Key Detail in Suspect’s Eyes: What People Are Noticing in Nancy Guthrie Kidnapping Photos

The recent release of surveillance images by the FBI has everyone talking about the kidnapping case involving Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of “Today” show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie. It’s been over 10 days since she vanished from her home in Tucson, Arizona, and these new photos and video clips feel like the first real glimpse into what might have happened.

The footage, pulled from residual data on the home’s Nest doorbell camera after it was tampered with, shows a masked figure approaching the front door in the early morning hours of February 1—the day Nancy was reported missing. The person is dressed in a balaclava, gloves, a zipped-up jacket, and carrying a backpack, with what appears to be a firearm holstered in an unusual spot at the front of their waist.

Social media blew up almost immediately after the images went public, with people zooming in on the small visible area around the eyes. Quite a few are convinced the arched eyebrows and overall eye shape point to the suspect being a woman rather than a man. Comments like “Those arched eyebrows—I’d say female,” or “The eyes look like a woman’s to me,” and even “Sure that’s not a woman?” popped up everywhere online.

That said, others aren’t so sure. Some point to the way the person moves in the video clips—the gait seems more masculine to them—and a few think they can make out the faint outline of facial hair under the mask. Law enforcement hasn’t said anything about the gender yet, so all this is just public speculation for now.

A former FBI agent who looked at the footage noted how awkwardly the suspect handled the gun, calling the front-waist carry “very non-conventional.” He suggested it might mean the person isn’t used to carrying a firearm regularly, maybe someone inexperienced rather than a pro.

The case has had its share of developments. Two ransom demands for $6 million in bitcoin came in, but those deadlines passed without any follow-through mentioned, and the notes didn’t include explicit threats. On Tuesday, authorities briefly detained a man named Carlos after spotting him in the area—he said he might have delivered a package to the house through his job, but he was released after questioning and insisted he had nothing to do with it.

The family, including Savannah Guthrie, has been posting emotional appeals, saying they believe their mom is still alive and urging anyone with information to come forward. The FBI is getting a ton of tips now that these images are out there.

It’s a heartbreaking situation, and hopefully these chilling glimpses from the camera will lead to some answers soon.