Speaking to a local journalist afterwards, the man – who identified himself only as “Carlos” – said he was a delivery driver who had never heard of Guthrie .
“I might have delivered a package to their house but I never kidnapped anybody,” he said.
As the search continues, FBI Director Kash Patel told Fox News Tuesday evening: “We are looking at people who, as we say, are persons of interest.”
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The development came shortly after new surveillance photos and video was released showing a masked person outside Guthrie’s Arizona home on the night she was abducted.
New videos show ‘armed’ masked man at front door of Savannah mother’s home (Pima County Sheriff’s Department/FBI)
Police believe Guthrie, the mother of Today co-host Savannah Guthrie, was taken from her home in a quiet neighborhood near Tucson at some point between the night of January 31 and the morning of February 1.
The black-and-white images released by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department show the sinister figure apparently trying to tamper with Guthrie’s doorbell camera.
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Police said it has been working to recover “lost, corrupted or inaccessible” footage related to Guthrie’s disappearance.
“Over the last eight days, the FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department have been working closely with our private sector partners to continue to recover any images or video footage from Nancy Guthrie’s home that may have been lost, corrupted, or inaccessible due to a variety of factors – including the removal of recording devices,” the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement posted to X.
“The video was recovered from residual data located in backend systems.”
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New surveillance footage shows a masked person approaching the front door of Nancy Guthrie’s home on the night she disappeared (Pima County Sheriff’s Department)
“Working with our partners, as of this morning, law enforcement has uncovered these previously inaccessible new images showing an armed individual appearing to have tampered with the camera at Nancy Guthrie’s front door the morning of her disappearance,” the statement continued.
Patel also released additional photos and videos recovered from the same door camera.
One video shows the masked suspect approaching the front door and messing with the camera with his gloved hand. The person then walks away and appears to pick up something off the ground. Another video shows the individual using what appears to be a branch with leaves to obstruct the camera as they tamper with it.
Savannah Guthrie shared the new footage on her Instagram, writing: “We believe she is still alive. Bring her home.” The new photos were released a day after she posted a video on Instagram on Monday, begging for the public’s help in finding her mother as an alleged ransom deadline passed.
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A missing person poster for Nancy Guthrie describes her physical appearance as the search continues (Pima County Sheriff’s Department)
In the video, she said her family believed her mother was “still out there” and asked for the public’s help in finding her, saying that they were “at an hour of desperation, and we need your help.”
Guthrie’s family reported her missing around noon on February 1 after she did not show up for church. Her disappearance set off a massive search involving state and federal law enforcement agencies.
DNA tests showed blood on Guthrie’s front porch was a match to her, and her doorbell camera was disconnected in the early hours of Sunday morning, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has said.
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Multiple news outlets have received alleged ransom letters during the past week. Local CNN affiliate KGUN reports it received a ransom note demanding $6 million by Monday, a deadline that passed with no update. Meanwhile, the FBI has said it’s not aware of communication between the Guthrie family and the suspected abductors.
The FBI has offered a $50,000 reward for information.
Here’s what we know so far.
Who is Nancy Guthrie?
Nancy, 84, lives in Catalina Foothills, an affluent community adjacent to the desert just north of Tucson, Arizona.
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She is described as a white female, approximately 5ft 5in tall, weighing about 150 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. It’s not known what clothing she might be wearing.
Her daughter, Savannah, is a co-host on NBC’s Today show, and her mother has occasionally appeared on the program in segments alongside her.
Savannah Guthrie pictured with her mother Nancy. She posted a video Monday saying she believed her mother was ‘still out there’ (NBC Universal)
How long has she been missing?
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Nancy Guthrie was last seen around 9:30 p.m. on the evening of Saturday, January 31, at her home near Skyline Drive and Campbell Avenue, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said.
She spent Saturday night eating dinner and playing games with family members before one of them dropped her off at her home that sits on hilly, desert terrain, the sheriff said.
She was reported missing the next day, on Sunday, February 1, after she didn’t attend her regular church service.
Sheriff Nanos revealed a more detailed timeline during the most recent press conference on Thursday.
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He said Guthrie ordered an Uber and left her home at 5:32 p.m. Saturday to go to the family dinner. She returned at 9:48 p.m.
