Finding Nancy Guthrie: Hidden in Nancy’s Report - Ep. 9

Summary

Episode Overview

Podcast: Finding Nancy Guthrie – Hidden in Nancy’s Report
Date: February 13, 2026
Host: Lynden Blake (Daily Wire investigative reporter)
Guest: Jennifer Coffindaffer, former FBI agent

This episode provides the latest developments and analysis on the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of TV co-anchor Savannah Guthrie. Now 13 days into the investigation, discussion centers on growing tensions between agencies, mysterious evidence rumors, a new revelation about the missing person report’s timeline, and continued uncertainty regarding suspects. Expert guest Jennifer Coffindaffer offers insight on procedural questions and frustrations gripping the case.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Agency Tensions and Jurisdictional Conflicts

• Arizona Sheriff Chris Nanos publicly denies accusations that local law enforcement is blocking the FBI from key evidence. (00:10)
• Lynden discusses how initial reluctance to escalate the case to the FBI may have delayed progress. (00:27)
  • “It was a local case originally … they didn't want to let go of it, which is fine. It's up to them. It's really up to the community.” (A/B, 00:24-00:31)
• Jennifer Coffindaffer comments:
  • “When I hear blocking FBI, what does that even mean?... That issue, if it exists, is minor. It’s at the top levels … At the end of the day, guess what? Nancy’s life is on the line. So we can’t afford any sort of issues in the sandbox.” (A, 05:49/06:37)

Memorable moment:

• Coffindaffer’s frank reaction underscores the urgency and the public’s impatience with behind-the-scenes power struggles.

2. Confusion & Contradiction Around Evidence

• Rumors circulate of a glove being found in Nancy Guthrie’s home—a potentially crucial piece of evidence with possible DNA—but Sheriff Nanos denies finding any glove on the property. (01:50–02:20)
  • “Multiple reports are that there was a glove inside the home … But again, we're told today no glove found on the property.” (B, 02:06–02:26)
• Lynden and Jennifer debate why some evidence was processed at a Florida facility instead of the FBI’s Virginia lab (Quantico). Coffindaffer asserts this is standard and not a sign of mishandling:
  • “All of this evidence that was found in the house by the local officials, they went ahead and sent it to their Florida lab connection, which is under contract. They are doing this all pro bono too … it doesn't make sense now to divert everything to go to Quantico.” (A, 06:58–07:30)

3. Key Suspect & Evidence Details

• The masked, armed man seen on Nancy’s doorstep is now the official suspect (approx. 5'9"–5'10", black Ozark trail backpack).
• Lynden highlights:
  • The suspect’s clear but covered image captured on camera is the key clue—identifying him remains the “main goal on day 13.” (B, 01:17–01:23)
• FBI and law enforcement are still searching brush and neighbors’ properties, particularly Annie and Tommaso’s house (Nancy’s daughter and son-in-law). (A, 09:17–09:49)
  • “They keep going back and doing more searches of the neighbors. Why? … It’s because there is some threshold of suspicion in my opinion at Annie and Tommaso or they would not keep going.” (A, 09:44–09:55)

4. Timeline Discrepancies: Hidden in Nancy’s Report

• Lynden discovers on the Pima County Sheriff’s evidence portal that Nancy Guthrie’s missing person report was filed January 31 at 6pm, nearly a full day before the sheriff’s initial statement. (B, 02:54–03:30, revisited at 07:34–08:10)
  • Raises questions about the actual time Nancy went missing and potential reporting errors.
• Coffindaffer’s take:
  • “Do I think it’s a clerical error? No, not really … when you look at that, it’s very interesting as to why the decision was made to list that time.” (A, 08:11–08:45)

5. Ongoing Suspicions & What Family Knows

• Authorities haven’t officially cleared any of the family, except for the Uber driver who transported Nancy the day she disappeared. (A, 08:59–09:09)
  • “It's concerning that ... they haven’t cleared anyone. ... Everybody’s a suspect.” (A, 09:01–09:11)

6. New Developments & Unusual Tips

• A mysterious informant has repeatedly contacted TMZ claiming to know the kidnapper’s identity and escalating demands:
  • Initial request: 1 bitcoin.
  • Third email: $100,000, matching the FBI reward.
  • Proposes releasing the name for half the payment, then the rest upon arrest. (B, 03:30–05:00)
• Lynden notes TMZ withholds some details, but the tipster hints at possibly more than one perpetrator.

