KEY POINT
- The FBI has issued a suspect description and identified a specific backpack in the Nancy Guthrie disappearance investigation.
- Authorities raised the reward to $100,000 as searches intensified in the Catalina Foothills area.
- Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage, including references to a gray truck that has not been publicly identified as a vehicle of interest.
TUCSON, Ariz. — The FBI has released a description of a suspect and distinctive backpack linked to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, as the search for the eighty four year old mother of NBC host Savannah Guthrie entered its twelfth day in southern Arizona.
Federal authorities said the suspect is described as approximately five feet nine inches to five feet ten inches tall with an average build.
In surveillance video reviewed by investigators, the individual is seen wearing a black, twenty five liter “Ozark Trail Hiker Pack” backpack, according to the FBI.
The bureau also increased the reward to $100,000 for information leading to the location of Nancy Guthrie and or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance.
The disappearance of Nancy Guthrie has drawn national attention due to her family’s public profile and the scale of the federal response.
The FBI, working alongside the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, has conducted extensive searches in the Catalina Foothills north of Tucson, Arizona, and is appealing to residents for surveillance footage and information.
Investigators have not publicly identified a suspect by name, nor have they confirmed whether a specific vehicle has been linked to the case. Authorities have described the investigation as ongoing and active.
Nancy Guthrie was reported missing from her home in the Catalina Foothills, a residential community known for desert terrain and limited access roads.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department Forensic Team was seen searching brush near a road close to her residence early Thursday morning.
On Wednesday, the FBI conducted what it described as an “extensive search” along multiple roadways in the area. Agents canvassed neighborhoods and asked residents within a two mile radius to review security footage.
The bureau’s public description of the suspect marks the first detailed physical characterization released since the investigation began.
The mention of the “Ozark Trail Hiker Pack,” a commercially available backpack, suggests authorities are relying on surveillance imagery to narrow potential leads.
Nancy Grace, host of “Crime Stories with Nancy Grace,” said on Fox News that federal authorities were looking for a gray truck in connection with the case. Grace said investigators have asked residents whether they own a gray truck or know someone who does.
“They’re looking at surveillance video, and I think they’ve seen a gray truck surveilling the home in daytime conditions and nighttime conditions,” Grace said during an appearance on “Hannity.”
Authorities have not publicly confirmed that a truck has been designated as a vehicle of interest.
The decision to release a detailed description and specific product reference is consistent with federal investigative strategy aimed at generating actionable tips, said Michael McCarthy, a retired FBI supervisory special agent and former head of a violent crimes task force in Phoenix.
“When the FBI identifies a distinct item like a branded backpack, it usually means the imagery is clear enough to be useful to the public,” McCarthy said. “They’re attempting to trigger recognition from someone who may have seen that individual in a different context.”
McCarthy said increasing the reward to $100,000 indicates investigators believe public assistance could be critical. “A six figure reward is typically used to accelerate information flow and signal the seriousness of the case,” he said.
Shana Redmond, a professor of criminology at Arizona State University, said the public discussion of a gray truck without official confirmation illustrates the challenges of high-profile investigations.
“When information circulates through media commentary before formal confirmation, it can complicate tip management,” Redmond said. “Investigators must balance transparency with protecting evidentiary integrity.”
Redmond added that desert terrain in the Catalina Foothills can present logistical challenges. “Sparse vegetation and rugged access points make systematic searches time-intensive,” she said.
Pima County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson Deputy Joaquin Enriquez said in a statement that deputies and federal agents are continuing coordinated search efforts.
“We are working closely with our federal partners and following up on all credible leads,” Enriquez said. “We urge anyone with information, no matter how small it may seem, to contact authorities.”
An FBI spokesperson in Phoenix said the bureau is reviewing digital evidence and community submitted footage. “Community cooperation remains vital in investigations of this nature,” the spokesperson said.
Neighbors in the Catalina Foothills have reported increased law enforcement presence, including marked and unmarked vehicles along residential roads. Authorities have not disclosed whether any forensic evidence has been recovered.
Authorities have not announced a timeline for additional public updates. The FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department said search operations and forensic analysis remain ongoing.
Investigators are continuing to analyze surveillance footage, including video that captured the individual wearing the black backpack. Officials have not publicly confirmed whether any suspects have been identified or questioned.
The Nancy Guthrie disappearance remains under active federal investigation as authorities seek public assistance in identifying a suspect described in newly released footage.
With a $100,000 reward now offered and searches continuing in the Catalina Foothills, law enforcement officials say community cooperation may prove decisive in determining her whereabouts and advancing the case.