“We did speak to a driver, because Nancy, we learned, had been taken the Uber to the family residence, the daughter for dinner,” Nanos said. “And we located that driver and spoke with them.”
Her garage door opened at approximately 9:48 p.m. and closed two minutes later, which investigators believe marks the time she arrived home.
Her doorbell camera was disconnected at 1:47 a.m. Sunday. But Guthrie did not have an active subscription so the company was unable to recover any footage.
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Software data recorded movement at the home minutes later, at 2:12, the sheriff said, acknowledging that the motion could have come from an animal.
At 2:28 a.m., Guthrie’s pacemaker disconnected from her phone.
Family members went to check on Guthrie at 11:56 a.m. Sunday and were unable to locate her. A 911 call was made at 12:03 p.m., and deputies arrived about 10 minutes later.
How is Nancy’s health?
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Nancy Guthrie is considered a “vulnerable adult” due to her age, and Nanos said at a press conference just days after her disappearance that she was “very limited in mobility.”
“We know she didn’t just walk out there, that we know,” the sheriff said, adding that her health challenges were only physical.
“Nancy Guthrie is of great sound and mind, this is not dementia-related. She is as sharp as a tack. Her family wants everybody to know, this is not somebody that just wandered off.”
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Nancy Guthrie, 84, pictured with her daughter, Today co-host Savannah Guthrie (Instagram/@savannahguthrie)
She also takes medication that, if she does not have in 24 hours, “could be fatal,” Nanos said.
In a video shared last week, Savannah Guthrie said her mother’s health is “fragile.”
“Our mom is a kind, faithful, loyal, fiercely loving woman of goodness and light. She has grandchildren that adore her and crowd around her and cover her with kisses. Her health, her heart is fragile,” she said.
“Nancy has high blood pressure, a pacemaker and cardiac issues,” the dispatcher said.
What do authorities think happened?
Police believe that Nancy Guthrie was a victim of a crime.
“At this point, investigators believe she was taken from the home against her will, possibly in the middle of the night. Taken against her will includes possible kidnapping or abduction,” Nanos said earlier this week.
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There were signs of forced entry at the home in the Catalina Foothills neighborhood.
NewsNation released video of dried droplets of blood on stone slabs outside her front door, leading away from the house. DNA tests later revealed belonged to Guthrie.
NewsNation released video of dried droplets of blood on stone slabs outside her front door, leading away from the house (NewsNation)
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Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos says authorities believe Nancy Guthrie was taken against her will. (Pima County Sheriff’s Department)
Who might have abducted her?
On Tuesday it was reported that a “person of interest” had been detained for questioning over Guthrie’s disappearance.
Authorities are now preparing to search a location south of Tucson which is associated with the individual, the sources said, but added that the person had not been charged.
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Speaking to Fox News Tuesday night, Kash Patel said the Bureau was looking into “persons of interest,” adding that authorities were undergoing a process of elimination with their investigations.
Patel added that “there might be persons of interest in and around the area related to this event,” and reiterated that the FBI’s first priority was finding Guthrie. “Right behind that is to find anyone and any others involved in this kidnapping case to make sure they’re brought to justice,” he said.
Despite his remarks, police have yet to publicly identify any potential suspects.
“We’ve submitted all kinds of samples for DNA, and we’ve gotten some back, but nothing to indicate any suspects,” Nanos told reporters Tuesday.
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The sheriff said investigators have believed from the beginning that Guthrie was targeted, but they don’t know whether that was because her daughter is one of television’s most visible anchors.
Earlier this week, multiple media outlets reported receiving ransom notes demanding millions of dollars in Bitcoin for Guthrie’s return.
FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke said Thursday there has been “no contact” since the ransom notes were sent to media outlets.
“The family wants to be contacted,” Janke said. “They know time is of the essence. And if those that may have Nancy are watching this, the family is ready to talk, get proof of life, because there has been no contact after that ransom note went to the media.”
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However, none of the letters contained proof of life, he said. Janke said the notes contained references to a deadline and a monetary demand, as well as mentions of “an Apple Watch” and “a floodlight,” but declined to provide further details.
On Thursday, a man was arrested in Los Angeles for allegedly texting Guthrie’s family members asking about the Bitcoin that was demanded in a ransom letter sent to media outlets, according to NBC News.
