‘There For A Purpose’: Former Detective Says Nancy Guthrie Suspect Was Not A Burglar

A former Pima County Sheriff’s Department detective is casting serious doubt on the idea that the masked individual seen outside Nancy Guthrie’s Arizona home was attempting a burglary, saying the behavior caught on surveillance footage points to something far more deliberate.

The retired detective said the actions of the individual captured on camera do not align with how burglars or home invaders typically operate.

“I don’t think it was a burglary. Nothing was stolen,” the former detective said to Fox News on Tuesday. “And whoever that dude was, he was extremely comfortable because he grabbed some weeds to try to cover the camera when a true burglar or armed home invasion they wouldn’t even worried about that cause they would’ve been in and out so quick and or they would’ve just ripped the camera down, not tried to walk around the videoed filming something to cover it.”

“He didn’t even have his gun out when he approached the door so I don’t think it was a burglary or a home invasion that individual was there for a purpose.”

The comments come as investigators continue to piece together what happened to Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, who remains missing weeks after vanishing from her home in the Catalina Foothills area near Tucson, Arizona.

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Nancy Guthrie was reported missing in late January after she failed to attend a virtual church viewing she regularly watched with friends. When concerned neighbors and family members were unable to reach her, authorities conducted a welfare check at the home that quickly raised alarm bells.

Investigators later confirmed that blood found at the residence was consistent with Guthrie’s DNA, a discovery that escalated the case from a missing person investigation to a possible abduction. Law enforcement officials have described the case as complex and urgent, involving multiple agencies at both the local and federal level.

In recent days, the Federal Bureau of Investigation released surveillance images and video showing a masked individual on Guthrie’s porch around the time she disappeared. The footage appears to show the person tampering with or attempting to obscure security equipment. Authorities have said the individual may have been armed, though they have declined to confirm specific details as the investigation remains active.

The former detective said that detail alone does not support a burglary theory, arguing that criminals looking for a quick theft typically prioritize speed, not concealment.

According to investigators, the individual’s movements before and after appearing at the home are now a key focus. Law enforcement agencies are analyzing data from nearby residences, smart devices, and neighborhood security systems in an effort to reconstruct a precise timeline and identify possible escape routes or accomplices.

Savannah Guthrie has released multiple emotional video statements since her mother’s disappearance, urging anyone with information to come forward and expressing her belief that her mother is still alive. She has repeatedly thanked supporters for their prayers while pleading for continued attention on the case.

A reward has been offered for information that leads to answers in the case, and authorities say they remain committed to following every possible lead as the search enters another tense phase. For the Guthrie family, the wait continues, with mounting questions and few clear answers.