Law enforcement seized a blue SUV and confiscated a mysterious rooftop device from the Arizona home of kidnapped 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie on Friday evening, signaling investigators may be closing in on her captors as President Trump announces authorities are “super close to a breakthrough.”
Story Highlights
- Blue SUV towed from Nancy Guthrie’s Tucson home under police escort as forensic teams examine evidence potentially linking vehicle to suspects
- Unidentified device removed from roof raises questions about surveillance or communication equipment used in alleged kidnapping operation
- President Trump states suspect may be named soon after FBI and local authorities investigate new ransom correspondence received 24 hours past deadline
- 84-year-old victim forcibly taken from residence on February 1 and remains without vital daily medication, creating urgent medical timeline
Evidence Seizure Signals Investigation Breakthrough
Authorities removed a blue SUV from Nancy Guthrie’s Tucson driveway on Friday evening, February 6, under police escort as part of an intensifying kidnapping investigation. Former FBI Special Agent Stuart Kaplan assessed that federal and local investigators are zeroing in on Nancy’s suspected captors, suggesting the vehicle seizure may confirm shared use between the victim and potential suspects. The vehicle removal occurred alongside the confiscation of an unidentified device from the home’s roof, though law enforcement has not disclosed the device’s purpose or evidentiary significance.
Forcible Abduction Determination Elevates Federal Response
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos confirmed investigators determined Nancy Guthrie was forcibly taken from her residence and did not leave voluntarily, transforming the case from a missing persons inquiry to a kidnapping investigation with full FBI involvement. The 84-year-old mother of NBC News anchor Savannah Guthrie disappeared Saturday night, February 1, and was reported missing the following morning. This forced abduction determination prompted immediate federal resource allocation and multi-state coordination, with billboards now placed across Texas, New Mexico, and California featuring Nancy’s photograph and FBI contact information.
Ransom Communications Under Authenticity Review
The FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department announced they are reviewing new correspondence related to the case, working to determine its authenticity after the message arrived nearly 24 hours following an alleged 5 p.m. ransom deadline earlier in the week. Alleged ransom communications were previously sent to local news organizations and TMZ, establishing a pattern consistent with kidnapping-for-ransom scenarios. Gas station surveillance footage near Nancy’s home is being examined after investigators received tips about a potential suspect, while forensic vehicles were observed at daughter Annie Guthrie’s residence for approximately five minutes, with personnel examining the property’s exterior.
Presidential Involvement and Geographic Focus
President Trump stated Friday that investigators are super close to a breakthrough and suggested a suspect may be named soon, indicating significant progress by the DOJ or FBI. Trump noted that a lot has taken place in recent hours, adding presidential visibility to an already high-profile case involving the mother of a prominent national news anchor. Investigators believe Nancy remains within a radius of the Tucson area, possibly extending into New Mexico based on analysis of ransom communications. Sheriff Nanos remains hopeful Nancy is alive, though her absence from vital daily medication creates an increasingly urgent medical timeline with each passing day.
The investigation’s rapid progression from missing persons case to coordinated federal kidnapping investigation with presidential commentary demonstrates both the severity of the alleged crime and the advantages of high-profile victim status in resource allocation. The removal of physical evidence including the vehicle and rooftop device suggests investigators have moved from broad inquiry to targeted focus on specific suspects and leads. Public cooperation remains critical, as emphasized by law enforcement’s gas station surveillance review and multi-state billboard campaign soliciting information from citizens across the Southwest.
Sources:
TMZ – Nancy Guthrie Home Car Towed Device Removed From Roof
Fox News Digital – Nancy Guthrie Disappearance Arizona Live Updates
