Crime Stories with Nancy Grace
Episode: SAVANNAH GUTHRIE MOM MISSING: DAY 18
Date: February 18, 2026
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts and CrimeOnline
Overview
In this gripping episode, Nancy Grace and her panel dig deep into the search for Nancy Guthrie—the mother of TV host Savannah Guthrie—who has been missing for 18 days. The discussion hones in on the suspect’s ability to elude law enforcement and the cutting-edge technology being used to locate Nancy, such as the deployment of “blue fly” Bluetooth sniffer technology to try to detect her pacemaker signal. They also explore strategies being used by investigators, the possibility of DNA matches through different databases, and investigative challenges—while providing expert insights on suspects’ psychological profiles and the legal hurdles high-tech evidence might face in court.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Suspect’s Evasion of Law Enforcement
- Clumsy & Amateur Suspect, Yet Still Free
- Nancy marvels at the “amateurish” nature of the suspect, highlighting footage of him attempting to mask his entry and awkwardly carrying a gun.
- Quote:
"How has this guy managed to elude law enforcement, including the FBI? Is Nancy Guthrie still alive? If so, what is she enduring?" — Nancy Grace [02:38]
- Clothing Clues & Profiling
- Analysis of the suspect’s clothing—such as the Ozark backpack, jacket, gloves, and mask—all believed to be from Walmart, suggests both a profile and possible trail for investigators.
- Joe Scott Morgan points out physical identifiers (e.g., stride, gait, leg shape) that could help analysts.
- Quote:
"His stride is very specific... I'm sure the folks at Langley are looking… at gait analysis... He lists to one side, his legs look bowed, his feet supinate." — Joe Scott Morgan [22:50 – 25:26]
2. Advanced Search Technology: “Blue Fly” Bluetooth Sniffer
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What is Blue Fly and How Does it Work?
- Originally a military/defense tool to detect hidden devices, now adapted for search & rescue.
- Blue Fly can, with antenna amplification, extend a pacemaker’s normal Bluetooth signal range (25ft) to 600-800ft—covering over two football fields.
- It’s being used on both helicopters and drones to scan for Nancy’s pacemaker signal.
- Limitation: Pacemaker only pings every 3-4 minutes, so timing and luck are factors.
- Quotes:
"With this antenna, they're able to look farther away... now law enforcement has a range of more like 6 to 800 feet." — Brian Fitzgibbons [07:11]
"It started with cybersecurity tech used in the defense industry to find surreptitious devices... They found a greater application in the search-and-rescue space." — Brian Fitzgibbons [10:06]
"The challenge is this pacemaker is likely only communicating out a signal every three to four minutes. So they have to catch it at the right time." — Brian Fitzgibbons [16:02]
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Devices Blue Fly Can Detect
- Airtags, Bluetooth headphones, hearing aids, pacemakers, cell phones, and other personal devices.
- Quote:
"This could be anything like an Airtag, Bluetooth headphones… pacemaker, cell phone… anything like that." — Brian Fitzgibbons [12:19]
3. Law Enforcement & Legal Hurdles
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Cellphone Data/Tracking
- Investigators have detained multiple persons-of-interest via cellphone pings in the Guthrie neighborhood, likely using burner phones; much work is being done through analysis of phone data.
- Quote:
"They’re looking at cell phone data in the neighborhood... it requires a team of people to pull all the data and then probably two people pulling and two people analyzing..." — Nancy Grace [25:33 – 27:49]
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Gun Store & Straw Purchase Investigations
- FBI is canvassing Tucson-area gun stores with a list of 40 people and corresponding photos, banking on gun shop owners’ memory and surveillance footage.
- Straw purchases (someone with a clean record buys a gun for someone prohibited) are of particular suspicion.
- Quotes:
"They're canvassing every gun store in the area... showing the photos, the names, and asking 'Do you know this person? Did you sell this item?'" — Dave Mack [32:04]
"A straw purchase is... I bring someone with a clean record, and even though I want the gun, they buy it, then hand it over to me outside." — Dr. Jerilyn Utter [35:33]
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Introduction of Evidence in Court
- There will be legal challenges to inserting new technology (“Blue Fly”) into evidence, similar to early challenges with fingerprint and DNA evidence.
- Quote:
"The courts like science that has widespread acceptance... defense would say the principles behind this are not reliable enough for criminal trial evidence." — Dave Mack [19:17]
4. DNA & Genetic Genealogy
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DNA Evidence and Limitations
- Key focus: Matching DNA from a glove found near Guthrie’s home to DNA found inside the home; success depends on whether the suspect’s DNA is in the CODIS database.
- If no CODIS match, law enforcement might pursue investigative genetic genealogy, checking against public/open databases like GEDmatch.
