Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos expresses optimism about recovering additional video footage from cameras at Nancy Guthrie’s home, amid ongoing efforts to locate the missing 84-year-old woman.

Disappearance Details

Nancy Guthrie vanished from her Catalina Foothills residence near Tucson on January 31, after returning from a family dinner. Doorbell camera footage captured a masked intruder at the property during the suspected abduction.

Video Recovery Efforts

Digital forensics experts at Google are working to extract data from connected cameras that were offline due to inactive subscriptions. “Google initially reported no footage available, but they’re now attempting to ‘scratch’ through layers of stored data,” Nanos stated.

He likened the process to peeling back multiple layers of paint delicately to avoid destroying evidence. “I hope they uncover a shot of the driveway to identify a vehicle— you can’t mask a car,” Nanos added.

Investigation Progress

The sheriff maintains the incident constitutes a kidnapping, not a botched burglary. Investigators received preliminary DNA results from a black glove found at the scene, matching the one worn by the intruder, analyzed at a Florida lab.

Over 400 personnel from local, state, and federal agencies, including the FBI, operate around the clock. Tips number between 40,000 and 50,000, with peaks of 5,000 per hour.

A single ransom demand surfaced, though motives remain unclear—possibly financial or retaliatory.

Sheriff Defends Handling of Case

Nanos dismisses criticism over early release of the crime scene, noting his team processed it thoroughly for nearly 20 hours before FBI involvement. “My officers swept the home and grounds meticulously,” he said.

No individuals, including family members like son-in-law Tommaso Cioni or home workers subject to SWAT raids, have been cleared. The family remains fully cooperative despite intense scrutiny.

Nanos adjusted public statements to refer to ‘family’ dropping Guthrie home to curb unfounded online accusations.

Plea to Suspect and Victim

Addressing the intruder directly, Nanos urged: “Let her go. No questions asked. We’ll handle prosecution later—right now, focus on getting Nancy back.”

To Guthrie, he conveyed: “We’re not giving up. We’ll find you. Stay safe.”

The sheriff believes someone recognizes the suspect from the footage and calls on the community to come forward.