The FBI has released the first physical description of the man believed to have kidnapped Nancy Guthrie, the mother of US news anchor Savannah Guthrie. Nancy Guthrie, 84, disappeared in the middle of the night from her Tucson, Arizona, home and was last seen two weeks ago. Authorities believe she was taken against her will.
The FBI has analyzed footage from a doorbell camera outside her home and believes she was kidnapped by a male who is between 5ft 9in (175cm) and 5ft 10in tall, with an average build.
This is the first time the man in the video has been officially identified as a suspect, indicating the case has drawn a significant amount of attention both in the US and abroad.
The FBI stated that it had established identifying details after conducting a forensic analysis. Forensic specialists highlighted a backpack worn by the suspect during the kidnapping. The backpack has been identified as a 25-litre Ozark Trail Hiker Pack.
During the search for Guthrie, a pair of black gloves was also reportedly found. Nancy was last seen on the evening of Saturday, January 31, after family members dropped her off at her home. Her absence was noted by church members at a service the following day, prompting them to alert her family.
Officials warn that she may be in dire health due to a lack of medication. The Pima County Sheriff, Chris Nanos, indicated that she was not in good physical health but had no known cognitive issues.
Since February 1, the FBI has received over 13,000 tips related to the case, including 4,000 within 24 hours of releasing the doorbell camera footage. In a bid to encourage further tips, the FBI has doubled the reward for information from $50,000 to $100,000.
Earlier in the week, a man was detained in connection with the investigation, but he has since been released. Savannah Guthrie and her siblings have made public pleas to the potential abductors, expressing their belief that their mother is still alive and revealing their willingness to negotiate for her return.
