Connect with us

Southwest

Nancy Guthrie’s abductor may have returned to the crime scene, left critical clues at tribute: expert

Published

on

Nancy Guthrie’s abductor may have returned to the crime scene, left critical clues at tribute: expert

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

TUCSON, Ariz. — As a growing memorial outside Nancy Guthrie’s Tucson-area home continues to draw visitors, new questions are emerging about whether investigators are monitoring the site. 

Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie, is believed to have been abducted from her home in the early hours of Feb. 1.

“They could [have eyes on the memorial], we’re just not seeing it,” Betsy Brantner Smith, spokesperson for the National Police Association and a retired police sergeant, tells Fox News Digital. “They could be keeping track of it, but we’re not seeing the cameras.”

Nancy Guthrie was abducted from her Tucson home on Feb. 1. (Getty Images)

Advertisement

Yellow flowers, handwritten notes, artwork and even an open letter addressed to the “kidnapper” have been left at the makeshift tribute in front of her home.

While the memorial grows, however, visible law enforcement presence has significantly dropped.

“Detectives are reviewing all viable leads in this case,” a spokesperson for the Pima County Sheriff’s Department told Fox News Digital. “We do not speak to specifics, as this is still an ongoing investigation.”

Authorities have not publicly identified a suspect, vehicle or any persons of interest.

MULTIPLE SUSPECTS ARE POSSIBLE IN NANCY GUTHRIE’S ABDUCTION

Advertisement

Haunting Nest doorbell camera video shows a masked man on Nancy Guthrie’s front steps around the time of her abduction. He is described as being of average height and build and was wearing a black Ozark Trail backpack.

“In this type of situation where you have the potential for a suspect having done this because he or she is somehow obsessed with Savannah Guthrie or seeing Nancy featured on the ‘Today’ show multiple times… someone who is obsessed with notoriety, celebrity — there’s a lot of pathology involved in that,” Brantner Smith said.

FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X

A member of the Pima County Sheriff’s office was seen outside of Nancy Guthrie’s home, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026 in Tucson, Ariz. (Ty O’Neil/AP Photo; Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images)

“Potentially, that is the type of person that could come back to the memorial, look at the memorial, even take photos of the memorial and add to the memorial themselves.”

Advertisement

As to why there’s been an alleged lack of law enforcement presence monitoring the site, Brantner Smith pointed to one likely scenario.

SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER

“It may be because they have solid suspects, and they just haven’t released that information to the public,” she said. 

It’s not uncommon for an offender to return to the crime scene, she added.

A growing vigil in the morning light under cloudy skies is seen at Nancy Guthrie’s home on February 13, 2026, in Tucson, Arizona. (Ty O’Neil/AP Photo)

Advertisement

SEND US A TIP HERE

“Sometimes the offender will come back to the scene of the crime. So, in that vein, they would come to the memorial, and they may have left their own note, their own flowers,” she said.

Often, it’s a mark of their arrogance, she told Fox News Digital.

“I am guessing that the suspect or suspects who did this are frankly taking great pride in the fact that so far they’ve got away with it,” she added. “Coming back can also be a way to bring back that rush that they had when they originally committed the crime.”

LISTEN TO THE NEW ‘CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO’ PODCAST

Advertisement

Such behavior happens frequently in arson cases, she said. 

Deputies examine a flyer taped to Nancy Guthrie’s mailbox on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. They were called to the scene after volunteer searchers and several streamers walked onto Guthrie’s property with a shovel. (Michael Ruiz/Fox News Digital)

“But it’s also not untypical in a homicide case or, in this case, a missing person,” she continued. “We’ve got to look at the psychology of people who do this kind of stuff. They also may want to come back to see what kind of people are leaving notes and leaving flowers.”

For that reason, she said, investigators should be reading the notes to develop potential leads.

“They’re coming back to see the impact that they had on this neighborhood and on this family,” she said. “And the rest of us would view that as very sick, but law enforcement has to view that as a way to collect clues.”

Advertisement

LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? FIND MORE ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB

Savannah, her sister Annie, and brother-in-law, Tommaso Cioni, placed flowers at the growing tribute near the foot of Nancy’s driveway on Monday in a somber visit to the crime scene.

Annie Guthrie, her husband Tommaso Cioni, and Savannah Guthrie at their missing mother Nancy Guthrie’s home on Monday, March 2, in Tucson, Arizona. (Fox News)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

A combined reward for information that leads to Nancy’s recovery from the FBI, local authorities and the Guthrie family stands at over $1 million. It has not yet been claimed.

Advertisement

Savannah is asking anyone with information to dial 1-800-CALL-FBI.

Related Article

Former FBI agent offers new theory about Nancy Guthrie's disappearance: 'Personal grievance'



Read the full article from Here

Los Angeles, Ca

Rescued sea lion pups released in Manhattan Beach

Published

on

Rescued sea lion pups released in Manhattan Beach

Three rescued California sea lion pups were released back into the Pacific Ocean in Manhattan Beach Friday morning after weeks of rehabilitation for malnutrition, dehydration and other health issues. The public release event took place on the north side of the Manhattan Beach Pier and was hosted by the Marine Mammal Care Center, Los Angeles […]

Continue Reading

Los Angeles, Ca

L.A. County firefighters knock down Signal Hill structure fire

Published

on

L.A. County firefighters knock down Signal Hill structure fire

Crews with the Los Angeles County Fire Department knocked down commercial structure fire in Signal Hill Thursday night. Firefighters responded to reports of the blaze at 2844 N. Gardena Ave. just before 9:30 p.m., according to department officials. It’s unclear why type of business operates out of the building. Arriving crews found the building showing […]

Continue Reading

Los Angeles, Ca

Loved ones search for 80-year-old woman missing in Westlake for nearly a week

Published

on

Loved ones search for 80-year-old woman missing in Westlake for nearly a week

Family and friends are asking for the public’s help in finding an 80-year-old woman who disappeared in Los Angeles’ Westlake neighborhood last week.

Boonsin Phanichsiri was last seen around 5 p.m. on May 22 in the 400 block of South Virgil Avenue, prompting a Silver Alert issued Thursday by the Los Angeles Police Department.

Phanichsiri suffers from Alzheimer’s, dementia and diabetes and has not been seen or heard from since. Her family is concerned for her safety, police said.

Boonsin Phanichsiri was last seen on May 22, 2026, in Westlake. (Los Angeles Police Department)

She was described as having black hair and brown eyes, though her hair appeared gray in an image released by the police department. Phanichsiri is 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs about 140 pounds.

Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to contact the Olympic Area Watch Commander at 213-382-9102, or call the Missing Persons Unit of the LAPD’s Detective Support and Vice Division at 213-996-1800. In an emergency, dial 911.

Advertisement

Those wishing to remain anonymous can call L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending