TUCSON, Ariz. – Detectives investigating the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of “Today” demonstrate co-host Savannah Guthrie, are working with Walmart to identify potential leads after discovering the suspect was carrying a backpack sold exclusively at the retail chain. The investigation, now entering its third week, centers around a suspected abduction from Guthrie’s Tucson home on January 31st. Authorities discovered blood on the front porch and have since received purported ransom notes, though two payment deadlines have passed without incident.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that the backpack, identified as a 25-liter “Ozark Trail Hiker Pack,” is a key piece of evidence. Sheriff Chris Nanos stated in a text message to the Associated Press that this is the only clothing item definitively identified so far. “This backpack is exclusive to Walmart and we are working with Walmart management to develop further leads,” Nanos said. Walmart has provided records of all Ozark Trail Hiker online and in-store purchases over the past several months, including sales beyond the Tucson area, to investigators, according to CBS News.
Search Focuses on Backpack Purchases
Whereas the backpack has provided a significant lead, investigators caution that the suspect’s other clothing items – a ski mask, long pants, a jacket and gloves – “may have been purchased from Walmart but is not exclusively available at Walmart,” the Sheriff’s Department said in a statement. This means the suspect could have acquired those items from multiple retailers. The FBI released surveillance videos of the masked individual, seen with a handgun holster outside Guthrie’s front door the night she vanished. The footage shows the suspect carrying the distinctive black backpack.
The focus on Walmart comes as authorities continue to gather evidence and seek to identify the suspect. The FBI describes the suspect as a man approximately 5 feet, 9 inches tall with a medium build. Investigators are analyzing surveillance footage from local Walmart stores to determine if the suspect made a purchase there, either online or in person. According to CBS News, investigators are still working to identify each brand of clothing worn by the suspect.
Glove Yields Potential DNA Evidence
In addition to the backpack, a black glove found near Guthrie’s home is undergoing DNA testing. The FBI announced on Sunday that preliminary results were received Saturday and are awaiting official confirmation. The glove “appears to match the gloves of the subject in the surveillance video,” the FBI stated. This development offers a potential avenue for identifying the suspect through forensic analysis.
Authorities have expressed concern for Nancy Guthrie’s health, noting she requires daily medication. Dispatcher audio obtained by broadcastify.com indicates Guthrie has a pacemaker and a history of high blood pressure and heart issues. The urgency of the search is heightened by these medical needs.
Family and Public Appeal
Savannah Guthrie has been publicly sharing updates on the search for her mother, appealing for information that could lead to her safe return. The Guthrie family has not commented publicly on the Walmart lead, but the investigation remains a top priority for local and federal law enforcement.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with information about the case to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department or the FBI. The FBI has not released the purported ransom notes to the public, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.
The next confirmed step in the investigation is the official confirmation of the DNA results from the glove found near Guthrie’s home. Authorities have not provided a timeline for when those results will be available.
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