It has been more than two weeks since 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie disappeared on February 1, 2026. The search is still ongoing. The FBI and local police are working together. They shared photos and short videos of a man seen on surveillance cameras outside her home. No arrests have been made. The suspect’s name has not yet been officially released. But as detectives continued their work, another scene unfolded outside Nancy Guthrie’s house. Some YouTubers have set up cameras on the streets. Some people live stream for hours at a time. Police are now openly expressing their dismay. They said these anchors turned every small update into “breaking news,” even if there was nothing new to report. The level of concern is so great that neighbors say the streets are no longer peaceful. Officers are spending their time managing crowds rather than focusing solely on investigations.
YouTubers Jimmy Williams, Ashley Banfield, Jonathan Lee Riches and Sheriff Chris Nanos speak out as online speculation grows in Nancy Guthrie case
According to Inside Edition, some anchors even camped outside Nancy Guthrie’s home. One such person is YouTuber Jimmy Williams, who runs a channel called “Dolly Vision.” Williams once worked in the construction industry and now livestreams crime scenes and missing persons cases, Australia’s Seven News reported.Williams told reporters that his audience wants to see everything in real time. When asked how long he stayed out of the house, he said, “I take turns doing it… I’ll sit here for about five or six hours. I’ll go back to the hotel, cool off, eat something, and then come back and do another four or five hours.”Inside Edition also reported that Williams got into an argument with a neighbor over where he parked his car.Meanwhile, the rhetoric online has grown darker. Podcaster Ashleigh Banfield says Nancy Guthrie’s family may be responsible. True crime reporter Jonathan Lee Riches made a similar claim. The comments quickly spread on social media.That led to Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos getting involved. On February 16, he issued a public statement defending the family. He said: “The family have been cooperative and gracious and they are the victims of this case. To suggest otherwise would not only be wrong, it would be cruel.”Later, in an interview with NBC News, Chris Nanos explained why he thinks it’s important to speak out. He said he did so “because sometimes we forget that we are human, we are hurt, and kindness matters. It is every police officer’s responsibility to stand up and advocate for victims.”Meanwhile, reports kept coming. The Los Angeles Times reported that federal investigators have received more than 18,000 tips. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has received more than 50,000 calls. Retired Police Chief Paul Vernon said, “All the speculation is unhelpful. Detectives and police public relations people have to spend a lot of time correcting it.”The investigation is ongoing. Authorities continue to ask the public to provide verified information rather than speculation. Nancy Guthrie is still missing and police say their focus remains on finding her.