This comes after an FBI agent announced officials had arrested one person in connection with an “imposter” ransom demand.
The criminal complaint, which was reviewed by NBC News, says Derrick Callella sent the family members messages after hearing about Nancy’s disappearance on TV. Callella allegedly told officials he was just “trying to see if the family would respond,” according to the complaint.
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Former FBI special agent Nicole Parker, a Fox News contributor, told Hannity that Nancy had likely been taken by someone with a “deep grievance”.
“I do believe that it was someone who likely knows her, knows her very well, or knows the structure of the home very well, knows that she lived alone, had their eye on her, and had the entry and exit points of the home, and is quite familiar,” Parker said.
It was clear, Parker added, that “the home itself is the crime scene,” and investigators were withholding some details to avoid compromising the ongoing case.
“There is something about it that is very strongly driving this investigation. Law enforcement has kept that quite confidential and quiet, but there is something that they have seen that is driving the sense of urgency on this.”
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New photos show the masked and “armed” individual approaching Nancy Guthrie’s front door (FBI)
The masked person was ‘armed,’ police say (FBI)
On February 10, the sheriff’s department released several photos and videos from surveillance footage obtained from the doorbell camera outside Nancy Guthrie’s home.
The photos were of an “armed” suspect who appeared to have tampered with Nancy Guthrie’s doorbell camera.
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FBI Director Kash Patel then released additional photos and videos recovered from the same camera.
The first video is 27 seconds long and shows the masked suspect — who police have said was “armed” — approaching the front door and interacting with the camera with his gloved hand. The individual then walks away and appears to pick up an object off the ground nearby.
Another 14-second video shows the individual using what appears to be a branch with leaves to obstruct the camera.
President Donald Trump reacted with “pure disgust” when he viewed the newly-released surveillance footage, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
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“His initial reaction, of course, as all Americans, is just pure disgust. And again, it’s heartbreaking to see now this footage really bring to life a story we’ve all been reading about,” Leavitt said.
“Again, we’re just praying for the safety of Nancy Guthrie and that she will return home soon, and the president directed me to please encourage all Americans with any information to call the FBI. We hope that this case will come to a positive resolution as soon as possible,” she added.
The person was wearing gloves and a full face mask as they tampered with the camera (Pima County Sheriff’s Department)
A massive search effort
Initial search efforts covered the Catalina Foothills area, using drones, aircraft, ground crews and dog teams. The sheriff’s department said the FBI had offered assistance on the case and the U.S. Border Patrol had also assisted with dogs.
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The area has seen sunny weather in recent days, though temperatures have dropped to between 40 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit at night, according to AccuWeather.
Nancy’s $1 million home, located on a residential street, appears to be in a secluded area. Photos of her home show it’s surrounded by shrubbery on all sides, and some plants appear to partially block the view of her front door from the street. Her property also has a large outdoor area and a pool.
For days, law enforcement officers canvassed the home and property of Nancy Guthrie (AP)
But after just two days, large-scale search efforts were called off, with Nanos noting: “Right now, we don’t see this as a search mission, as much as we do a crime scene.”
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Nanos said Nancy lives in an area that’s “not well lit.” He described it as a “very suburban, rural area of the Tucson area, in a very mountainous side of town where vegetation is extremely thick.”
Deputies returned to the house multiple times in the past week for what the sheriff called a “follow-up” after the property had already been released back to the family.
What are neighbors saying?
Locals have reacted with shock and rallied to help search for Nancy.
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“I just saw her two days ago [on Saturday] checking her mail,” one neighbor told Us Weekly. “She was always smiling and always asking about our family and neighbors. She was very engaged with the community. … It’s very concerning.”
Another neighbor, Morgan Brown, told the magazine that there had been “a lot of dark vans with blacked out windows” in the suburb since Nancy’s disappearance.
“There were a lot of cop cars there at first, and then it was vans, so I assumed that maybe they came across something.”
One neighbor told The Arizona Republic that officers went door to door to talk to people, asking to see any surveillance videos they had and to look through people’s backyards.
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Resident Jan Henry, who lives nearby, serves as neighborhood watch lead and has been coordinating a volunteer rescue group.
“We sent out an alert to all the neighbors in our neighborhood so we could be looking for her,” Henry told local news channel KGUN 9.
