Podcast Summary

Podcast: Finding Nancy Guthrie
Host: Lynden Blake (The Daily Wire)
Episode: Ep. 6 – The Raid in Rio Rico
Date: February 11, 2026

Overview

This episode brings listeners up to speed on the most significant breakthroughs yet in the search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Savannah Guthrie, missing from her Arizona home for 10 days. With new doorbell footage released by the FBI, a person detained in Rio Rico, and suspicious Bitcoin wallet activity, the investigation is gaining momentum. The episode is dense with updates, expert commentary, and on-the-ground reporting, while also exposing the chaotic nature of the ongoing crime scene management.

Key Discussion Points

1. Person Detained in Rio Rico

• [01:05] Authorities have detained a person in Rio Rico, AZ during a traffic stop, in connection with the case.
  • "This is huge. We have reports from Fox that this person has already been taken back to Pima county, which tells me this is more than just a, Hey, let's talk to you real quick." – Lynden Blake [01:22]
• A location in Rio Rico is being searched under a court-ordered warrant – another major lead.

2. Ransom Bitcoin Wallet Activity

• TMZ and other media outlets report new activity in the bitcoin wallet tied to Nancy’s ransom note:
  • "Kgun said the amount was less than $300, but they can visibly see activity in that wallet. This is huge." – Lynden Blake [03:18]
• The ransom demand was for $6 million, but this recent transaction appears to be a small, possibly test amount.
• Questions remain about who sent the funds and for what purpose.

3. Breakthrough: Doorbell Camera Footage

Details of the Breaking Video

• A 27-second video and multiple stills released by the FBI show a masked, armed intruder at Nancy's front door.
• The intruder:
  • Wore a ski mask, gloves, and a “very visible reflective backpack”
  • Carried a semi-automatic handgun in a left-side holster (suggesting he’s right-handed)
  • Spent significant time tampering with the doorbell camera, including trying to cover it with grass
  • Was visible enough for clear shots of his eyes, brows, and even a mustache

Key Observations and Insights

• [05:18] "You can look directly into this person's eyes... And then you see in another picture a mustache. You see some facial hair there that, you know, not completely a full picture because obviously there's a ski mask, but it's there and you can see it." – Lynden Blake
• [06:14] "In the video, you see him take his right hand and almost tap on the camera. And then he's trying to cover it up." – Lynden Blake
• The suspect seemed unhurried and confident, moving calmly and even attempting to camouflage the camera with foliage.

Crowd-Sourcing Leads

• The FBI encourages the public to study the photos and videos for any clues (distinctive backpack, gait, shoes).
• The footage was recovered by partnering with Nest and Google after initial doubts over available camera data.

4. Expert Analysis: Why Familiarity Matters

• Experts and former law enforcement consistently voice that statistically, kidnappings are perpetrated by someone familiar with the victim.
• [00:53], [17:43] "I think that the evidence points to familiarity. The track record of kidnapping cases, I think, is over 90% people who are familiar with the family. A family friend, a family member." – Sheriff Mark Lamb

5. Family & Public Response

• NBC reports the Guthrie family, including Savannah, does not recognize the person in the video.
• Savannah Guthrie shared the FBI footage on social media, affirming her belief that her mom is still alive.
  • [12:56] "Savannah almost instantly shared the FBI footage on her Instagram... she believes her mom's alive and she believes her mom is out there." – Lynden Blake

6. Medication Mystery

• Nancy’s medical condition is critical—she can’t miss her medication for long.
• [14:33] Former Sheriff Mark Lamb notes ambiguity around whether Nancy has her medication:
  • "So they allude to the fact that it makes you feel like they did not take the medication, but nobody had a pill count…Maybe they didn't take the bottles, but maybe they took the pills with her, some of them. Maybe that's what took so long in the house." [14:33]

7. Crime Scene Management Fumbles

• Despite the ongoing investigation, the scene remains open:
  • A pizza delivery driver and Amazon driver have accessed the property; media have been scolded for ordering food to the address.
  • "So pizza man gets to the front door of Nancy Guthrie's home, but Jake Tapper gets kicked off for being too close... It's just chaos. It really is chaos in Tucson." – Lynden Blake [18:49]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [06:39] “I talked to experts about this, and they all agree…Once you get something to look at, even if it's a masked photo, someone at home is going to know who this is.” – Lynden Blake
• [12:23] “Are there going to be leads that come in from individuals? Absolutely. I think you’re going to start seeing those types of things. But is it going to be an immediate recognition? I don’t know…” – Former FBI Special Agent Michael Easter
• [15:47] “...we are going to go back and double check with residents about maybe an updated timeline or better description of the type of individual we’re looking for... and maybe... recover artifacts that may not even been preserved.” – Michael Easter
• [16:42] “This person in this video footage…seemed very comfortable in that moment. Not really worried anyone would see him or he would get caught. So that brings back to: who would feel comfortable doing this to eighty-four-year-old Nancy Guthrie?” – Lynden Blake

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:02 – Episode opens with breaking updates: person detained, ransom wallet activity, and key new video.
• 01:05 – Details on the arrested individual and Rio Rico investigation.
• 03:18 – Media reports on ransom wallet activity.
• 05:18-07:30 – Detailed description and analysis of doorbell footage.
• 12:23 – FBI expert on crowd-sourcing and the likelihood of new leads.
• 14:33 – Medication mystery explained by Sheriff Mark Lamb.
• 15:47 – FBI analysis of ongoing ground search and digital forensics.
• 17:43 – Discussion reinforces likely “familiar” perpetrator theory.
• 18:49 – Scene chaos and law enforcement’s public warning about interfering with the investigation.

Conclusion & Ongoing Questions

• With a compelling video and a detained individual, the case moves into a new, more actionable phase.
• The Guthrie family remains hopeful, but crucial questions about Nancy’s wellbeing, the intruder’s identity, and law enforcement’s handling of the crime scene persist.
• As always, if you have information, the tip line is 1-800-CALL-FBI.