FBI says delay may have erased Nancy Guthrie porch video
FBI Director Kash Patel says local authorities kept the bureau out of the Nancy Guthrie investigation for four days, a delay he claims may have wiped crucial Google Nest footage of the masked “porch guy” at her Arizona door. Pima County’s sheriff disputes that timeline, while the search for the 84-year-old remains active.
Key Takeaways
- Patel told Fox News the four-day delay may have cost Nest camera evidence in the Nancy Guthrie case.
- Without a cloud subscription, Nest clips were auto-deleted; the FBI recovered some cached video of a masked suspect.
- That footage and photos were released publicly on Feb. 10; any further clips may already be gone.
- The Pima County Sheriff’s Department says the FBI was involved the night Guthrie vanished and disputes Patel’s claim.
- Elizabeth Smart says there is still reason to hope because no body has been found.
What Did the FBI Say About the Porch Guy Footage?
According to AZPM News, Patel told Fox News Digital that waiting to bring in federal agents may have erased video from Guthrie’s Google Nest home security camera.
Because she had no cloud subscription, recordings were automatically deleted to free space. Patel said he called Google leadership to hunt for cached files before they vanished for good.
Investigators recovered some footage and photos later released on Feb. 10. The images show a masked suspect at Guthrie’s door—the figure coverage has called the porch guy. Patel warned that if more Nest evidence existed, it was likely lost before the FBI gained access.
“We were looking for the needle of all needles in all haystacks, because since she didn't pay for [the cloud], they didn't record that data,” Patel told Fox. “But there was a chance that it was located in their cache just before it was being deleted.”
Did Local Officials Really Shut Out the FBI?
Patel has accused Pima County authorities of delaying FBI help, including earlier remarks on Sean Hannity’s podcast in May. He again framed the first days as critical to saving Nest evidence tied to Nancy Guthrie.
The sheriff’s department strongly disagrees. In a statement to AZPM, officials said the FBI was plugged in the night of the disappearance and that claims otherwise are inaccurate.
They also noted a Feb. 2 press conference—one day after Guthrie was reported missing—where FBI officials from Tucson and Phoenix appeared and spoke. That dispute matters because it shapes who is blamed if key porch video is gone forever.
Where Does the Nancy Guthrie Case Stand Now?
Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today co-host Savannah Guthrie, was last seen Jan. 31 after being dropped off at her Catalina Foothills home following dinner. Her family reported her missing on Feb. 1.
Police believe she was abducted overnight after surveillance captured a masked individual at her door, E! News reported. The investigation remains active and ongoing.
Details from ransom notes sent to media outlets after her disappearance were recently discussed by former Arizona Family reporter Briana Whitney on the Crime Junkie podcast. The FBI declined AZPM’s request for comment on whether those disclosures could affect the probe or a future prosecution.
Elizabeth Smart, speaking to E! News more than 170 days into the search, said she remains heartbroken but hopeful. “I want to remind people that there isn't a body, so there is still reason to have hope that she is alive and that we shouldn't give up until we find her,” Smart said.
She urged compassion for the Guthrie family and asked anyone with even a small tip to report it. For more coverage across this beat, see our True Crime & Unsolved Mysteries hub. Tips can go to 1-800-CALL-FBI or 88-CRIME.