Quote:

• “The man’s demanding a fraction of a bitcoin that equals $50,000. Then he’s going to give up some information. Then the guy wants another 50,000 in Bitcoin.” (B, 04:13–04:34)

7. Ring Camera Footage Frenzy

• Authorities encourage neighbors to upload footage, but Coffindaffer cautions most clips showing “people on porches” are likely unrelated:
  • “What the FBI is looking for is did this perpetrator do some sort of site survey ... some sort of preparation ...” (A, 10:18–10:48)
• The need for thorough review of all surveillance feeds is emphasized, especially potential vehicle sightings. (A, 11:22–12:30)

8. Concerns Over Crime Scene Handling

• Coffindaffer criticizes overlooked or mishandled evidence at the scene, like leaving the doormat and camera bracket behind—both could carry forensic value.
  • “I was very disappointed to see the doormat left ... there could be tool marks on there ... that roof camera, we haven’t seen anything from that.” (A, 11:22–12:35)
• Still no press briefing from Sheriff Nanos since the previous week:
  • Lynden: “The fact that they haven’t come out and addressed some of this … is shocking to me … that is crazy.” (B, 12:44–12:55)

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Memorable Quotes

• Jennifer Coffindaffer (06:37):
  “At the end of the day, guess what? Nancy’s life is on the line. So we can’t afford any sort of issues in the sandbox.”

• Lynden Blake (03:11):
  “That actually means this report was filed in Arizona at 5pm January 31—5pm that is well before the first official timestamp we were given ...”

• Jennifer Coffindaffer (08:11):
  “Do I think it’s a clerical error? No, not really.”

• Jennifer Coffindaffer (12:35):
  “All that camera footage, that’s what’s going to solve this case.”

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Important Timestamps

• 00:10: Sheriff Nanos denies blocking FBI access
• 01:17: FBI makes masked man seen on camera the prime suspect
• 02:06–02:26: Contradictory reports regarding a glove found at the scene
• 02:54/07:34: Lynden discovers the earlier-than-official missing person report timestamp
• 05:49/06:37: Coffindaffer on supposed agency blocking and the urgency of Nancy’s life
• 08:11: Coffindaffer on time discrepancies in missing person report
• 09:44–09:55: Coffindaffer’s blunt suspicion over repeated searches at Annie and Tommaso’s
• 11:22–12:35: Coffindaffer’s critique of scene handling, missing vehicle/site footage
• 12:44: Lynden on shocking lack of official communication

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Conclusion

This tense episode highlights the chaos and confusion that often accompany high-profile missing person investigations. Lynden and his guest expertly parse facts and fiction, unravel contradictions in the official story, and stress the urgency—Nancy’s fate hangs in the balance. Listeners are left questioning both the reliability of the published timeline and the effectiveness of the current investigation, with hopes that painstaking review of surveillance and forensic clues will bring real answers soon.

Transcript

[A]

They need to press ahead because at the end of the day, guess what? Nancy's life is on the line. So we can't afford any sort of issues in the sandbox.

[B]

Arizona Sheriff Chris Nanos fires back at claims he's blocking the FBI from key evidence in the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping case. But is he also, President Trump reveals why the FBI didn't take the lead in the Guthrie case sooner.

[A]

It was a local case originally, and.

[B]

They didn't want to let go of it, which is fine.

[A]

It's up to them. It's really up to the community.

[B]

But ultimately, when the FBI got involved, I think, you know, progress has been made. Meanwhile, authorities are taking a hard look at new ring camera footage. Why do investigators seem to be chasing so many leads?

[A]

We have this video in front of the house. We have the little pieces of evidence that they found. We've seen the blood, but there's no true motive here.

[B]

And when did Nancy Guthrie actually go missing? We uncover a surprising detail in the grandmother's missing person.

[A]

Do I think it's a clerical error? No, not really.

