FBI increases reward to $100,000 and releases description of masked suspect who allegedly kidnapped Nancy Guthrie

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has increased its reward to $100,000 for credible information that leads to the recovery of Nancy Guthrie or the arrest and conviction of those responsible for her disappearance.

In a fresh update from its Phoenix Field Office, the FBI revealed that a forensic analysis of doorbell camera footage shows a masked suspect believed to be a man standing between 5-foot-9 and 5-foot-10 with an average build. He was seen carrying a black 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack.

Authorities say they have received more than 13,000 public tips since Feb. 1 and are operating a 24-hour command post to carefully examine every lead for actionable information.

Meanwhile, TMZ reported receiving another email from someone claiming to know the identity of Guthrie’s kidnappers. The latest message reportedly contained “ominous” remarks, with the sender complaining about not being taken seriously. An earlier email demanded one bitcoin, valued at roughly $65,000, in exchange for information, but there have been no confirmed deposits into the provided crypto wallet. TMZ says it is cooperating with law enforcement.

Surveillance footage obtained Thursday appears to show an individual carrying backpacks similar to those seen outside Guthrie’s home, attempting to climb over a wall in Tucson at 1:52 a.m. just minutes after her Nest camera disconnected at 1:47 a.m. and about 20 minutes before motion was detected again at 2:12 a.m.

The footage, recorded roughly five miles from her residence, is now under federal review.

However, according to two officials cited by NBC News, the man seen in that video has since been cleared by investigators.

Tensions have reportedly emerged between federal and local authorities. An FBI official told NewsNation that the Pima County Sheriff’s Office is withholding key evidence from federal agents, limiting the bureau’s ability to assist fully in the case.

The evidence, said to include a glove and DNA samples, has been sent to a private laboratory in Florida for testing. The FBI has requested that the materials instead be processed at its national crime lab in Quantico, Virginia, warning that retesting could delay progress.

A source familiar with the matter said the FBI became involved at the sheriff’s request and remains focused on locating Guthrie.

The sheriff’s office has urged residents within a two-mile radius of Guthrie’s home to submit any surveillance footage recorded between Jan. 1 and Feb. 2, including clips showing vehicles, pedestrians or unusual activity.

Earlier ransom deadlines mentioned in emails sent to media outlets have already passed. Investigators have not confirmed whether Guthrie’s family had direct contact with the alleged abductors or whether the ransom messages are authentic.

On Thursday morning, a forensic tent was erected outside Guthrie’s home as investigators continued searching for evidence. An osteometric board, commonly used in forensic investigations to estimate a person’s height based on bone measurements, was also brought to the scene.

Authorities confirmed that a black glove was discovered about a mile and a half from Guthrie’s residence on Wednesday, though it has not been officially linked to the case.

Guthrie was reported missing on February 1 after being dropped off at her home by an Uber driver shortly before 10 p.m. on Jan. 31. According to investigators, her doorbell camera disconnected at 1:47 a.m., motion was detected at 2:12 a.m., and her pacemaker lost connection with her phone at 2:28 a.m.