Walmart just dropped a GAME-CHANGING clue in the chilling disappearance of Nancy Guthrie — Savannah Guthrie’s 84-year-old mom — and it could crack this case wide open. 😱

The suspect’s exact backpack? A black 25L Ozark Trail Hiker Pack… sold exclusively at Walmart. And here’s the twist:

Investigators hunting for 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, the mother of NBC “Today” show co-host Savannah Guthrie, have turned to Walmart for crucial assistance after identifying a distinctive backpack worn by a suspect in doorbell camera footage as a major breakthrough in the case.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department, working alongside the FBI, confirmed that the black 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack seen on the masked individual outside Guthrie’s Catalina Foothills home is sold exclusively at Walmart stores and through the retailer’s online platform. Sheriff Chris Nanos described the backpack as the only item of the suspect’s attire that has been “definitively identified,” prompting immediate collaboration with Walmart management to review purchase records and potentially narrow the timeline and location of the sale.

Nancy Guthrie was last seen at her residence on Jan. 31, 2026. She was reported missing the following day after relatives raised concerns. Authorities discovered what appeared to be blood on the front porch and declared the home a crime scene. Surveillance video from a Nest doorbell camera captured a figure — described by the FBI as a man approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall with a medium build — wearing a ski mask, gloves, long pants, a jacket, and carrying the backpack while also appearing to have a handgun holster on his hip.

The FBI released still images from the footage, including close-ups of the backpack, and later increased a reward for information leading to Guthrie’s safe return to $100,000. Purported ransom notes were sent to media outlets demanding payment, but two deadlines passed without resolution or further contact. Officials have emphasized that no ransom was paid and have urged the public to avoid speculation that could hinder the probe.

Sheriff Nanos told the Associated Press and other outlets that Walmart has provided records of purchases for the Ozark Trail Hiker Pack model, covering both in-store and online transactions over recent months — not limited to the Tucson area. Investigators are analyzing sales data to determine when and where the specific backpack may have been acquired, a step experts say could significantly shrink the pool of potential suspects.

“This backpack is exclusive to Walmart and we are working with Walmart management to develop further leads,” Nanos stated. He noted that while other clothing items worn by the suspect — including the mask, gloves, and jacket — may have been purchased at Walmart, they are not exclusive to the retailer and remain possibilities only.

A retired FBI agent and former detectives have called the backpack evidence one of the “most promising leads” in the investigation. Betsy Brantner Smith of the National Police Association, speaking from Pima County, explained that tracing a SKU-specific item like this allows authorities to “work backwards” from purchase dates, payment methods, store locations, and even security camera footage at Walmart outlets. In some reports, the backpack model has been described in contexts suggesting limited or discontinued availability in certain periods, further aiding efforts to pinpoint recent buyers.

Additional evidence includes a glove recovered about two miles from Guthrie’s home that matches the type seen in the video. The glove was sent for DNA testing, with preliminary results received and full analysis ongoing. Sheriff Nanos reported no matches in national databases like CODIS so far, but authorities are exploring genetic genealogy options if needed. A Bluetooth detector and other forensic tools have also been deployed at the scene.

The suspect’s holster has drawn attention as well. Analysts identified it as potentially a low-cost Strategy brand hip holster sold at some Walmart locations for around $10. Combined with the backpack, these Walmart-linked items have shifted focus to the retailer’s vast transaction database and store surveillance systems.

Family members, including Savannah Guthrie’s siblings and their spouses, have been fully cooperative and ruled out as suspects. “The family has been nothing but cooperative and gracious and are victims in this case,” Nanos said. Concerns for Nancy Guthrie’s health remain high; she requires daily vital medications, uses a pacemaker, and has a history of high blood pressure and heart issues. Authorities have stressed the urgency, warning that time is critical for her well-being.

The investigation has spanned multiple agencies, with the FBI leading aspects involving potential interstate elements or specialized forensics. Tips have poured in, leading to searches — including one at a home two miles away that yielded no arrests — but no breakthroughs have been publicly announced beyond the Walmart collaboration.

Walmart’s corporate security team has assisted by providing broad purchase data, a move that underscores how everyday retail records can become pivotal in high-profile missing persons cases. Experts note that while millions may own similar backpacks, the exclusivity of the Ozark Trail line, combined with timing tied to the Jan. 31 incident, narrows possibilities considerably.

As the search enters its third week, the community in Tucson remains on edge. Vigils and public appeals for information continue, with the FBI reiterating the $100,000 reward for actionable tips leading to Guthrie’s location. Officials urge anyone with knowledge of the backpack’s purchase, suspicious activity near the home, or other relevant details to contact authorities immediately via 1-800-CALL-FBI or local tip lines.

No motive has been confirmed, though early speculation ranged from a botched robbery to targeted abduction. The presence of blood, the armed suspect’s appearance, and the lack of forced entry signs have kept detectives treating it as a serious kidnapping with potential for foul play.

For now, the Walmart backpack trail stands as a tangible step forward in a case that has gripped national attention due to Savannah Guthrie’s prominence. Investigators continue methodical work, hopeful that sales records, combined with DNA results and public tips, will lead to Nancy Guthrie’s safe return and justice for whoever is responsible.