A sign outside Nancy Guthrie’s home that reads, ‘Dear Guthrie family, your neighbors stand with you’ (Reuters)
Who is her daughter, Savannah?
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Nancy’s daughter, 54-year-old Savannah Guthrie, is a co-host on NBC’s Today show and was previously a White House correspondent.
Savannah was born in Victoria, Australia, where the family was living at the time while her father worked for an Arizona-based mining company. They returned to the U.S. two years later and settled in Tucson. Savannah’s father died when she was entering her senior year at high school.
She attended the University of Arizona thanks to her mom, who had taken a job there in order to secure tuition-free education for her children.
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Nancy’s daughter, 54-year-old Savannah Guthrie, a co-host on NBC’s Today show, grew up in Tucson (AP)
Savannah has spoken often about how her mother supported her in her dreams of parenthood, reassuring her that it would happen when the time was right. She now has a daughter, Vale, and a son, Charley, with her husband, Michael Feldman, whom she married in 2014.
How is the family coping?
Savannah Guthrie has asked for help to “bring her home” in the wake of her mother’s disappearance, posting a faith-based message on Instagram on February 2 to her 1.2 million followers.
“Thank you for lifting your prayers with ours for our beloved mom, our dearest Nancy, a woman of deep conviction, a good and faithful servant,” she wrote. “Raise your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment.”
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In a video posted two days later, Savannah and her siblings – Annie and Camron Guthrie – acknowledged the reports of a ransom note and made a direct plea for proof their mother is alive. They said they were “ready to talk” and asked whoever has their mother to provide evidence of life.
“We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you and we are ready to listen. Please reach out to us,” Savannah Guthrie said while fighting off tears.
Today show host Savannah Guthrie and her siblings plead for their mother’s safe return after she disappeared from her home in Arizona (instagram/savannahguthrie)
With her voice cracking, she addressed her mother directly, saying the family was praying for her and that people were looking for her.
“Mamma, if you’re listening, we need you to come home. We miss you,” Annie Guthrie added.
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One day later, Camron posted his own video on behalf of his family asking the suspected kidnappers to contact them.
“Whoever is out there holding our mother, we want to hear from you. We haven’t heard anything directly,” he said in the video. “We need you to reach out and we need a way to communicate with you so we can move forward. But first, we have to know that you have our mom. We want to talk to you and we are waiting for contact.”
Then, on Friday, the family posted another message acknowledging that contact had been made with a suspected kidnapper.
In the video, Savannah Guthrie says that her family has “received your message” and “will pay” for their mother’s safe return.
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“We received your message and we understand,” the Today anchor said.
“We beg you now to return our mother to us, so that we can celebrate with her,” Guthrie said. She added that her mother is “very valuable to us” and “we will pay.”
Annie is a writer and jeweler living in Tucson, according to her biography on the Arizona Commission on the Arts website. She published Instant Gratification, a book on jewelry making, in 2001. Fourteen years later, she published The Good Dark, a book of poems.
Camron is a retired military pilot, according to a social media post Savannah shared in 2018.
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“I have never been more proud of my big brother. He has flown for our country for 26 years, and continues to serve proudly in the ‘Green Mountain Boys’ – the Vermont Air National Guard,” she wrote at the time.
Savannah has been absent from the Today show all week and will not be traveling to Milan, Italy, to host the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony.
She had also reportedly planned to stay in Italy for a week to record NBC’s morning program with her former co-host Hoda Kotb. The Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo are set to run from February 6 to 26.
An NBC Sports spokesperson said in a statement shared with The Independent, “Savannah will not be joining us at the Olympics as she focuses on being with her family during this difficult time. Our hearts are with her and the entire Guthrie family as the search continues for their mother.”
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Craig Melvin, who was also supposed to host Olympic Late Night from Milan from Saturday to Monday, will be staying in the U.S. as well.
L-R: Craig Melvin, Al Roker, Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie pose on the Today set with Team USA Olympians on August 5, 2024 in Paris, France. (Getty)
What is the public reaction?
People across the U.S. are voicing their support for Savannah Guthrie and her family.
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President Donald Trump spoke to Savannah Guthrie directly, offering his support. He shared a Truth Social post last week detailing his phone call.
