Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode: SAVANNAH GUTHRIE MOM MISSING: DAY 27
Date: February 27, 2026
Host: Nancy Grace
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts and CrimeOnline

Episode Overview

This episode focuses on the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie—Savannah Guthrie's mother—who has been missing for 27 days. Nancy Grace and her expert panel analyze new developments in the case, including newly surfaced surveillance video, public tips, and the international dimension of the search. The discussion is driven by urgency, skepticism, and a dogged insistence on following every clue.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. New Surveillance Footage Emerges

• [00:02 | Nancy Grace]: Reports breaking news on Nancy Guthrie's disappearance and the new Ring camera footage showing 12 vehicles, including a Kia Soul, driving through Guthrie’s neighborhood between 12am and 6am on the night she vanished.
• Significant moment: At 2:28am, Nancy Guthrie's pacemaker disconnects from Bluetooth; a car identified as a Kia Soul speeds by at 2:36am, almost exactly the time it takes to drive from her house to the point captured on the footage.

“Eight minutes after Nancy Guthrie’s pacemaker stops connecting to Bluetooth, a Kia Soul speeds by...What is the significance?”
— Nancy Grace (00:02)

2. The Role of Video Evidence

• Surveillance video was just outside the initial 2-mile police radius, revealing the importance of expanding the search area.
• [03:40 | Dave Mack, Investigative Reporter]: Points out this “back road” isn't a typical throughway, strengthening its relevance.

“This camera footage...was just outside of the 2 mile circumference that law enforcement put up...it is an area that leads away from her neighborhood and perfectly catches these cars.”
— Dave Mack (03:40)

• [05:45 | Eric Dickerson, Former FBI Special Agent]: Explains the process of collecting and analyzing expanding circles of video and how even low-res images can generate leads.

“The resolution doesn’t provide us details like license plate numbers… but it does provide enough detail for them to follow up on additional leads.”
— Eric Dickerson (05:45)

• [10:43 | Brian Fitzgibbons, Nationwide Security]: Notes law enforcement has gathered up to 10,000 hours of video, emphasizing the “monumental” scale of review.

3. Historical Precedents: Vehicles Breaking Cases

• [07:20 | Nancy Grace] recounts cases where distinctive vehicles were crucial (e.g., Brian Kohberger’s white Elantra in the Idaho murders, Mollie Tibbetts’ case).

“Cars point, Fitzgibbons. Isn’t it true in major metropolitan areas there are whole teams...that work on stolen cars...identify types, makes, and models just like that?”
— Nancy Grace (07:20)

4. Law Enforcement Moves Headquarters

• [12:59 | Dave Mack]: The FBI shifting agents from Tucson to Phoenix is not a sign the case is “cold,” but rather an attempt to maximize resources and collaboration.

“They’re moving to Phoenix...where they have access to everything, including all of the experts sitting next to one another...now you can get some movement forward. So no, this is not a sign the case is cold.”
— Dave Mack (12:59)

5. Home as Crime Scene: To Release or Not

• Debate about releasing the family home back to the Guthries.
• Nancy Grace is skeptical about releasing the scene, citing the Alex Murdaugh trial as a case where holding the scene contributed to a conviction.

“I don’t believe in releasing the scene before the jury trial. But that’s just me.”
— Nancy Grace (13:53)

• [15:40 | Eric Dickerson]: Clarifies it's standard protocol to release property once all evidence collection is complete, but it's never risk-free.

6. Massive Volume of Evidence

• [15:40 | Nancy Grace and Brian Fitzgibbons]: Now comes the analytical challenge—processing 10,000+ hours of video, 40,000+ tips, and countless documents.

“You have to marshal the evidence...right now...the FBI is going to decamp from Tucson...have all of this video to go through, 10,000 plus hours of surveillance. This is a herculean task.”
— Nancy Grace (25:50)

7. Public Involvement: Reward and Calls for Tips

• The reward for information has reached $1.2 million.
• Family urges the public to come forward and, in an emotional message, announces a $500,000 donation to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

“Please be the light in the dark. Thank you.”
— Guthrie Family Member (01:45)

“We are donating $500,000 to the national center for missing and exploited children for their work in helping families...looking for those who are lost.”
— Guthrie Family (20:04)

8. New Evidence: Star Detail on Suspect’s Backpack

• Doorbell video shows a masked suspect with a possible black star shape on the left backpack strap or jacket.
• Debated if this is a distinguishing mark, and how identifying such small details can break a case.

