FBI agents have recovered a black glove from a roadside near Nancy Guthrie’s house — potentially a major clue in the search for the masked thug who is suspected of abducting the 84-year-old woman, The Post can reveal.
Detectives found the clothing item, which resembles the pair worn by the armed perpetrator caught on video, about one and a half miles from the home of “Today” show co-host Savannah Guthrie’s mother.
Video and photos show at least one member of the FBI Evidence Response team pulling the glove from the low, desert shrubbery in Guthrie’s secluded desert suburb at the edge of Tucson.
Authorities have not identified any suspects behind the presumed kidnapping, in which Guthrie seems to have been forced from her home, leaving a trail of blood behind.
However, on Tuesday the FBI released footage of a man with black gloves, a ski mask, and a holstered gun destroying the security camera on her door.
The footage was the first major breakthrough authorities have revealed after the arduous, 10-day investigation.
The same day, authorities detained a person of interest for questioning near the Mexican border, but the person was released early today without charges.
The FBI discovered the glove as part of an “extensive search” of the neighborhood in which agents were out in force combing the roadsides.
“We appreciate the assistance and support we have received from the Tucson community,” the FBI said in a statement reminding the public of the $50,000 reward for information leading to Nancy Guthrie’s recovery.
Investigators would not comment when asked about the potential piece of evidence.
The person of interest questioned Tuesday was Carlos Palazuelos, a delivery driver from the border town of Rio Rico who was slapped in cuffs after being pulled over south of Tucson.
Palazuelos, now free, insisted he had nothing to do with Guthrie’s abduction, hadn’t even heard of the woman, and demanded an apology from authorities, according to WDBJ.
Meanwhile, a mysterious note was sent to TMZ Wednesday morning demanding a bitcoin transfer in exchange for information about Guthrie’s captor.
TMZ reported that the $67,000 payment would be in exchange for the “name of the individual involved.”
The letter, the third alleged note sent out since Nancy was last seen on Jan. 31, contained details of a working bitcoin address, TMZ host Harvey Levin said during Wednesday’s appearance on Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom.”
The bitcoin address is different from the one featured in the original ransom note, which was sent to two Tucson-area TV news stations along with TMZ last week.
The self-proclaimed kidnappers demanded millions of dollars in crypto currency, setting a final deadline for Monday, Feb. 9.
Yet the letter’s authors have not provided proof of life or further information, despite Savannah Guthrie saying her family would pay if it meant getting their mother back safe.