“I spoke with Savannah Guthrie, and let her know that I am directing ALL Federal Law Enforcement to be at the family’s, and Local Law Enforcement’s, complete disposal, IMMEDIATELY. We are deploying all resources to get her mother home safely. The prayers of our Nation are with her and her family. GOD BLESS AND PROTECT NANCY! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP,” he wrote.
New York’s Cardinal Timothy Dolan also offered words of support during an appearance on the Today show.
“Savannah, I am asking the Good Shepherd to find this lost sheep,” he said.
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Current and former colleagues of Savannah have also offered their support, with Today co-host Al Roker urging the public to help find Nancy.
“We are praying for Savannah and her family and the return of their beloved Mom, Nancy,” Roker wrote on Instagram.
NBC News’ Kristen Welker has said she is “praying” for the family. Hoda Kotb, Savannah’s former Today co-host, shared a photo of Nancy on Instagram, including the sheriff’s department’s phone number, writing: “If you know anything.. pls help.”
NBC Sports Anchor Mike Tirico similarly voiced his support for the family, adding that “this is a time for caring about the people in your family, and we are holding Savannah near and dear to our heart, and we are praying for all of them.”
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Fans also sent Savannah love on Instagram after she made her emotional plea for help.
“Praying for your lovely mom and your family. God is Almighty. Almighty is God,” one fan wrote.
Another wrote: “Sending you so much love and prayers.”
“We’re all praying for your beautiful Mom to return safely. Sending you and your family strength. We love you, Savannah,” a third said.
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The Pima County Sheriff’s Department said anyone with information should contact 1-800-CALL-FBI, 520-351-4900, 88-CRIME or visit tips.fbi.gov.
James Lewis KC, the chief justice of the BIOT, said on Tuesday: “Any rational reason for passing the provision has now disappeared, if there ever was one.”
The Chagossians had initially claimed they were seeking to visit Ile Du Coin temporarily to visit graves, and did not mention they planned to establish a “permanent camp”, the judge said.
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He continued: “A claimed power to exclude a whole population must be justified by legal source, not administrative necessity.”
The judge also said that the deal signed between the UK and Mauritius “removes any claimed reliance on defence or security issues in repopulating the outer islands, as well as rendering funding issues otiose [serving no practical purpose]”.
The commissioner is challenging the decision, according to the Foreign Office.
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A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We do not agree with this judgment, and we understand the BIOT administration have appealed it.”
Meanwhile, the Conservatives have accused Sir Keir Starmer of treating Chagossians as “an inconvenience”.
Image: Priti Patel has criticised Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer
Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel has called on the prime minister to abandon what she described as an “appalling” deal to hand back the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, which she said was a “complete betrayal”.
Ms Patel said: “Throughout the process, he has sought to sideline the Chagossian people, treating them as nothing but an inconvenience.
“Chagossians, many of whom have no desire to see the islands handed over to an ally of China, ended up taking matters into their own hands. And now this latest humiliation has further undermined the Government’s case.”
Tiger Woods formally turned down the Ryder Cup captaincy Wednesday as he steps away from golf activities, and a Florida judge approved his motion to leave the country to seek treatment.
Woods posted a statement Tuesday night saying that he was stepping away indefinitely “to seek treatment and focus on my health.”
A motion filed Wednesday by his attorney, Douglas Duncan, asked a judge that Woods be allowed to travel outside the country to begin “comprehensive inpatient treatment.”
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Duncan said the recommendation from Woods’ doctor was based on the golfer’s “complex clinical presentation and the urgent need for a level of care that cannot safely or effectively be done within the United States as his privacy has been repeatedly compromised.
“Ongoing medical scrutiny and public exposure create significant barriers to his care and would result in setbacks and an inability to fully engage in treatment.”
Martin County Court Judge Darren Steele approved the motion, which did not say where the inpatient treatment facility was located.
The Ryder Cup decision by the PGA of America was not a surprise during the last five, chaotic days involving Woods dating to his Friday arrest.
In a statement, Mills said: “The recent announcement that I am no longer contracted to the BBC has led to the publication of rumour and speculation.
“In response to this the Metropolitan Police has made a statement, which I confirm relates to me.
“An allegation was made against me in 2016 of a historic sexual offence which was the subject of a police investigation in which I fully cooperated and responded to in 2018.
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“As the police have stated, a file of evidence was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, which determined that the evidential threshold had not been met to bring charges.
