FBI Releases New Description, Doubles Reward In Guthrie Case
Federal authorities are intensifying their efforts in the troubling disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, as investigators seek to narrow the focus of thousands of incoming tips and restore order to what has become a nationwide outpouring of speculation.
The FBI’s Phoenix field office released an updated description of an individual captured on doorbell camera footage near Guthrie’s home and announced that the reward for actionable information has now doubled to $100,000.
According to officials, the person of interest is described as a man standing between 5 feet 9 inches and 5 feet 10 inches tall, with an average build, carrying a black 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack. Authorities emphasized that refining the suspect description is aimed at improving the quality—not just the quantity—of public assistance.
“We hope this updated description will help concentrate the public tips we are receiving,” the FBI Phoenix office said.
Since Feb. 1, when Guthrie was reported missing, federal and local law enforcement have been inundated with tips. The FBI reports receiving more than 13,000 submissions, while the Pima County Sheriff’s Department has fielded nearly 18,000 calls.
The increased reward underscores the seriousness of the investigation. The FBI confirmed that the amount was raised from $50,000 to $100,000 for information leading to Guthrie’s whereabouts or to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for her disappearance. In a case that has deeply shaken the local community, law enforcement is signaling that credible, actionable intelligence remains the priority.
A source familiar with the investigation indicated that additional video details were released partly to discourage unrelated tips flooding in from across the country. Authorities have reportedly received outreach not only from concerned citizens but also from psychics, mystics, and clairvoyants offering assistance—an illustration of how high-profile cases can quickly attract distraction alongside legitimate concern.
Nearly two weeks have passed since Guthrie vanished. Investigators are urging residents within a two-mile radius of her home to submit doorbell and surveillance footage, particularly recordings showing vehicles or individuals in the four weeks leading up to her disappearance.
Officials have identified two timeframes of special interest: Jan. 11 between 9 p.m. and midnight, and Jan. 31 between 9:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. Residents are also asked to report any suspicious vehicles observed in the area around 10 a.m. Law enforcement sources told CNN that at least one unconfirmed tip involves a white van.
“Bringing Nancy home is our priority,” FBI Phoenix Public Affairs Officer Connor Hagan said.
Investigators have also recovered several items of potential evidentiary value, including multiple gloves. One glove was reportedly discovered approximately a mile and a half from Guthrie’s residence.
CNN Chief Law Enforcement and Intelligence Analyst John Miller explained the breadth of forensic tools available to authorities as they process the evidence.
“Whether it’s the people who fume it or scan it for latent fingerprints on the outside, to the people who will be looking for DNA traces on the outside, to the people who will be turning it inside out and looking for hair fiber transfers, DNA on the inside, they’re going to check this thing every possible scientific way for anything that can bring them to a clue or a person,” Miller told CNN.
Investigators noted that any viable DNA evidence could potentially identify a suspect if that individual has a criminal record already logged in national databases.
“And of course, we have to remind ourselves, there’s always a possibility that the glove has nothing to do with it, but the fact that it is found along the road, that it looks similar to the one in the video, is very promising,” Miller added.
Meanwhile, a man briefly detained in connection with the case insists he has no involvement.
Carlos Palazuelos, 36, an Arizona resident, was taken into custody earlier this week outside Tucson and questioned as part of the ongoing investigation. After his release, he spoke publicly, asserting that he fully cooperated with law enforcement.
“They didn’t even tell me what’s going on until the detectives got here … They told me I was being detained for kidnapping, and I asked them, ‘Kidnapping of who?’” Carlos told ABC15.
When informed it was related to Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, he responded, “Yeah, that’s her. And I told him, I work in Tucson for GLS. I might have delivered a package to your house, but I never kidnapped anybody. They held me from like 4 pm (local time) to right now.”
As the investigation continues, authorities remain focused on separating credible leads from noise, relying on forensic science, community cooperation, and disciplined investigative work. In a case that has captured national attention, law enforcement’s measured approach underscores a fundamental principle: justice demands precision, not panic.