Security Expert Explains Why Camera Found on Nancys Roof Is One of the Most Important Clues
Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images

The camera discovered on Nancy Guthrie’s roof could be a crucial piece to her kidnapping investigation, according to an expert.

“That’s not a throwaway detail — it’s potentially one of the most important clues,” Dan Donovan, the founder and managing partner of Stratoscope Holdings, a security and risk management firm, exclusively tells Us Weekly.

As the second ransom deadline nears, Donovan — who is not part of Nancy’s investigation — says the location of the camera signifies this was likely a premeditated crime.

“A camera on the roof suggests surveillance, planning and situational awareness. That’s not the behavior of someone improvising,” he explains. “It could mean they were watching entry points, watching police response patterns or monitoring the home to see who comes and goes.”

Security Expert Explains Why Camera Found on Nancys Roof Is One of the Most Important Clues

Nancy Guthrie Don Arnold/WireImage; Stratoscope Holdings

Donovan also warns that if the camera was placed by the 84-year-old’s kidnappers, who are demanding a reported $6 million by 5 p.m. MST on Monday, February 9, the crime might be strategic rather than emotional — and that could be dangerous.

“If it’s tied to the ransom note, it reinforces something critical: this may not be an emotional crime — it may be operational,” he adds. “And operational criminals tend to follow through when they feel control slipping.”

Last week, footage showed FBI agents scaling Nancy’s roof and removing what is believed to be a wired camera, potential evidence that was seemingly overlooked during the first days of the investigation.

“Apparently on that roof, the agents recovered a new camera, a camera that apparently they hadn’t been aware of and they took it into their custody. I don’t know anymore than that as to why it hadn’t been recovered, what it might see,” retired NYPD Inspector Paul Mauro told Fox News’ Jesse Watters on Friday.

Nancy — who is the mother of Today show cohost Savannah Guthrie — was reported missing in Arizona on February 1. She was last seen on January 31 after having dinner with her family, including Savannah’s sister, Annie, and brother-in-law, Tommaso Cioni. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos previously told Us that Annie was the last person to see her mother.

“This remains an active and ongoing investigation. Detectives and agents continue to conduct follow-up at multiple locations. Details of that follow-up are not being released at this time. Investigators have not identified any suspects, persons of interest, or vehicles connected to this case,” the sheriff’s department said on Sunday, February 8.

The person or persons allegedly responsible for Nancy’s kidnapping have asked for millions of dollars in bitcoin, according to a local news station that reportedly received one of the ransom notes.

“Multiple ransom notes have been sent out to the media, including one that was sent to us,” JJ McKinney from Tucson ABC affiliate KGUN9 reported. “In the letter, the potential kidnappers demanded that the Guthries pay them $6 million before this Monday.”

Savannah and her siblings addressed the demand in an emotional video directed at her possible captors over the weekend.

“We received your message and we understand,” Savannah said in an Instagram video on Saturday, February 7. “We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her. This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us and we will pay.”

The post was captioned, “Bring her home.”