New pictures and videos showing an armed, masked person outside the Tucson home of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of “Today” anchor Savannah Guthrie, have revived the search for the 84-year-old man and may provide crucial clues to investigators.
Record taken by the doorbell camera
The video and images were recorded by Guthrie’s Nest doorbell camera and restored with technical help from Google, a source familiar with the investigation told CNN’s Brian Stelter.
Authorities released the footage on Tuesday (February 10) in the hope that the public can identify the individual.
Armed but seems inexperienced
When law enforcement experts analyzed the footage, they noted that the suspect was carrying a handgun in a holster on his waist. CNN’s chief law enforcement analyst Andrew McCabe, a former deputy director of the FBI, said:
“In my opinion, it’s not someone who’s ever been trained to carry a gun in the first place. No person with police or military training would ever carry a firearm in a holster like that… It’s not very tactical for a number of reasons.”
Retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent Steve Moore added:
“It’s kind of ridiculous. He’s got a small, semi-automatic concealable pistol that he could put in his pocket, but instead he’s hiding it in a holster made for a large-frame revolver. It doesn’t even match.”
Full coverage to prevent DNA from being left behind
The suspect is fully covered, wearing a mask, gloves, jacket, long pants, holster and backpack. CNN Senior Correspondent Josh Campbell, a former FBI agent, said the clothing “may have been a purposeful attempt to prevent any DNA from being left at the crime scene, from skin or hair fibers, as well as fingerprints.”
Campbell added that investigators will analyze the items to determine their brands and possible places of sale, noting:
“Authorities searched locations such as clothing and hardware stores to see if employees could recognize a possible item (from) when the items were purchased.”
Movement can offer recognition clues
The video reveals the suspect’s movements outside Guthrie’s home, including attempts to obstruct the camera. Josh Schirard, a former SWAT commander, told CNN:
“We often recognize people by how they move, rather than by visual cues. Understanding how they move, seeing them walk back and forth is definitely a great way to get to know someone you might know,” even if other features are obscured.
Experts also noted that the individual’s approach lacked urgency. McCabe told CNN that the suspect’s movements were not “particularly secretive or worrisome.” Former FBI agent Bryanna Fox said:
“He almost wanders around like it’s his house. He’s not worried about getting caught… He still has the kind of nerve to get away with it.”
Attempting to block the camera indicates poor planning
The footage shows the individual first trying to block the lens with a gloved hand and then gathering brush to cover the camera. Campbell told CNN:
“That raises questions about his sophistication and any pre-planning. If he actually did surveillance on the house and saw the camera, he would have brought with him the means to prevent this.”
Moore added that the suspect’s actions indicate inexperience:
“What I can think of is somebody who doesn’t know what he doesn’t know… I believe this is the first time he’s ever done something like this.”
The public appeal continues
Authorities hope the images and video will prompt anyone with information to come forward, which may help solve the mystery surrounding the suspected abduction of Nancy Guthrie in the early morning hours of Feb. 1.
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