[B]

I'm Lyndon Blake, and this is Finding Nancy Guthrie. A Daily Wire True Crime Investigation. It is Friday, February 13, Day 13, in the search for Nancy Guthrie. We still have a suspect to identify. We know that terrifying man at Nancy's door is still out there. FBI now officially describing him as 59 to 5 10. And they've officially identified his backpack as a black Ozark trail backpack. There is clear video of this person. I know he's covered up, but that is the main goal on day 13 still is to find out who that armed masked person was on Nancy's front doorstep the night she vanished. FBI, they changed their language. He is being called the suspect. This person at Nancy's front door. They are calling him a suspect in this case. Onto some other things that just are, frankly, conflicting and confusing. There's been reports of a glove found inside Nancy's home. That would be huge if that was true. But then today we have Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos telling Fox News, quote, we have no glove. We never found a glove on that property. But again, multiple reports are that there was a glove inside the home.

[A]

And.

[B]

And that would be huge for many reasons. It would have potential sweat inside, DNA, a hair follicle. The possibilities what could be inside that glove are frankly, endless. But again, we're told today no glove found on the property. Nanos also told Fox News that nobody is ever really eliminated in these types of cases. But NBC reported the guy spotted with the Backpack somewhat near Nancy Guthrie's house. The night she vanished was cleared and there's been no mention so far, still on day 13 of any family being ruled out. This is something I came across that really just jumped off the page to me. It's on the Pima county sheriff evidence submission portal. It's that link they tweeted out Thursday for any ring camera footage for neighbors to submit. And it's on their website. And it has on that page Nancy's missing person profile. And the reported file date is listed as January 31st at 6pm so that actually means this report was filed in Arizona at 5pm January 31, 5pm that is well before the first official timestamp we were given by the sheriff when he said that Nancy took an Uber to Annie and Tommaso's house at 5:32 on January 31st. Also today, TMZ got a third email from the man who claims to know the identity of Nancy's kidnapper. Remember, this guy emailed TMZ earlier this week, then emailed again saying, hey, you're not taking me seriously. Well, now in this third email, he's upped the price. Remember, he requested originally one single bitcoin. Now he's requesting $100,000, aka the new FBI reward for Nancy Guthrie. How this guy's doing it is of course, as strange as these notes are. The man's demanding a fraction of a bitcoin that equals $50,000. Then he's going to give up some information. Then the Guy wants another 50,000 in Bitcoin. He promises not to take away the first 50,000 from his Bitcoin account until the kidnapper is arrested. So this is a big part, he says when he gets the first bitcoin payment and he's going to give up the name of the main individual. So that leads me to believe there may be accomplices, which that's never been ruled out in this case. The guy also refers to the current state of Nancy. And of course, TMZ's not revealing those details. But another mysterious wrinkle in this case to make sense of all this, and we frankly have a lot of odd scenarios going on right now. I'm bringing in former FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer. AK agent cough. I feel like the big storyline right now is this alleged tension between Pima County Sheriff's department and FBI. There's the reports Brian and ten reporting that Pima county was blocking key evidence in this case from the FBI. Sheriff Nano says that's not the case from your View what is going on there?

[A]

You know, when I hear blocking FBI, what does that even mean? I remember hearing that. I'm thinking, what does that mean? Look, I think because we are at a bit of a lull, which we are. We are not hearing big evidence since day 11 when that video came out. I think there is a lot of frustration in the public that you have 100 FBI agents. We're on day 13. We're not seeing any significant developments that are promising in terms of who that is on the porch. And I think people and the media are frustrated in bringing forward a story. So they got this snippet about an issue. Listen, that issue, if it exists, is minor. It's at the top levels. And I. I think it's too, too much of a diversion. They need to press ahead because at the end of the day, guess what? Nancy's life is on the line. So we can't afford any sort of issues in the sandbox.

[B]

Everyone was saying, why would you not send that, Send this evidence, that glove to. To the FBI lab in Virginia? Why would you send it to Florida? Are people making too big of a deal about that?

[A]

I think people are making too big of a deal because that decision was made quite early on. Remember, the blood evidence was. Has already been processed too. Right. That's how we know it's Nancy's. So all of this evidence that was found in the house by the local officials, they went ahead and sent it to their Florida lab connection, which is under contract. They are doing this all pro bono too. And remember, they have so many of these DNA profiles established that it doesn't make sense now to divert everything to go to Quantico. And purportedly the FBI agreed when you.

