moving off the porch.
Footage also shows the figure pulling a plant from the lawn and shoving it directly in front of the camera, effectively obscuring the view. At one point, authorities say the person appears to be holding a flashlight in their mouth while working to disable the device.
Law enforcement sources confirm the camera was later rendered unusable.
Officials described the individual as wearing a ski mask, jacket, trousers, gloves, and carrying a backpack. The subject is believed to have been armed, though authorities have not disclosed further details.
The images were recovered from residual data stored in backend systems after investigators discovered that key recording devices had been removed from the property.
The FBI and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department released the footage in a joint effort to generate new leads as the desperate search for Nancy continues.
FBI Director Kash Patel addressed the release on social media, stressing caution.
“Authorities are referring to the person in the photo as a potential subject,” Patel wrote. “This does not specifically mean they are a suspect or person of interest.”
He added that investigators have spent the past eight days working with private-sector partners to recover video footage that was previously inaccessible due to corruption, loss, or removal of recording equipment.
“As of this morning, law enforcement has uncovered new images showing an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie’s front door the morning of her disappearance,” Patel confirmed.
Nancy Guthrie was officially reported missing on February 1 after family members had not heard from her since January 31. Authorities believe she was abducted from her home, noting that her mobility issues would have made it difficult for her to leave on her own.
Blood drops were later observed on the front step of the property, deepening concerns over what may have occurred.
Law enforcement has not confirmed whether any members of the Guthrie family have been ruled out as suspects, and no arrests have been made.
Complicating the case further, multiple media outlets received alleged ransom letters days after Nancy vanished. The messages demanded $6 million in Bitcoin and contained detailed information about Nancy’s home and clothing.
The first ransom deadline reportedly passed five days after the abduction. A second deadline, sources claim, included “far more serious” conditions. Authorities have not verified the legitimacy of the ransom demands.
Weeks before Nancy disappeared, 911 calls were made reporting a suspected trespasser lurking in a neighbor’s yard, investigators confirmed.
Police have since seized a vehicle linked to the home and removed a rooftop camera as part of the ongoing investigation.
Despite the chilling nature of the newly released footage, officials emphasized that the individual captured on camera is not currently considered a suspect or person of interest.
Shortly after the images were made public, Nancy’s daughter — Today show anchor Savannah Guthrie — issued a brief but emotional plea on Instagram.
“We believe she is still alive. Bring her home,” Savannah wrote to her 1.7 million followers.
She urged anyone with information to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.
Earlier, Savannah and her siblings, Anna and Camron, released a video begging for proof that their mother is alive after reports of ransom notes surfaced.
“We need to know without a doubt that she’s alive and that you have her,” Savannah said.
As investigators continue to piece together the final hours before Nancy Guthrie vanished, the haunting images now released raise urgent new questions — and intensify the race against time to bring her home.
