Nancy Guthrie Case

The swat operation Friday night -- leading to the detention of a driver in the Tucson area and the search of a home -- appears to be something other than a direct lead from the ransom note TMZ received.

Harvey Levin appeared on CNN Saturday morning, breaking down the limited information we know at this time. A law enforcement source involved in the investigation told him this morning neither the ransom note we received nor the reward demand emails we received were the trigger for last night's action.

We have not confirmed, but it appears ... the main target last night was someone in a vehicle in the Tucson area. Again, it appears but is not confirmed ... the search of the house is connected to the traffic stop. 2 people were taken out of the house, and it was searched for several hours.

Police reportedly detained at least 3 people in connection with the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping ... and now we're seeing the first image of a man in handcuffs.

FOX News Digital obtained the photo showing the man sitting half in and half out of a Pima County Sheriff vehicle surrounded by law enforcement in Tucson, Arizona, on Friday night. The man's hands are cuffed in front of him with a hoodie partially covering his face.

Sources told FOX ... Pima County deputies pulled the man over in a Range Rover during a traffic stop in the parking lot of a Culver's restaurant about 2 miles from Nancy's home.

11 AM PST -- The Prima County Sheriff's Office tells TMZ ... "Last night, a federal court-ordered search warrant was executed at a residence near E. Orange Grove Rd. and N. First Ave. in connection with the Guthrie case. The warrant was based on a lead we received. No arrests were made."

They add ... "A traffic stop was also conducted, and a person was questioned but no arrests resulted from that incident. There are no further details available at this time."

Federal agents in Arizona may have snagged another crucial lead in the search for Nancy Guthrie ... because cops were seen poking around a potential vehicle of interest at a Tucson restaurant near her home Friday night.

11:00 AM PT -- The Pima County Sheriff's Office tells TMZ ... a federal court-ordered search warrant was executed at a residence near E. Orange Grove Rd. and N. First Ave. Friday night, which was connectde to the Guthrie case.No arrests were made.

There was also a traffic stop conducted, and a person was questioned. Again, no arrests resulted.

11:53 PM PT -- Fox News has reported that at least three people have been detained in connection with the investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, according to a local law enforcement source.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed the activity at the neighboring residence is connected to the Guthrie investigation ... however, they’re keeping details under lock and key due to the joint nature of the investigation and a request from the FBI to stay tight-lipped.

Cops also clarified online speculation saying ... "Reporting that current law enforcement activity is surrounding a home belonging to a former county attorney is NOT accurate."

It looks like the biggest break yet in the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping ... Pima County deputies are swarming a home in the Tucson area, and apparently, taking multiple people into custody.

Another clue about Nancy Guthrie's potential kidnapper is tucked into an email from a man who claims he knows the individual who abducted Nancy ... and it sounds like the suspect may have crossed the border.

The latest money demand sent to TMZ ends with this ... "for the man hunt of the main individual that can give you all the answers and be prepared to go International."

It sounds to us like the guy demanding the $100,000 FBI reward implies that Nancy's kidnapper is hiding out in Mexico.

Nancy was abducted from her home near Tucson, Arizona ... and Mexico is a short drive south.

It's unlikely the kidnappers would have taken Nancy on a commercial jet ... that would require ID and the jig would be up. Plus, a previous ransom note sent by the alleged kidnapper themselves indicated Nancy was within a 700-mile radius of Tucson, which further supports the theory this kidnapper may be in Mexico.

Our sources tell us the FBI is hyper focused on the ransom note we received ... and they're also very interested in this latest batch of emails demanding bitcoin in return for information on Nancy's kidnapper.

The phrase "the main individual" is also significant ... it clearly suggest there are accomplices.

TMZ just received a third email from the man who claims he knows the identity of Nancy Guthrie's kidnapper ... and he has upped his price.

The email says he's contacting TMZ because he doesn't trust law enforcement. He's essentially using TMZ as an intermediary, telling authorities -- you don't trust me, and I don't trust you.

He suggests the reward being doubled to $100,000 was a move designed "to discredit me."

Nancy Guthrie's family has taken to social media to beg for her return ... but cops say that doesn't mean they've been cleared of wrongdoing yet -- because no one has.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos sat down with Briana Whitney -- a true-crime reporter for Arizona's KTVK-TV -- who asked him if Nancy's fam has officially been cleared in her Tucson-area disappearance.

Sheriff Nanos explains that everyone -- Nancy's family especially -- has been cooperating with the investigation ... including giving statements and submitting to DNA testing.

The jacket worn by Nancy Guthrie’s kidnapper might not be the windbreaker we originally reported ... 'cause after digging deeper, we've found a piece that could be an even closer match.

Take another look at the surveillance footage from Nancy’s front door ... then compare it to the Athletic Works Fusion Knit Jacket, currently sold at Walmart. The standout similarities are hard to ignore -- especially the center zipper and the distinct horizontal seam across the chest, as well as the cuffs and the bottom hem of the outerwear.

It’s not a perfect slam dunk, though. Our earlier reporting pointed to the Aero Hex Windbreaker, which also features the horizontal black line across the chest, zipper, and pockets -- all consistent with what’s seen in the footage.

