Doorbell Cameras Play Key Role in Nancy Guthrie Investigation

Experts highlight the importance of quickly recovering footage in missing persons cases

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie in Tucson, Arizona has put a spotlight on the growing use of doorbell cameras and their role in criminal investigations. Retired federal agents Tim Reagan and Jason Pack discussed how the footage from Guthrie's doorbell camera has become central to the case, and the challenges of quickly recovering such evidence before it is overwritten.

Why it matters

The Nancy Guthrie case highlights how doorbell cameras have become ubiquitous in many neighborhoods and the valuable evidence they can provide for law enforcement in missing persons and other criminal investigations. However, the temporary nature of the footage means investigators must act quickly to preserve it before it is lost.

The details

Footage from Nancy Guthrie's doorbell camera in Tucson, Arizona has become a key piece of evidence in the investigation into her disappearance. Retired DEA agent Tim Reagan emphasized that companies are generally willing to help law enforcement in cases involving loss of life or kidnapping, in order to be "covered and protected." Retired FBI agent Jason Pack described the recovery of the doorbell camera footage as a "remarkable engineering feat" given the temporary nature of the recordings, which can be overwritten. Pack noted that many people are unaware of how long doorbell camera footage is actually stored, with some only keeping it for a short period before it is deleted.

  • The investigation into Nancy Guthrie's disappearance began in February 2026.

The players

Tim Reagan

A retired DEA agent who previously led the agency's Cincinnati office and now works for Chainalysis, a company that helps the government battle crypto criminals.

Jason Pack

A retired FBI agent who previously worked in Kentucky and is now with Media Rep Global Strategies.

Nancy Guthrie

An 84-year-old woman who went missing from her home in Tucson, Arizona.

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What they’re saying

“Companies generally want to help, right. They want to be covered and protected, but they also understand loss of life, risk of life and kidnappings. They're willing to help.”

— Tim Reagan, Retired DEA Agent (wdsu.com)

“It's temporary. It's used and re-recorded over. They were able to race against their own internal clock and recover that before it was written over and maybe have the evidence lost forever.”

— Jason Pack, Retired FBI Agent (wdsu.com)

What’s next

Investigators will continue to analyze the footage from Nancy Guthrie's doorbell camera and other evidence as they work to determine what happened to her.

The takeaway

The Nancy Guthrie case highlights the growing role of doorbell cameras in criminal investigations and the importance of quickly recovering footage before it is overwritten, as well as the need for the public to understand the limitations of how long such footage is actually stored.