Since the FBI released chilling surveillance images tied to the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie, online speculation has intensified — with many focusing on one striking detail: the suspect’s eyes.
The newly recovered images show a masked, armed individual outside the 84-year-old’s Tucson, Arizona home in the early morning hours of her disappearance. The case, now stretching beyond a week, has drawn national attention, in part because Nancy is the mother of Savannah Guthrie, co-anchor of NBC’s Today.
The images and video, released publicly by Kash Patel, represent the first significant breakthrough in the investigation. In the footage, the suspect appears to be tampering with a video doorbell camera while wearing a balaclava, gloves, a zipped jacket, and a backpack.
According to Patel, law enforcement worked closely with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and private-sector partners to recover the material. He stated that the footage was retrieved from residual backend data after recording devices had been removed or damaged.
“Working with our partners – as of this morning, law enforcement has uncovered these previously inaccessible new images showing an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie’s front door the morning of her disappearance,” Patel wrote.
Nancy Guthrie has now been missing for more than 10 days. Two ransom deadlines demanding $6 million in bitcoin have reportedly passed. Authorities have not disclosed whether communication with the alleged kidnappers is ongoing, and the ransom note did not reportedly specify consequences if payment was not made.
As soon as the images were made public, social media users began closely analyzing them. The visible portion of the suspect’s face — specifically the eyebrows and eye shape visible between the mask and hood — quickly became a focal point.
Some online commenters suggested the arched eyebrows and eye contour might indicate the suspect is female.
“Arched eyebrows. I would say female,” one person wrote.
“Eyes look like a woman’s eyes to me,” another commented.
Others questioned the assumption, pointing instead to body movement captured in accompanying footage. Several observers argued the suspect’s gait appeared more typically masculine. A few even speculated about the outline of facial hair beneath the mask.
At this stage, law enforcement has not confirmed the suspect’s gender.
Former FBI agent Mark Harrigan weighed in on another aspect of the footage: the way the suspect handled the firearm. Speaking to the New York Post, Harrigan described the visible carry method as “very non-conventional.”
“This is a very non-conventional way to carry a firearm. Very non-conventional,” Harrigan said, noting that the gun appeared exposed at the front of the suspect’s waist.
He explained that experienced individuals typically conceal firearms during criminal activity to avoid drawing attention. “Normally, you’d have it on the hip,” Harrigan added, suggesting that the suspect’s method might indicate inexperience.
Harrigan speculated that the weapon may have initially been concealed in the backpack and then repositioned near the door.
The release of the images has triggered a surge in tips to investigators, according to reports. Authorities are urging the public to focus on providing factual information rather than drawing conclusions based on limited visual cues.
Earlier this week, police briefly detained a man named Carlos in connection with the investigation. He later told reporters he had been driving with his wife when officers began following them. He was questioned for several hours before being released.
“I told them, I work in Tucson for GLS, I might have delivered a package to her house but I never kidnapped anybody,” Carlos said after his release.
Authorities have not announced any formal charges, and the investigation remains active.
As the search continues, the newly recovered surveillance footage offers both critical evidence and new questions. While online communities debate what they believe they see in the suspect’s eyes, investigators are likely examining far more than appearance — including digital forensics, timelines, communication patterns, and physical evidence.
For now, Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance remains unresolved. Law enforcement continues to ask anyone with information to come forward, emphasizing that speculation can sometimes hinder rather than help an ongoing case.
In situations like this, small details matter — but so does patience.
