According to information acknowledged by authorities, investigators have formally logged new digital evidence after a neighboring child voluntarily handed over a memory card from a recreational drone. Police confirm the child, accompanied by a guardian, reported that the drone had been flown earlier for casual filming and was not intended to capture any suspicious activity. A review of the footage by officers placed the recording within the same general timeframe as Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance. Officials emphasize that the video’s authenticity has been verified through metadata, including timestamp, altitude, and flight path, and that the child is not considered a witness in the legal sense but a source of potential corroborating material.
Law enforcement sources say the footage shows two unidentified individuals moving an object consistent in size and posture with a person, proceeding along a route not previously prioritized by search teams. Investigators stress that the video does not provide facial clarity or definitive identification, and no conclusions have been drawn regarding intent or outcome. Nonetheless, the drone’s GPS trail enabled police to reconstruct the approximate path taken. That reconstruction led search teams to a location where soil disturbance was visible. Authorities confirmed the presence of a recently excavated pit, which had not appeared in earlier sweeps of the area.
During a controlled excavation, officers documented the site and recovered a large suitcase positioned carefully within the pit. Police state that standard evidence protocols were followed, including perimeter control, forensic photography, and soil sampling. Officials have declined to describe the contents publicly, noting that premature disclosure could compromise both the investigation and potential judicial proceedings. They reiterated that discovery of a container does not equate to confirmation of what it holds or how it came to be there.
Investigators are now analyzing the footage frame by frame, cross-referencing movement patterns with known timelines, vehicle data, and prior digital leads. Forensic specialists are examining whether the suitcase shows signs of handling consistent with the period in question, while laboratory teams assess environmental indicators that may establish when the pit was dug. Police have also confirmed outreach to nearby residents to identify additional cameras or witnesses along the drone’s flight corridor.
Authorities caution against speculation, underscoring that this development represents one piece within a larger evidentiary mosaic. Still, they acknowledge the significance of a civilian-generated recording that independently aligns with investigative gaps. As the analysis continues, officials say the drone footage has narrowed the search focus and prompted renewed activity at locations previously deemed secondary. Whether this lead resolves unanswered questions or introduces new ones remains under active examination.
