In the case of the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie’s mother, an American journalist and host, President Trump stated on Friday (February 13) as he left the White House that there has been progress in the investigation, emphasizing that the FBI has been fully involved.
Trump responded to questions from reporters about whether the FBI had taken over the case, saying, “Initially, this was a local matter, and they (local authorities) didn’t want to let go, which is fine. But once the FBI got involved, I believe progress has been made.”
Forensic expert Joseph Scott Morgan mentioned on Friday on the “Fox & Friends First” program that it is highly likely the suspect had previously scoped out Guthrie’s residence before the incident.
Law enforcement agencies have asked neighbors to check surveillance footage, leading Morgan to believe that the house was indeed under monitoring. The suspect may have surveyed the location of cameras, surrounding lighting, and the homeowner’s habits under the cover of darkness. The Pima County Sheriff’s Office had previously requested neighbors to provide any suspicious footage from January 1 to February 2.
When asked if drug cartels or another nation-state might be involved in Guthrie’s disappearance, Trump responded that it was too early to tell but stated, “It’s either someone very professional or someone completely amateur. In either case, it’s not a good sign.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt added that FBI Director Kash Patel personally went to Arizona this week to provide local law enforcement with all federal government “resources and power”. She also confirmed that Trump had spoken with Savannah Guthrie expressing great concern over her mother’s disappearance.
The FBI announced on Thursday (February 12) that the reward for information leading to finding 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie has been increased from $50,000 to $100,000.
The Phoenix division of the FBI emphasized that finding Nancy is a top priority and urged the public to actively provide any information.
Through “evidence analysis” of doorbell camera footage, the FBI released specific information about the suspect: a male, approximately 175-178 cm tall, with a medium build.
The suspect was seen carrying a Walmart exclusive black “Ozark Trail Hiker Pack” backpack with a capacity of 25 liters.
Investigators are currently likely examining recent shopping records in the Tucson area through purchase records and surveillance footage.
Regarding reports of local authorities concealing evidence, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos denied this and stated that gloves and DNA evidence found in the house have been sent to a unified laboratory for testing.
In further developments, TMZ founder Harvey Levin mentioned that the person requesting one bitcoin sent a second letter complaining about not being taken seriously, claiming the need for funds to hide from potential retaliation, calling it their “last attempt”.
In the search for vehicles, legal commentator Nancy Grace revealed that authorities are looking for a gray truck that appeared frequently in surveillance footage. Given Nancy’s injury and presence of blood upon her disappearance, this vehicle could be a crucial piece of evidence.
Adverse weather conditions are expected in southeastern Arizona, with the weather department forecasting rain and snow. An FBI Phoenix spokesperson emphasized that search and rescue operations will continue regardless of the weather conditions.