A major development has emerged in the desperate search for Nancy Guthrie.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department, with assistance from the FBI, has detained an individual for questioning in connection with the abduction of the 84-year-old grandmother, a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation told ABC News.
The individual was detained at a location south of Tucson, according to the source. Authorities are now preparing to execute a search warrant at a property believed to be associated with the person as investigators race to determine whether the lead could finally break open the case.
Nancy Guthrie, the mother of Today show anchor Savannah Guthrie, was abducted from her Tucson-area home in the early morning hours of February 1. She has been missing for days, prompting a massive, multi-agency investigation involving local deputies, federal agents, forensic specialists, and search teams combing through the surrounding neighborhood.
Until now, officials had publicly maintained that there were no confirmed suspects.
Law enforcement officials emphasized that the individual has been detained for questioning and has not been formally charged. Investigators are treating the development as a critical step forward — but caution that the case remains active and fluid.
“This is part of an ongoing investigation,” the law enforcement source said. “We are following up on leads and conducting interviews as information develops.”
Authorities have not released the identity of the person detained, nor have they disclosed how the individual came to their attention.
The detention comes just days after officials released chilling surveillance images showing a masked man approaching Nancy’s front door. In the footage, the figure appears to tamper with the doorbell camera, at one point obscuring the lens. The individual is dressed in dark clothing, gloves, and a face covering.
Investigators had urged the public to carefully review the images, hoping someone might recognize the person’s build, posture, or clothing.
Following the detention, law enforcement officers were seen staging equipment south of Tucson, where the individual was reportedly located. Authorities are preparing to search a property connected to the detained person, according to the source briefed on the case.
Search warrants typically allow investigators to seize potential evidence such as electronic devices, clothing, firearms, vehicles, and any items that could link a suspect to the crime scene.
It remains unclear whether Nancy has been located or whether the search is focused on gathering additional evidence related to her disappearance.
Helicopters and ground units have continued canvassing areas near Nancy’s neighborhood as detectives reconstruct her final known movements.
The investigation into Nancy’s disappearance has already revealed several disturbing details.
Blood droplets were reportedly found on the front step of her home, though authorities have not publicly confirmed whose blood it is. A vehicle was seized from the residence, and a roof-mounted security camera was removed for forensic analysis.
In addition, multiple ransom letters were sent to media outlets and reportedly contained specific details about Nancy’s home and personal belongings. The FBI previously stated that there had been no verified communication between alleged kidnappers and Nancy’s family, even after ransom deadlines passed.
Authorities have not said whether the detained individual is connected to those letters.
Nancy’s disappearance has shaken the Tucson community and drawn national attention due to her daughter’s high-profile career in television journalism.
Neighbors have described Nancy as independent and active, making her sudden disappearance all the more alarming.
In the days following her abduction, law enforcement officers canvassed nearby homes, collected surveillance footage, and interviewed residents.
911 calls had also been made weeks earlier reporting a suspicious person in a neighboring yard — a detail investigators have been reexamining as they piece together a timeline.
Savannah Guthrie has publicly pleaded for her mother’s safe return, sharing surveillance images and urging anyone with information to come forward.
“We believe she is still alive,” she wrote in a social media post. “Bring her home.”
As news of the detention broke, supporters flooded social media with cautious optimism, hoping the development could mark a turning point.
However, officials stressed that a detention does not equate to guilt.
In cases like this, detained individuals may be questioned for hours as investigators compare statements against physical and digital evidence. If inconsistencies arise or evidence directly links the person to the abduction, formal charges could follow.
The planned search of the associated property may prove pivotal. Forensic teams are expected to look for biological evidence, digital communications, and any items that could connect the detained individual to Nancy’s home or the masked figure captured on surveillance video.
Authorities have not announced a press conference but indicated updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.
For now, the focus remains on locating Nancy safely.
This latest development represents the first publicly acknowledged detention in the case — a significant moment after days of uncertainty and mounting concern.
Whether it leads to answers — and to Nancy — remains to be seen.
But for her family, and for a community anxiously awaiting news, it is the first sign that investigators may be closing in on critical information in the hunt for the person responsible for her disappearance.
