Drop Dead Serious With Ashleigh Banfield

Episode: FBI Drops Major Clue About Mystery Perp, Gloves Found, Backpack ID'd | Nancy Guthrie Missing Day 11
Release Date: February 12, 2026

Episode Overview

In this gripping episode, Ashleigh Banfield covers day 11 of the high-profile disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of Today Show host Savannah Guthrie. With her signature irreverent yet deeply informed style—even while battling a cold—Ashleigh takes listeners deep inside the investigation’s latest turns. Joining her is veteran homicide prosecutor Matt Murphy, whose expertise illuminates everything from the handling of critical new evidence to the nuances of investigative tactics. The episode is jam-packed with new developments: a shocking video release by the FBI, discovery of gloves near the crime scene, suspicious activity at the Guthrie family home, and fresh insight into the deluge of tips and possible suspects.

Key Discussion Points & Developments

1. Summary of Recent Breaks in the Case (01:34–06:40)

• Ashleigh sets the stage by acknowledging the heightened intensity in the search for Nancy Guthrie, now into its eleventh day.
• Key evidence found:
  • Two types of gloves: a single glove and a pair, both retrieved near the area.
  • Unusual activity at Annie Guthrie's home (Nancy's daughter & Savannah's sister): two mysterious men (likely law enforcement) entered, wearing blue latex gloves, and left with bags and collected mail (33:20–34:22).
• FBI Director Kash Patel, visiting Tucson, makes cryptic public statements suggesting there may be multiple “persons of interest.”
• A new, bizarre ransom communication arrives at TMZ, indicative of scam activity.

2. FBI Video Footage: The “Terror in the Night” (06:40–20:30)

• The highly anticipated Nest cam video released by the FBI is described as “chilling”—showing a masked, gloved man at Nancy’s door.
• Analysis of video clues:
  • The perpetrator is initially seen with a backpack and a gun; in a separate, later-released frame, he has neither (12:39–13:37).
    • Raises questions about the sequence of events: Was this before or after the abduction?
    • Suggests more footage exists, and law enforcement may be holding details back to prompt public tips.
  • Ashleigh and digital forensics experts agree: the perpetrator’s “mouth light” (a light source in his mouth) further points to knowledge of the property layout, suggesting possible familiarity.
  • Social media sleuthing zeroes in on the suspect’s exposed skin—possibly a tattoo—plus a potential hole in the glove (potential DNA goldmine).

3. The Raid on Carlos Palazzo: What Went Down (08:27–13:37; 38:43–53:25)

• A startling police raid wrongly targets Carlos Palazzo:
  • SWAT and bomb squad enter, detain him for hours, but release him without charges.
  • Carlos Palazzo: “They didn't even ask me any questions. They just sent me in the car. ... I tried to clear my name. I didn't do anything. ... Look at what I'm putting my family through.” (08:42–11:07)
• Matt Murphy, ex-homicide prosecutor, finds law enforcement’s explanations (“court-authorized search,” not warrant) troubling:
  • “I've never heard anything called a court approved search. Never heard that term before. ... If they kick in a door under an exigency, but a court finds you could have gotten a warrant, evidence gets suppressed. ... That is insanity in my view, just my opinion here.” (38:43–41:30; 65:51–66:51)

4. Kash Patel’s Revelations: "Persons of Interest" or Just One? (20:33–22:00; 68:53–70:48)

• On Fox News, FBI Director Patel uses the plural “persons of interest”, raising speculation about possible accomplices.
  • Kash Patel: “We were able to exploit ... private sector partnerships ... that showed us there might be persons of interest in and around the area related to this event. ... We are being very public because it's a very public facing case.” (20:33–21:13)
• Ashleigh and Murphy analyze whether this is mere cautious language or evidence of a broader criminal conspiracy, given the physical challenge of abducting an adult alone, and the possibility more video remains unreleased.

5. The Gloves and Forensic Opportunities (27:39–29:39; 66:20–66:51)

• Single black glove and pair of gloves found within 1.5 miles of Nancy’s home, both potentially similar to those in the video.
  • Brian Entin: “We have confirmed that FBI teams found a black glove along a roadway... bagged and ... taken into evidence. No confirmation that it is connected ... but certainly something very, very interesting.” (28:53–29:39)
• Gloves can be a DNA trove (sweat, skin cells, blood)—but gloves are also commonly discarded and may not be linked.
• Matt Murphy: “There's always a glove found, actually, every time you look. ... But day 11? That should have been found within the first few days, ideally.” (66:20–66:51)

6. The Backpack, Public Sleuthing & the Walmart Lead (22:00–25:00; 67:53–68:52)

• Sleuthing by media and internet users identifies the kidnapper’s backpack as an Ozark Trail Hiker, sold at Walmart.
  • Law enforcement expected to scrutinize sales records, surveillance footage, and purchase histories.
  • Purchases like these at major retailers have cracked past cases.