- Quote:
"They want to match up the DNA on the glove... to whatever DNA they have found inside the home. We know it's unrelated to anyone in the family." — Dave Mack [41:59]
"If it doesn't hit in CODIS, investigative genetic genealogy may be the way to go... there are open-source databases where relatives might show up." — Joe Scott Morgan [44:00 – 46:24]
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Analysis of Multiple Gloves as Evidence
- Sixteen gloves have been collected, but only one is of key interest; defense could challenge evidence given the glut of unrelated gloves.
- Quote:
"16 gloves... one even looked like a woolen mitten, for Pete’s sake... No telling what a defense could do with 16 gloves." — Nancy Grace [47:17]
5. Pressure on Family and Investigative Updates
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Clearing the Family
- Pressure led Pima County Sheriff Nanos to publicly clear the Guthrie family and their spouses.
- Quote:
"Why publicly clear the entire family?... That's a completely unorthodox thing... must be due to political and media pressure." — Brian Fitzgibbons [52:18]
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Rewards & Public Appeals
- Reward total increases to $200,000, with Crime Stoppers stressing the power of anonymous tips.
- Quote:
"As we go to air tonight, another $100,000 reward... Huppy said he believes it is the anonymous aspect of Crime Stoppers that will allow a perpetrator to be identified." — Dave Mack [50:44]
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Psychological Toll on Guthrie’s Family
- Emotional appeals from Savannah Guthrie and family featured, highlighting both the terror of the unknown and their determination to keep hope alive.
- Quote:
"It's been two weeks since our mom was taken. We still have hope, we still believe. To whoever has her… it's never too late." — Family Statement [03:24, 31:00]
"All these thoughts must be colliding in the brains of her three children every minute of every day." — Nancy Grace [31:00]
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Speculation About International Angle
- Latest “missive” from a supposed perpetrator suggests Nancy Guthrie may have been taken across the Mexican border, with emails demanding ransom in bitcoin.
- Quote:
"This person is demanding the $50,000 bitcoin before they'll give up any information and suggesting... now moved across the border, saying international." — Dave Mack [53:41]
Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps
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On Blue Fly’s Surprising Range:
“Two football fields away? That is significant.” — Nancy Grace [04:49]
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On the Technology’s Defense Industry Origins:
“I knew about Blue Fly, but I didn’t know that. It started with cybersecurity tech in the defense industry to find surreptitious devices…” — Nancy Grace [10:38]
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On Possible Legal Pushback:
"This will be challenged in court… It's just an evidentiary hurdle you have to go through." — Nancy Grace [19:47]
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On What the Perp Bought (and Where):
"Our staff … had gone online and sleuthed … backpack, jacket, ski mask … all from Walmart. And they also sell gloves and burner phones." — Nancy Grace [25:33]
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Profiling the Masked Man:
"People would be shocked at what the FBI knows about clothing... They'll do gait analysis—how his legs bow, how he walks, hunched over, aware of cameras." — Joe Scott Morgan [22:50–25:26]
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Crime Scene Concerns:
“Another problem: they didn’t lock it down… You walk in, not treating it like a crime scene at first, then have to lock it down—very problematic.” — Joe Scott Morgan [29:00]
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On Straw Gun Purchases:
"Seeing people together usually raises a red flag... a straw purchase is where you bring someone to buy a gun for you because you can’t." — Dr. Jerilyn Utter [34:08; 35:30]
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Emotional Plea:
"Savannah Guthrie, beaten down, exhausted, begging them, it’s not too late to do the right thing." — Nancy Grace [31:00]
Timestamps for Major Segments
- Intro & Suspect Analysis: [02:38 – 04:29]
- Blue Fly Technology Deep Dive: [04:29 – 13:00]; [15:27 – 18:21]
- Legal Challenges of Evidence: [18:43 – 20:19]
- Crime Scene, Perp Profile, & Evidence Procedures: [22:50 – 30:42]
- Cell Phone and Gun Shop Tracking: [31:00 – 39:12]
- DNA, Genetic Genealogy & Glove Evidence: [41:00 – 47:49]
- Family Cleared, Reward Raised, Media Pressure: [51:14 – 53:19]
- Latest International Ransom Note Development: [53:19 – 54:45]
- Final Call for Tips & Sign-Off: [54:45 – end]
Tone, Style, and Final Thoughts
The episode is urgent, driven, and relentless—matching Nancy Grace’s signature no-nonsense, high-energy style. The panelists mix technical expertise, investigative tenacity, and legal perspective. Despite the procedural and technological complexities, the core remains deeply human: the fear, determination, confusion, and grief of Nancy Guthrie’s family and the professional duty borne by those searching for her.
Nancy closes with a public appeal for information and a somber tribute to a fallen police officer, underscoring both the stakes and the collective duty to see justice done.
If You Have Information
Call the tip line: 1-800-225-5324 or anonymously at 520-882-7463.
This summary omits ads, intros, and outros. For the full experience, refer to the original Crime Stories with Nancy Grace episode.