Man questioned over Guthrie abduction released
Authorities have released video of a gunman wearing a ski mask tampering with the doorbell camera of US television journalist Savannah Guthrie’s elderly mother at her Arizona home, shortly before she was allegedly kidnapped for ransom nine days ago.
The recovery of the footage came after investigators searching for 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie detained a man for questioning, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said in an online statement.
A man who said he was taken for questioning later told reporters he had been released.
The sheriff’s department also said its deputies and the FBI forensics team were conducting a court-authorized “ground” search in Rio Rico, Arizona, near the Mexican border, about 100 kilometers south of Tucson.
The new developments come as investigators search for new clues in the disappearance of Guthrie, who was last seen Jan. 31 when he dropped her off at her home after having dinner with her family.
Relatives reported him missing the next day after he failed to show up for Sunday church services, according to the sheriff’s department.
During a break in the case, the FBI and sheriff’s office on Tuesday released video footage taken by a Google Nest camera outside Nancy Guthrie’s front door and recovered from discarded data located in a “backend” digital repository.
Images, videos and still photographs show a man wearing a balaclava, gloves, a backpack and a holstered gun.
In the early hours of February 1, around the time Nancy Guthrie was kidnapped, he approaches Nancy Guthrie’s front door.
At one point in the video, it is seen that the masked figure tries to hide the camera with leaves he collected nearby and then damages the camera.
According to a law enforcement source, the person’s head was down as he approached the door, indicating he was aware of the camera’s location.
Facial hair can be seen through the ski mask cut around the man’s mouth.
Sheriff Chris Nanos said the camera was disabled shortly before 2 a.m. local time on Feb. 1, and Guthrie’s pacemaker was disconnected from his phone about a half-hour later and he was likely forced from the home.
DNA tests confirmed last week that traces of blood found on the front porch belonged to Guthrie, authorities said.
Law enforcement and family members described him as having limited mobility, poor health and requiring daily medication to survive.
At least two ransom notes have surfaced since Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, and both were initially delivered to the news media.
However, it is known that no evidence of life emerged after his abduction.
The disappearance of the elder Guthrie attracted great attention.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt began her press conference Tuesday by saying that she and President Donald Trump were reviewing newly released footage from the case.
“The President encourages any Americans across the country with information about the suspect to call the FBI, which continues to assist state and local authorities on the ground conducting this investigation,” Leavitt said.
Savannah Guthrie, 54, and her brother and sister posted multiple video messages on social media asking the public to help with tips and for the kidnappers to bring back their mother or contact them directly.
The family said they would pay ransom.
Savannah Guthrie, the longtime co-anchor of NBC’s morning news program Today, shared the new images on Instagram on Tuesday with the caption: “We believe he is still alive. Bring him home.”