“Since the investigation related to an allegation that dates back nearly 30 years and the police investigation was closed 7 years ago, I hope that the public and the media will understand and respect my wish not to make any further public comment on this matter.
“I wish to thank from the bottom of my heart all those who have reached out to me with kindness, my former colleagues, and my beloved listeners, who I greatly miss.”
The breakfast show host was abruptly taken off air by the BBC last week, before his sacking over allegations related to his “personal conduct” was announced on Monday.
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Recommended reading :
The 53-year-old last hosted his show on Tuesday, March 24 and signed off with: “See you tomorrow.”
He was questioned by police under caution in July 2018.
Mills was not charged with a criminal offence, and the case was closed due to a lack of evidence.
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The Metropolitan Police does not identify people who are subject to an investigation before any charges are brought.
What was the Met Police statement?
A spokesperson said: “In December 2016, the Met began an investigation following a referral from another police force.
“The investigation related to allegations of serious sexual offences against a teenage boy. These were reported to have taken place between 1997 and 2000.
“As part of these inquiries, a man who was in his 40s at the time of the interview was questioned by police under caution in July 2018.
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“A full file of evidence was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, who determined the evidential threshold had not been met to bring charges. Following this advice, the investigation was closed in May 2019.”
WASHINGTON (AP) — Scientists created virtual replicas of patients’ diseased hearts so precise that blocking a dangerous irregular heartbeat in these digital “twins” showed doctors how to better treat the real thing.
One of the first clinical trials of these custom models suggests it might improve care for ventricular tachycardia, a notoriously difficult-to-treat arrhythmia that is a major cause of sudden cardiac arrest, blamed for about 300,000 U.S. deaths a year.
The study, by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, was a small first step. The Food and Drug Administration allowed the digital twin technology to guide treatment for just 10 patients, and much larger studies will be needed.
But the results reported Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine come as doctors increasingly are exploring how a technology long used in aerospace and other industries might be harnessed for better health, too.
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Dr. Jeffrey Goldberger, a heart specialist at the University of Miami who wasn’t involved with the study, experimented with more rudimentary iterations 15 years ago and praised the new findings. “This is what we envisioned,” he said.
Doctors have long used 3D models, both physical and computer-generated ones, to simulate disease and practice techniques. But Hopkins biomedical engineer Natalia Trayanova said true digital twins predict how a real organ can react to different treatments. Her lab is pioneering colorful interactive models developed with an advanced MRI scan and other data from each patient.
“We treat the twin before we treat the patient,” Trayanova said. “Did it work? And if it did, are there new things that arise” that will require more or different care?
The heart’s electrical system powers our heartbeat. Ventricular tachycardia is a super-fast heartbeat triggered when an electrical wave short-circuits in the organ’s bottom chambers, the ventricles, and prevents them from pumping blood out to the body.
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“You see this heart that is basically quivering,” Trayanova said.
Medication can help but the main treatment is ablation, when doctors thread catheters to the heart to burn misfiring tissue. But it’s a bit trial-and-error, as patients spend hours under anesthesia while doctors determine where to aim. Repeat ablations are common, and many patients have an implanted defibrillator as backup.
Enter Trayanova’s digital twins of patients’ ventricles. Colors swirl on a computer screen – blue, green, yellow and orange – showing how the heart’s electrical wave moves across the chamber’s healthy areas before getting stuck on damaged tissue. It’s trapped in a circular motion that she compares to the swirl of a hurricane.
“It allows me to recreate the functioning of the patient’s organ and then predict what is the best way to ablate,” she said.
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The technology locates a dysfunctional region where the electrical wave repeatedly hits. Virtually ablating it will show if that solves the problem or if another arrhythmia forms that also will need zapping. “Then we poke it again,” she explained.
Trayanova’s team created customized ablation targets for each of the 10 study participants. Cardiologists transferred them to a mapping system they use as a guide and aimed just at those targets instead of hunting their own.
More than a year later, eight patients had no arrhythmias while two experienced only a single brief episode while they were healing — better than the treatment’s typical 60% success rate, said Dr. Jonathan Chrispin, a Hopkins cardiologist and the study’s lead author. All but two also stopped their anti-arrhythmia medicine.