[B]

Go to the evidence submission form on Pima County Sheriff that they tweet out yesterday where you could submit your footage from your ring camera, this is probably me just looking too much into it. But the report filed day for the missing person missing an endangered adult was January 31st at 6pm, not February 1st at noon. When she was reported missing, that struck me as odd, could be a mistake. But to me, I was like, are they now saying they're leaving that window open?

[A]

You bring up such a great point. And I think that that sort of jumped off the page to many of us. Do I think it's a clerical error? No, not really. Do I think it's a time frame that is well known because that's in and around the uber time, right? Where you have a third party that has no part of this, that has given that information. So when you look at that, it's very interesting as to why the decision was made to list that time. Although, although I'll tell you, I've seen many cases where there are clerical errors made. I'm just not sure that that was this case.

[B]

Why do you think authorities haven't cleared anyone in Nancy's family yet?

[A]

Well, it's concerning that, at least as far as we know, they haven't cleared anyone. I think the last presser was geez, were going on a week ago and in that presser he said, you know, quote unquote, everybody's a suspect. Although he previously cleared the Uber driver that drove Nancy from her home to Annie and her son in law's home, Tomasso's. So other than that he's saying nobody's cleared. Look, I, I'm a person that just looks at fact and they keep going back to Annie and Tommaso's house. They're searching the brush. Saturday night almost a week ago, they searched inside their for three hours with gloved hand taking pictures. They keep going back and doing more searches of the neighbors. Why? Why? Why? It's because there is some threshold of suspicion in my opinion at Annie and Tommaso or they would not keep going.

[B]

Now there's another ring camera and it seems like everyone in that general area of Catalina foothills is going back and looking at their ring camera footage as they should and a lot of people are finding people on their porches. But do you think this is something that could be related or is this just your petty crime happening in a city?

[A]

I think most of these are gonna be completely unrelated. Look, that's not what the FBI is looking for. What the FBI is looking for is did this perpetrator do some sort of site survey, some sort of surveillance at the home, some sort of preparation. Kind of like in the Tepe case, the double murder case in OHI where that individual came and did a full on survey for about two hours prior to committing the crime. And Brian Coburger, 12 times I could go, you know, through almost most of these cases and in something that is planned and this was planned in my opinion, I think they did possibly some preparation and I think the FBI thinks that too and that's why they're having people look back.

[B]

What questions do you have about the delay in what's been going on at the scene? And I know you mentioned I think that they should have taken the doormat before pizza guy delivered pizza before Amazon continues to do their work and deliver packages.

[A]

Yeah, I was very disappointed to see the doormat left. I was disappointed to see the item that holds the camera that was removed. That nest camera bracket. Why was that left? I mean, for heaven's sakes, there could be tool marks on there that was used to remove it. I know he had gloved hand, but at some point, it sounds like somebody took off a glove. At some point, maybe that camera will be found and they will want to marry it up. Yes, I understand they're all going to be very similar, but maybe there are some markings from where that was taken off. You just leave behind those important items. In my view, the biggest thing is the FBI and law enforcement. They need to look at what they actually have. In other words, there's going to be camera footage that we don't have that they need to continue to pour over. As an example, that roof camera, we haven't seen anything from that. There had to have been a car. This guy just didn't take Nancy out piggyback. He had a vehicle waiting and that's critical. Was that cap captured on license plate cameras in the area? On a business in the area. It had to get in and out of there. There's multiple ways in and out. But all that camera footage, that's what's going to solve this case.

[B]

So day 13. Haven't heard from Sheriff Chris Nanos since last Thursday. We're told no press briefing today either. I cannot believe they haven't even chosen to address media with all the speculation and at least give a statement to a media pool. They can say no questions at this briefing, but the fact that they haven't even come out and addressed some of this stuff, given some clarity to everybody, is shocking to me as someone who's covered countless homicides, crimes, just press conferences in general, that is crazy. But we're going to continue to follow this case. The FBI tip line. 1-800- call FBI, FBI. And hopefully we get answers as we head into the weekend. I'm Lyndon Blake and this is Finding Nancy Guthrie. A daily wire true crime investigation.