New video's surfaced in the search for Nancy Guthrie's kidnappers ... a man in Tucson with a goatee, who creepily approached a doorbell camera one week before Nancy was taken, and TMZ has learned cops are giving it a hard look.

The video was originally posted January 23 on Ring's Neighbors app, and it shows the guy intentionally backing up to the front door of a home about 6.5 miles from where Savannah Guthrie's mother lives.

The man clearly didn't want to be seen, but the camera still got a good shot of him as he rang the doorbell around 5 AM. The homeowner who posted the vid says the would-be intruder fled when their dogs started barking.

12:39 PM PT -- Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos tells TMZ ... the Guthrie family requested the cleaners come by to maintain the pool.

Another strange development in the search for Nancy Guthrie ... pool cleaners are hard at work at her Tucson home after her alleged kidnapping.

Several reporters on the ground in Arizona shared video of work trucks from the local company Ambiance Pool Service & Supplies in front of her house. Drone footage posted by MS Now reporter Alex Tabet shows two guys dragging nets through the water in her backyard.

It's unclear why they're doing this ... but law enforcement still has the house locked down -- the tweet above shows at least one deputy escorting the pool cleaners to the front door.

6:12 PM PT -- The COO of 2XU tells TMZ ... the company has been in contact with authorities about the possible connection ... but they do not believe their jacket is the one the suspect is wearing.

TMZ has been searching to determine what type of jacket Nancy Guthrie's kidnapper was wearing, and we may have found the match.

The windbreaker in question has the characteristics of the Aero Hex Windbreaker. Compare the horizontal black line across the chest, zipper, and pockets -- they all appear to match.

What's more ... the kidnapper's jacket seems reflective. The Aero Hex Windbreaker advertises "reflective highlight" on the logos and trim.

When you watch the video of the kidnapper at Nancy's door, it appears the jacket has a hood -- like the Aero Hex Windbreaker.

The FBI and Pima County Sheriff's Department may be butting heads over the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping case, according to a new report.

The two agencies investigating the Guthrie case apparently didn't see eye-to-eye over where recent evidence that was collected should be analyzed.

Citing a law enforcement source, FOX News reported Thursday ... FBI brass wanted DNA from Nancy's home and other physical evidence to be sent to their crime laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, but Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos denied the request, sending the items to a private lab in Florida for examination.

In response to the FOX article, Sheriff Nanos told NBC affiliate KVOA ... the report was "not even close to the truth," adding that his agency is cooperating with the FBI.

The FBI has a better idea of what the suspect in Nancy Guthrie's disappearance might look like ... and, they've increased the reward to aid in their efforts.

The federal agency posted a statement mere minutes ago ... announcing the reward for information leading to the location of Nancy Guthrie or the arrest and conviction of those responsible for her abduction has been raised to $100,000.

On top of the reward increase, the FBI also announced its Operational Technology Division reviewed the doorbell camera footage ... and the suspect is a male, standing 5' 9" - 5' 10" tall, with an average build. The FBI says he had a black, 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack -- a detail we also ascertained from the video.

TMZ has received another email from the person who claims to know the identity of Nancy Guthrie's kidnapper ... and the words are chilling.

As we reported, TMZ received an email Wednesday, asking for 1 bitcoin in return for the name of the kidnapper. A single bitcoin is currently worth around $65,000. We monitored the account all day, but nothing was deposited.

Just after 8 AM Pacific Time Thursday ... TMZ received a second email from the same person, who complained, "I am not being taken seriously." He makes some ominous statements in the email ... TMZ is cooperating with law enforcement by not disclosing specifics. One thing he makes clear ... the situation has changed from Wednesday to Thursday.

As for why he wants a bitcoin ... he says he will need money to lay low after identifying the kidnapper for fear of retaliation. He also worries he might be "incriminated like that Carlos [the deliveryman who was detained and released] guy."

He ends by saying this is his final attempt to help.

The man in this video -- recorded just 5 miles from Nancy Guthrie's home -- is on the FBI's radar -- TMZ has learned -- and the timing of the video is critical.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the FBI is lasering in on the man in the video, who is both wearing and carrying backpacks ... right around the time of the kidnapping.

The backpack the man is carrying appears to have reflective straps ... similar to the one the apparent kidnapper was wearing as he approached Nancy's front door. It's unclear if the reflectors are on the shoulder straps or the side of the backpack.

TMZ broke the story ... the backpack seen at Nancy's house is a Walmart Ozark Trail Hiker, and that has now been confirmed by authorities.

The man in the new video is trying to enter a locked gate, to no avail. He was recorded on a resident's Ring camera at 1:52 AM.

Savannah Guthrie's posted a series of heartfelt home videos featuring her mom, Nancy Guthrie ... and, she says there's no way she's giving up on her mom.

The NBC journalist shared the compilation on Instagram Thursday morning ... showing her, her mom and another child who is likely her sister, Annie.

The two kids are happy ... smiling and waving at the cameras in the clip -- while Nancy beams in a bright blue dress.