“A star shaped pattern in black...shared widely on Twitter X…could mean nothing or it could mean a break in the case.”
— Nancy Grace (21:12)

“...it serves two purposes...help determine where that article of clothing or backpack came from…and help in asking for public assistance.”
— Eric Dickerson (23:41)

9. International Dimension: Search in Mexico

• FBI has engaged Mexican authorities. As per sources in Sonora, no evidence Nancy Guthrie crossed the border.
• Mexican protocol involves checking border crossings, hospitals, morgues, jails, activating lookout lists, and leveraging “source intelligence” (informants).

“The FBI has...approached them and asked for their assistance. They had no indications or no evidence that Nancy Guthrie entered Mexico or crossed the US Mexico border.”
— Eric Dickerson (32:32)

“They would contact their liaison officials...do several checks, including border crossings, maybe some welfare whereabouts checks, which might include checking hospitals, checking the morgue...”
— Eric Dickerson (34:21)

10. Disturbing Incident: Stranger Loitering

• [30:03 | Dave Mack]: A 34-year-old man, Antonio de Jesus Pena Campos, was found circling Guthrie’s home “50 to 100 times”, looking at her photo on his phone—arrested on misdemeanor DUI charges.

“He’s driving by really slow while looking at a picture of Nancy Guthrie on his phone...police arrest 34 year old Antonio de Jesus Pena Campos in front of Nancy Guthrie’s home on misdemeanor DUI charges.”
— Dave Mack (30:03)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Emotional Family Plea

“Please be the light in the dark. Thank you.”
— Guthrie Family (01:45);
“Hope against hope. As my sister says, we are blowing on the embers of hope.”
— Guthrie Family (30:55)

Analytical Sharpness

“You have to cross your T’s and dot your I’s...part of putting a case together is what the FBI is going to do now.”
— Nancy Grace (16:37)

On Evidence and Investigation Scope

“They’re starting to process that all now. So I think that this, this case is far from cold.”
— Brian Fitzgibbons (11:18)

“It’s a monumental task...they will have to weed through all the tips to figure out what’s relevant.”
— Eric Dickerson (27:49)

On Social Media and Crowdsourcing

“Online sluice identified that this is a Kia Soul.”
— Brian Fitzgibbons (10:43)

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|----------------------------------------------------------| | 00:02 | Breaking news: Surveillance footage; pacemaker event | | 01:45 | Family plea to the public | | 03:40 | Analysis of the car and location by Dave Mack | | 05:45 | FBI procedures and significance of new video | | 07:20 | History of solving cases via distinctive vehicles | | 10:43 | Law enforcement’s massive video review effort | | 12:59 | FBI moves resources to Phoenix; discussion of implications| | 13:53 | Debate about releasing the Guthrie home as a crime scene | | 15:40 | Challenges of marshaling overwhelming evidence | | 20:04 | Family donates $500,000 for missing children | | 21:12 | Doorbell video: detail of star on suspect’s bag/jacket | | 25:50 | Task of organizing evidence, handling mass tips | | 27:49 | Dickerson on balancing benefit and issues with large rewards and tips | | 30:03 | Arrest of stranger circling Guthrie’s house repeatedly| | 32:32 | FBI-Mexico cooperation explained | | 34:21 | Mexican protocol for missing person cases |

Episode Tone and Takeaways

Nancy Grace’s tone is forceful and skeptical—balancing outrage at slow or sloppy procedure with compassion for the family. Her experts bring procedural rigor and field-tested advice. The episode is dense with procedural insight, true crime precedent, and practical calls to action. The Guthrie family’s voice is emotional, imploring the public for help and expressing both hope and resignation.

Summary Judgment:
This episode demonstrates the complexity, emotion, and painstaking labor of a high-profile missing persons investigation on the edge of two countries and powered by a modern digital crime-solving apparatus. Each clue—from a blurry car video to a tiny embroidered star—matters. The family’s anguish is palpable, and the mountain of evidence is immense, but the search for Nancy Guthrie remains urgent and active.

If you have information:
Dial 1-800-TIP-RINEL or contact the FBI. The reward exceeds $1.2 million and anonymity is possible.

Memorable Closing:

“If you know or think you know anything...please call. ...There is a 1.2 plus million dollar reward, about a million and a quarter dollar reward for information leading to the whereabouts of Nancy Guthrie.”
— Nancy Grace (37:50)