At 1:47 a.m. on February 1, 2026, everything changed at Nancy Guthrie’s home in the Catalina Foothills. The doorbell camera went dark. Inside, the 84-year-old retired teacher slept peacefully. Outside, someone approached her front door—masked, gloved, dressed in black, backpack slung over their shoulder, and a firearm visible in a holster.
By 2:28 a.m., Nancy’s pacemaker lost connection with her phone, signaling she had been moved out of range. Investigators believe this marked the exact moment she was taken. Twenty-five minutes had passed since the camera feed cut out. The window of that night—short, deliberate, terrifying—has become the centerpiece of the investigation.
Nancy’s absence quickly raised alarm. She never missed her church livestream, and when she didn’t appear, friends called. Her daughter, Annie, rushed over, sensing something was wrong. Deputies arrived to a chilling scene: the back door open, the house empty, her phone and medication left behind, drops of blood on the porch, and smashed cameras. Nancy Guthrie was gone.
Known for her faith, routine, and sharp mind, Nancy had lived a life of service as a teacher and a devoted mother, including raising TV anchor Savannah Guthrie. Her health needs—daily medication and a pacemaker—made the situation even more urgent.
Investigators worked tirelessly. Though Nancy’s doorbell system didn’t save continuous video, the FBI recovered short clips and stills from Google’s backend eight days later. The footage revealed a methodical masked intruder, carefully covering the camera and moving potted plants to block sight. A small flashlight appeared to be held in their mouth, while a firearm was visible in an unusual holster. Experts noted the suspect’s improvised, inexperienced handling but deliberate planning.
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