The investigation into the apparent abduction of Nancy Guthrie took a deeply unsettling turn over the weekend, as law enforcement searched the home of her daughter, Annie Guthrie, amid an expanding ransom probe.
Officers were seen late Saturday night at the Arizona residence of Annie Guthrie and her husband, Tommaso Cioni — a property located roughly four miles from Nancy’s longtime home in Tucson, where authorities believe the 84-year-old was taken against her will in the early hours of Jan. 31.
The search came just hours after Annie appeared alongside siblings Savannah Guthrie and Camron Guthrie in a video message addressed directly to the person they believe is holding their mother.
“We received your message and we understand,” Savannah said, seated between her siblings. “We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her. This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay.”
Law enforcement officials — including at least one member of the Pima County Sheriff’s Department — searched Annie’s home from approximately 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. local time. After more than two hours inside, one official was seen leaving with a white suitcase and a brown bag, while another wore blue gloves.
Former CIA and FBI special agent Tracy Walder told PEOPLE that the white case likely contained evidence-processing tools, while the brown bag would be used for evidence collection. She said authorities may have obtained a search warrant, asked for consent, or both.
“The back and forth is of course odd,” Walder said of the late-night search activity, adding that it could be tied to developments involving the ransom note, new investigative leads, or requests from the family.
The following day, investigators were also seen back at Nancy Guthrie’s home. Deputies used a pole to probe a manhole behind the house, according to drone footage shared by Fox News reporter Sarah Rumpf-Whitten. Authorities have confirmed that blood found on the front steps of the home belongs to Nancy, and that remnants of a Ring camera had been removed from the entryway.
Despite the heightened activity, officials stressed that the case remains wide open.
“No suspects, persons of interest, or vehicles have been identified,” the sheriff’s department said in a statement Sunday morning. “Follow-up continues at multiple locations. No scheduled press briefings.”
The FBI continues to investigate an alleged ransom note sent to media outlets. FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke previously said the sender set an initial deadline of 5 p.m. on Feb. 5, followed by a second demand for Monday, Feb. 9.
On Friday, the FBI acknowledged receiving a new message potentially connected to Nancy’s disappearance and said investigators were actively assessing its authenticity.
Nancy was reported missing on Feb. 1 after she failed to attend church, prompting a massive search. Sheriff Chris Nanos has said investigators believe she was abducted from her home. She was last seen the evening of Jan. 31, when Cioni dropped her off after dinner with Annie.
As deadlines pass and evidence is quietly collected under the cover of night, the Guthrie family waits — caught between hope and fear — while investigators race to determine whether the ransom messages are real, and where Nancy Guthrie is being held.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or the Pima County Sheriff’s Office at 520-351-4900.
