A late-night arrest unfolded near the Arizona home of missing 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, the mother of television personality Savannah Guthrie. The arrest occurred Thursday evening, casting a shadow over the ongoing search for the vulnerable woman.
Antonio De Jesus Pena-Campos, 34, was taken into custody on misdemeanor DUI charges directly in front of Guthrie’s residence. Deputies initiated the stop shortly before 8:00 p.m., illuminating a blue Chevrolet Equinox with flashlights.
Authorities were quick to clarify that Pena-Campos’ arrest is currently unrelated to Guthrie’s disappearance. The investigation into her abduction continues, despite this separate incident.
Footage from the scene depicts deputies administering a field sobriety test to Pena-Campos under the glare of a flashlight. He was subsequently placed in the back of a sheriff’s department pickup truck.
Guthrie was reported missing on February 1st, after investigators determined she was likely taken during a home invasion. The circumstances surrounding her disappearance remain deeply concerning.
A crucial piece of information emerged early in the investigation: Guthrie’s pacemaker last communicated with her iPhone around 2:30 a.m. on the night she vanished. This timeframe has become central to the search.
Her family has offered a substantial $1 million reward for information leading to her safe return, demonstrating their desperation and commitment to finding her. The reward underscores the gravity of the situation.
Meanwhile, a Catalina Foothills resident’s Ring camera captured a flurry of activity on the morning of the abduction. Twelve vehicles were recorded passing by between midnight and 6:00 a.m., potentially offering a vital clue.
Some of this vehicle traffic coincided with the 2:30 a.m. timeframe when Guthrie’s pacemaker last synced. Investigators are now meticulously reviewing the footage for any connections to the case.
Homeowners Elias and Danielle Stratigouleas, whose property sits on a back road leading away from Guthrie’s neighborhood, alerted authorities to the Ring camera footage. They expressed frustration that police had not previously canvassed their area.
The Stratigouleas’ home is approximately 2.5 miles from the scene of the alleged kidnapping. One video, recorded at 2:36 a.m., occurred just eight minutes after the last known signal from Guthrie’s pacemaker.
The back road offers a discreet route, avoiding major intersections, potentially making it attractive to someone attempting to leave the area undetected. Investigators are working to determine if any of the vehicles are connected to the case.