7. Dealing with Scam Ransom Demands and Impact on Investigation (34:22–38:43; 52:00–55:31)

• Multiple fake ransom communications—including one demanding $6 million, and another ‘offering location info’ for one bitcoin.
  • Ashleigh, exasperated: “What lowlife does that? ... Thank God for the dum dums. ... I rely on people smarter in the business, like Matt Murphy.” (34:22)
• Matt Murphy: “Nothing lower or more parasitic than making money off the backs of Savannah Guthrie and her family. … They should be prosecuted as accessories after the fact murder.” (52:01–53:25)

8. Law Enforcement Experience, Critique, and Investigation Gaps (46:09–66:51)

• Pima County’s homicide department has limited experience, with recent turnover cited as a concern for the investigation’s handling.
  • Scene was returned to family just 30 hours after Nancy’s disappearance—a glaring procedural flaw.
  • Murphy: “30 hours? That is insanity in my view … mistakes get made in every homicide investigation, but come on, man.” (65:51)

9. The Search for Nancy & Theories on the Crime Type (55:31–61:36)

• Matt Murphy believes what unfolded was “body removal” rather than a textbook kidnapping, based on crime scene blood and experience prosecuting “no body” homicides.
  • Murphy: “When you have blood like that ... through my twisted, jaundiced lens ... so many things about this case don’t add up with the kidnapping narrative. ... I hope I'm wrong, but it's not looking good.” (54:00–56:40)
• Discussion of the possibility that the perpetrator brought a “rape kit” in the overstuffed backpack. Perp’s use of a gun tucked in the waistband seen as “amateurish.”

10. Technology: Pacemaker, Phones, and Search Methods (61:34–63:39)

• Nancy’s pacemaker still transmits data, but its utility for locating her is unclear.
  • Murphy: “Pacemakers continue to send that signal even if the person is dead…"
• Debate on whether drones, helicopters, or technology could help connect with the signal.

11. Procedures, Protocols, and Final Takeaways (77:09–82:57)

• Cold cases in America have no statute of limitations—so this investigation will remain open.
• A massive influx of FBI agents (100–200) now supplement the local force.
• Ashleigh closes with hope: “Hope springs eternal for me. ... I’m praying for Nancy Guthrie’s safe return. ... The number one priority is to find Nancy. After that, it’s to find the fuckers that did this and throw the book at them…” (82:06–end)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

On the chilling video:

• “We saw something today that is odd. It means there’s something else to the videos… More than likely, they have a lot more video and there’s some kind of movement to the pattern of this perpetrator.”
  — Ashleigh Banfield, 06:25

On the police raid and “court authorized search”:

• “I've never heard anything called a court approved search. ... If you kick in a door under an exigency … and that gets suppressed, you’ve just blown the entire case.”
  — Matt Murphy, 38:43

On the suspect’s skill level:

• “[The gun is] basically an appendix carry, but that is a good way to blow off a part of your body you don’t want to lose. ... He’s unskilled, he’s not a pro.”
  — Matt Murphy, 56:40

On scammers and bogus ransom demands:

• “Nothing lower or more parasitic than somebody trying to make money on the backs of Savannah Guthrie and her family. ... They should be prosecuted as accessories after the fact murder.”
  — Matt Murphy, 52:01

On the power of hope:

• “Hope springs eternal for me. ... I’m still hoping for some kind of legal resolution on this. ... We all need it as a country.”
  — Ashleigh Banfield, 81:13

Key Timestamps

• 01:34: Ashleigh introduces the day’s main developments
• 06:40: Terror in the Night—video released, new insights
• 08:27: Carlos Palazzo speaks after wrong-raid
• 12:39: Ashleigh’s analysis of suspect video clues
• 20:33: Kash Patel’s “persons of interest” comments
• 28:53: Brian Entin on the glove discovery
• 33:20: Mysterious activity at Annie Guthrie’s home
• 38:43–41:30: Murphy on “court authorized search” and procedure concerns
• 52:01–53:25: Scams, extortion, and impact on investigation
• 65:51: Murphy critiques returning the house after 30 hours
• 66:20–66:51: Gloves—evidence or red herring?
• 77:09: Murphy on cold cases and public patience
• 82:06: Ashleigh’s closing reflections

Tone, Style & Signature Moments

Ashleigh Banfield delivers a blend of incisive analysis, empathy, and dry humor—even in the face of a severe cold and dark subject matter. Her exchanges with Matt Murphy are candid, with moments of gallows humor:

• “Sorry, I’m blowing my nose and dabbing my eyes—even my eyes are watering from this cold. I’m going to get through it.”
• On ransom scammers: “...that’s just batshit crazy.”

Both speakers maintain a sense of urgency and emotional realism while emphasizing procedural fairness, genuine hope for Nancy’s return, and zero tolerance for opportunistic exploitation of victims’ families.

This episode is essential listening for anyone following the Nancy Guthrie case or interested in the realities of high-stakes, emotionally charged investigations—delivered with Ashleigh Banfield’s trademark seriousness and irreverence.