Investigators in Pima County are utilizing data from an Apple Watch to narrow down the timeline of the abduction of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie. The elderly woman was taken from her Tucson home over the weekend, and authorities are now relying on digital forensics for crucial leads in the investigation, as reported by NBC News.
Nancy Guthrie went missing from her Tucson residence between the evening of Saturday, February 1, and the early morning hours of Sunday, February 2. Law enforcement officials have ruled out the possibility of a voluntary disappearance and are treating the case as a suspected abduction.
Savannah Guthrie, a veteran journalist with NBC News and co-anchor of the Today show, has temporarily stepped away from her on-air responsibilities as the police continue their probe into the incident. She has appealed to the public for prayers and any information that could aid in finding her mother.
According to sources in law enforcement, Nancy Guthrie’s Apple Watch and iPhone stopped communicating with her implanted pacemaker around 2 a.m. on February 2. Both devices were found inside her home when deputies conducted a search later that same day.
Investigators believe that Guthrie arrived home around 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 1, and took off her Apple Watch later that evening. Despite its removal, the Apple Watch continued to record data from the pacemaker, providing a crucial forensic timestamp.
While the exact reason for the interruption in syncing between the pacemaker and the wearable device remains unspecified, authorities have confirmed that the data collected by the Apple Watch has helped pinpoint the time of Guthrie’s disappearance, serving as a vital forensic clue.
Police now suspect that Guthrie was abducted late on Saturday or early Sunday, following the discovery of blood and signs of forced entry at the scene, prompting them to treat it as a crime scene. Surveillance footage, forensic analysis, and digital evidence from Guthrie’s Apple Watch and other devices are being used in the investigation.
Aside from its usual functions like tracking heart rate and sleep patterns, the Apple Watch’s capability to gather data from third-party medical devices such as pacemakers has proven to be instrumental in this case. The disruption in Bluetooth sync between Guthrie’s implanted device and her Apple Watch and iPhone signifies the precise moment of separation from her devices.
Authorities suspect that Guthrie may have sustained injuries during the abduction, indicated by the presence of blood at the scene. However, the nature and extent of these injuries have not been disclosed, as it is customary for police to withhold certain details during an ongoing investigation.
Law enforcement officials are investigating ransom demands sent to various news outlets, some of which claim responsibility for the abduction and seek payment. These messages contain personal details about Guthrie’s life and home, raising concerns about their authenticity and the possibility of multiple perpetrators.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos emphasizes the focus on determining Guthrie’s whereabouts and identifying the responsible parties, cautioning against unfounded accusations. As of now, no suspects or persons of interest have been named.
The FBI and US Customs Border Protection have joined the investigation, collaborating with homicide detectives and search-and-rescue teams. Savannah Guthrie has appealed for proof of life and urges anyone with information to contact the authorities.
If you have pertinent information regarding the abduction, you can reach out to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at 520-351-4900 or submit tips through 88-CRIME (520-882-7463).
