Investigators may have uncovered a key lead in the puzzling disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie.
According to the New York Post, the FBI recovered a black glove from a roadside near Guthrie’s Tucson-area home, a piece of evidence that could link the suspect to the abduction.
The glove, discovered roughly a mile and a half from Guthrie’s residence, resembles those worn by the masked assailant captured on surveillance video.
Footage shows an FBI Evidence Response team member carefully retrieving the item from low desert shrubbery in the secluded neighborhood.
Authorities have not publicly identified any suspects in the case. Guthrie, 84, appears to have been forcibly removed from her home, leaving behind a trail of blood, but her current condition and whereabouts remain unknown.
The glove represents the first major physical clue since the investigation began 10 days ago.
On the same day it was found, FBI agents briefly detained Carlos Palazuelos, a Rio Rico delivery driver, for questioning near the Mexican border.
Palazuelos was released early Wednesday without charges. He maintains he has no connection to Guthrie’s disappearance, telling reporters he hadn’t even heard of her and demanding an apology.
“The assistance and support we have received from the Tucson community has been invaluable,” the FBI said in a statement, while reminding the public of the $50,000 reward for information leading to Guthrie’s safe recovery. Authorities declined to comment on the significance of the glove.
Adding another twist, TMZ reported Wednesday that a mysterious note had been sent demanding a $67,000 Bitcoin payment in exchange for the “name of the individual involved” in Guthrie’s disappearance. Officials have not confirmed whether the note is credible.
The investigation continues, with authorities combing the desert and surrounding areas for additional evidence while urging anyone with information to come forward.
