Walmart sales records become critical evidence as FBI investigates Nancy Guthrie's disappearance

TUCSON, Ariz. — A azygous backpack has go a captious focal constituent successful the probe into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, prompting national authorities to comb done Walmart income records and store surveillance footage successful hunt of a break.

Investigators are moving with Walmart’s firm information squad portion agents canvass stores crossed the Tucson metropolitan area, according to retired Supervisory FBI Agent Jason Pack, who described the strategy arsenic a methodical effort to constrictive the beingness of imaginable suspects.

"They’re attacking this contented connected respective fronts," Pack told Fox News Digital. "They are moving with Walmart firm information and simultaneously canvassing the stores successful metro Tucson. Walmart should beryllium capable to hint backmost each income of the backpack implicit a circumstantial play of time. That volition make galore determination leads arsenic agents way down and relationship for each azygous backpack. They’ll besides privation to retrieve video from the stores wherever they were sold."

Authorities person not publically elaborate however galore of the backpacks were sold oregon implicit what timeframe they are focusing, but the attack reflects a modular national investigative technique. Fox News Digital has reached retired to Walmart Corp. for further information.

Photos released connected Feb. 10, 2025, amusement a "subject" connected Nancy Guthrie's property.  (Provided by FBI)

Former FBI cause John Nantz explained however thing that "ties a taxable to the transgression is captious successful gathering a lawsuit for prosecution."

Likening the acquisition past investigation utilized successful the condemnation of Brian Cole Jr., who planted 2 unrecorded tube bombs extracurricular the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee, Nantz said Cole’s apprehension came aft investigators developed captious grounds from his acquisition history.

FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X

An Ozark Trails backpack for merchantability successful a Walmart store, Tucson, Arizona, Friday, February 13, 2026.  (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)

Large retailers support SKU-level income records that seizure the date, clip and determination of each purchase, on with outgo method information. 

SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER

By isolating income wrong a defined window, agents tin make a database of purchasers and past prioritize leads based connected carnal descriptors.

Exterior presumption of a Walmart store located astatine 455 E. Wetmore Rd, Tucson, Arizona, Friday, February 13, 2026. (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital) (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)

Pack said retail forensics tin beryllium decisive erstwhile combined with different evidence.

SEND US A TIP HERE

"When you tin lucifer a merchandise to a idiosyncratic done some information and video," helium said, "you statesman to shrink the fishy excavation quickly."

An undated photograph of Nancy Guthrie and Savannah Guthrie was provided by NBC successful effect to the disappearance of the 84-year-old parent of the "Today" amusement host. (Courtesy of NBC)

LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? FIND MORE ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB

Nancy Guthrie disappearance timeline:

Jan. 31, 2026

Between 9:30–9:45 p.m. — Family drops Nancy disconnected astatine home

9:50 p.m. — Garage doorway closes (per authorities)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The FBI released a statement of a fishy successful Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, who was seen successful doorbell camera footage earlier she vanished. (Fox News)

Feb. 1, 2026

1:47 a.m. — Doorbell camera disconnects

2:12 a.m. — Security camera detects motion

2:28 a.m. — Pacemaker disconnects from telephone application

11:56 a.m. — Family checks on Nancy aft she misses weekly religion livestream gathering

12:03 p.m. — 911 called

12:15 p.m. — Sheriff’s deputies get astatine home