Chaos erupted in the sun-baked suburbs of Tucson, Arizona, as law enforcement descended in force on the quiet residential streets surrounding the home of Annie Guthrie, the daughter of missing 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie. Eyewitnesses reported a dramatic scene unfolding around 9:56 AM local time today—February 13, 2026—when officers in tactical gear and unmarked vehicles converged on the area, sirens blaring and lights flashing. Sources close to the investigation confirm that a key suspect, long sought in connection with the presumed abduction of Nancy Guthrie from her Tucson home on February 1, has been taken into custody just moments ago. The arrest marks a stunning breakthrough in a case that has gripped the nation for nearly two weeks, drawing in FBI agents, local sheriffs, and the anguished pleas of celebrity daughter Savannah Guthrie from the “Today” show.
Nancy Guthrie, a spry grandmother who cherished her family dinners, virtual church services, and quiet desert life, vanished under terrifying circumstances in the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ of night. Last seen alive around 9:48 PM on January 31 after her son-in-law Tommaso Cioni dropped her off following an evening of dinner and games at Annie’s nearby home, Nancy was reported missing the next day at 12:03 PM when she failed to join a friend for a livestreamed church service. What followed was a nightmare that escalated from concern to full-blown kidnapping investigation: blood confirmed as hers on her porch, a disconnected doorbell camera, disturbing surveillance footage of a masked intruder, fake ransom demands, and a relentless search across the arid landscape that has left her family in agony
The breakthrough came after days of mounting pressure. On February 10, the FBI released chilling doorbell camera footage recovered through forensic recovery from Nancy’s Nest system—images showing a masked figure in gloves and a jacket tampering with the camera at approximately 1:47 AM on February 1, just hours after Nancy arrived home. The suspect, armed with a holstered weapon visible at the waist, appeared to cover the lens with pulled plants before the feed went dark. FBI Director Kash Patel personally highlighted the clip, calling it a “game changer” recovered from backend data after initial corruption issues. The video ignited a flood of tips—over 13,000 in the following days—and prompted intensified activity.
Authorities quickly zeroed in on leads. A man matching elements of the description was detained during a traffic stop south of Tucson near the Mexico border that same night, questioned intensely, and then released without charges. The individual, delivery driver Carlos Palazuelos, later spoke to reporters, describing the ordeal as feeling “like I was being kidnapped,” with his children left traumatized. He insisted he had no connection to Nancy or the case, and officials confirmed his release after hours of interviews.
But the investigation pressed on relentlessly. Search teams combed desert culverts, septic tanks behind Nancy’s home, and rocky terrain near her residence. Gloves and other evidence items were collected for DNA analysis. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department executed multiple warrants, including a second sweep of Annie Guthrie’s home where investigators spent hours pH๏τographing rooms, collecting mail, and removing bags of potential evidence. Neighbors reported FBI agents going door-to-door, requesting specific surveillance footage from January 11 and the early hours of February 1, citing a suspicious vehicle spotted weeks prior near Nancy’s property.
Tensions peaked as the FBI refined the suspect profile. On February 12, after analysis by the Operational Technology Division, they released precise details: a male approximately 5’9″ to 5’10” tall, average build, carrying a distinctive black 24- to 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack in the footage. The reward skyrocketed to $100,000 for information leading to Nancy’s location or the arrest and conviction of those responsible—double the previous amount—fueling speculation that new witness accounts or tips had narrowed the net.
Then came today’s explosive development. Multiple sources tell us that around 9:30 AM, a coordinated operation targeted a residence and vehicle in the vicinity of Annie Guthrie’s neighborhood. Officers swarmed the area, blocking streets and establishing a perimeter as helicopters hovered overhead. Witnesses described a man being led out in handcuffs, placed into an unmarked SUV, and whisked away under heavy escort. While authorities have not yet released the suspect’s idenтιтy or formal charges—citing the ongoing nature of the probe—insiders confirm this individual matches key elements of the surveillance description and was linked through recent tips and forensic cross-referencing.
