FBI finds gloves, releases suspect description in Savannah Guthrie mother kidnapping

TUCSON, Ariz. — Investigators searching for Nancy Guthrie, the mother of "Today" show co-host Savannah Guthrie, have discovered a pair of black gloves that may be linked to her disappearance. Sources close to the investigation told CBS News that the gloves will undergo DNA testing.

The gloves were found approximately 1.5 miles from Guthrie’s home. Authorities say they appear to match gloves worn by a person caught on security footage outside the residence on the night she vanished.

Guthrie, 84, was reportedly kidnapped from her home on Jan. 31. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has received thousands of tips since the surveillance video was made public.

The FBI described the suspect as a man standing between 5-foot-9 and 5-foot-10. Video footage shows him wearing a ski mask, carrying a black Ozark Trail Hiker Pack, and holding what appears to be a weapon.

A $50,000 reward is being offered for information regarding Guthrie’s whereabouts. Federal agents are currently concentrated in the northern Tucson area as the search continues.

The development comes as ransom notes demanding bitcoin were sent to a CBS News affiliate and the media outlet TMZ. The Guthrie family has made several public appeals for her safe release.

The abduction of Nancy Guthrie serves as a stark case study in the evolving intersection of traditional violent crime and digital-age extortion. While the demand for a Bitcoin ransom reflects a growing trend in the criminal landscape, the choice reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of blockchain mechanics. As cybersecurity expert Alex Stamos has noted, the perceived anonymity of cryptocurrency is largely a fallacy; the public and immutable nature of the ledger often provides law enforcement with a traceable audit trail. This tactical error suggests a degree of amateurism or a lack of technical sophistication on the part of the perpetrators.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s current strategy relies on a classic investigative playbook: the mobilization of public surveillance. By releasing granular details regarding the suspect’s gear—specifically the Ozark Trail branding of the backpack and the specific make of the mask—federal agents are attempting to trigger recognition among retailers, family members, or acquaintances. This crowdsourced intelligence model appears to be gaining traction, with over 18,000 tips already processed, creating a massive data set for analysts to sift through.

While the recovery of a pair of gloves marks the most significant forensic breakthrough to date, its evidentiary value is entirely dependent on the extraction of viable DNA. Should forensic testing successfully link a suspect’s genetic profile to the scene, the investigation will pivot from circumstantial leads to a definitive physical connection. In the absence of a digital trail, this biological evidence remains the most critical link in the pursuit of a conviction.

High-profile criminal cases like this often resonate deeply within the Vietnamese-American community, drawing significant attention far beyond the mainstream news cycle. These stories quickly become a central topic of discussion—from social media feeds to casual conversations in nail salons and phở restaurants. Especially in vibrant hubs like Little Saigon, such incidents hit close to home, sparking collective concerns about personal safety and the security of our families.