Family cleared as suspects in Nancy Guthrie disappearance: sheriff

Members of the Guthrie family, including Nancy Guthrie’s three children and their spouses, have been cleared as possible suspects in the Arizona woman’s disappearance, officials said Monday.

“To be clear … the Guthrie family — to include all siblings and spouses — have been cleared as possible suspects in this case. The family has been nothing but cooperative and gracious and are victims in this case,” Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos shared in a statement on social media.

“To suggest otherwise is not only wrong, it is cruel. The Guthrie family are victims plain and simple… please, I’m begging you the media to honor your profession and report with some sense of compassion and professionalism.”

No one has been named as a suspect in the case. Several people have been detained and later released.

Nancy Guthrie, 84, was last seen at her Tucson, Ariz. home by daughter Annie Guthrie on Jan. 31 and reported missing a day later after a 911 call.

Nanos has said the case is being investigated as an abduction rather than a burglary gone wrong.

Black-and-white images and video released by the FBI show a masked individual at the entrance of Guthrie’s home attempting to cover a doorbell camera. A glove believed to have possibly belonged to that person was recovered over the weekend. Nanos said Monday the individual’s backpack was purchased at Walmart.

An individual or individuals who may be connected to the disappearance have demanded Bitcoin several times as ransom or in exchange for information.

The “Today” anchor made an emotional appeal for her mother’s safe return on Sunday.

“It’s been two weeks since our mom was taken, and I just wanted to come on and say that we still have hope. And we still believe,” she said in an Instagram video, “and I wanted to say to whoever has her or knows where she is, that it’s never too late.

“And you’re not lost or alone. And it is never too late to do the right thing and we are here. And we believe and we believe in the essential goodness of every human being. And it’s never too late.”

A reward of $100,000 has been offered for information leading to Nancy Guthrie’s recovery. The initial reward was $50,000.