Nest Subscription Lapse Delays FBI in Guthrie Kidnapping Case

Lack of $10 monthly cloud storage plan hampered investigators' ability to access critical security footage.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The recent kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie, mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie, exposed vulnerabilities in subscription-based smart home security systems. When the suspect disconnected Guthrie's Nest doorbell camera, the FBI faced a 10-day delay in accessing the footage due to the family's lapsed Nest Aware cloud storage subscription. This incident highlights how modern security systems prioritize recurring revenue over actual security, leaving homeowners at risk when physical tampering meets expired subscriptions.

Why it matters

The Guthrie case reveals the limitations of subscription-dependent smart home security and the potential consequences for public safety when criminals can easily disable cameras and evade detection. It raises questions about the balance between corporate profit models and consumer protection in the age of connected devices.

The details

Without the $6-20 monthly Nest Aware subscription, Guthrie's Nest camera could only retain three hours of event-triggered footage locally. When the suspect disconnected the doorbell camera, that limited window of free storage became useless. The FBI then had to work with Google for eight days to extract residual data from their servers, a laborious process even for a high-profile kidnapping case.

  • On January 31st, Nancy Guthrie was kidnapped from her Tucson home.
  • The FBI did not release the first images of the masked abductor until February 10th.

The players

Nancy Guthrie

The 84-year-old mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie, who was kidnapped from her Tucson home.

Savannah Guthrie

The host of the Today show and daughter of Nancy Guthrie.

Google

The parent company of Nest, which retained some residual video data beyond the subscription window but required significant technical expertise and legal coordination for the FBI to access.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The FBI is continuing its investigation into the kidnapping and working to identify the suspect. The Guthrie family's legal team is also expected to review the case and consider any potential legal action against Nest or Google regarding the subscription-based limitations of their security system.

The takeaway

The Guthrie kidnapping case highlights the need for smart home security systems that prioritize consumer protection and public safety over corporate profit models. As connected devices become more ubiquitous, policymakers and industry leaders must find a balance between subscription-based features and ensuring homeowners have reliable access to their security footage, even in the face of criminal tampering.