More importantly, cardiologists may burn away less tissue by targeting “specifically the areas that we think are critically important,” Chrispin said. “We could potentially make these procedures shorter, safer, more effective.”
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The Hopkins team hopes to study the digital twin approach in a larger study with other hospitals, and has begun a trial using it to treat a more common type of irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation. Other researchers are studying digital twins for cancer care.
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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
A system failure caused more than 100 driverless cars to suddenly stop mid-traffic in China.
Some passengers were left stranded in their vehicles after a “system malfunction” caused the driverless robotaxis to come to a halt in Wuhan on Tuesday.
No injuries were reported.
One passenger told Chinese media that their robotaxi stopped after turning a corner.
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Image: An Apollo Go robotaxi that stopped in the middle of traffic due to a system failure in Wuhan, China.
Pic: Social Media/Reuters
An instruction on a screen then read: “Driving system malfunction. Staff are expected to arrive in five minutes.”
While some passengers were able to leave their cars, others were afraid to get out because they had stopped in a middle lane with traffic going by on either side, according to local reports.
Good evening and welcome to our live coverage of Chelsea v Arsenal in the Women’s Champions League.
A thrilling all-English clash awaits as Chelsea look to use their home advantage to overturn a 3-1 deficit at Stamford Bridge in their second leg against the reigning European champions.
Arsenal saw off their Women’s Super League rivals in a dramatic contest last week at the Emirates, where goals from Stina Blackstenius, Chloe Kelly and Alessia Russo helped the home side to a convincing win.
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Lauren James’s deft chip was the only positive for Chelsea on a night which left Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor fuming at the standard of refereeing after her side had two goals scratched off.
Arsenal will fancy their chances after a resounding 5-2 North London derby win over Tottenham last weekend, although they can expect Chelsea to rouse a strong response as they bid to progress to a fourth consecutive European semi-final. “We know we can overturn this result,” were the confident words of Chelsea defender Lucy Bronze at full time.
The stats, though, are against Chelsea. Arsenal having progressed on all four previous occasions when they have gained a two-goal first-leg lead in a Uefa competition two-legged tie.
The Champions League is the one major honour missing from Chelsea’s trophy cabinet. While the club have dominated domestically, European success remains the ultimate goal – something they never managed to achieve under former manager Emma Hayes.
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Despite winning the League Cup last month, they have endured a sub-optimal season by their own lofty standards. They are nine points adrift of WSL leaders Manchester City and with three games of the league season remaining, their recent dominance in English women’s football looks set to come to a shuddering halt.
Netflix has shared never-before-seen Age of Attraction footage exposing a love story that was completely cut from the reality series
Kimberly Nhundu Under 35s Screen Time reporter
22:32, 01 Apr 2026
Netflix has released deleted scenes from Age of Attraction that unveil a hidden romance fans never got to witness. The reality programme brought together 40 singles ranging in age from 22 to 60, each given the opportunity to find love without ever discovering one another’s ages.
A Netflix synopsis teases: “Age is thrown out the window when singles search for their soulmates in this dating series. Is love truly ageless, or will the years come between them?”
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The initial contestants were narrowed down to just five couples by the final commitment ceremony, where each pair decided whether they wished to continue their relationship outside of the experiment. Among them was Andrew Wheeler, 38, who departed the show with girlfriend Libby Vodicka, 22.
However, it turns out Andrew had another significant connection that was cut entirely from the reality series. Tudum has unveiled previously unseen footage revealing Andrew’s romance with 39-year-old Ashley, whom he began pursuing a connection with during the retreat stage of the experiment, reports the Mirror.
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The exclusive clips show Andrew and Ashley engaging in a flirtatious conversation as they reflect on their experiences in the show. Andrew is then heard drawing comparisons between his relationships with Libby and Ashley. He told Ashley: “Libby has been fun. I feel like my connection with her is a little bit different than, my connection with you. I feel like we have… it’s very calming, very chill.”
Business owner Ashley then opened up about her previous relationships, disclosing that she is a virgin and her ex “thought he could handle it but he couldn’t”.
She explained: “I haven’t told anyone else here this. I am a virgin that has been waiting for marriage. I get that’s different. I get that’s probably weird.
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“I understand it’s not for everyone. I don’t expect the person I’m with to have done that [abstinence] either. This is a very personal choice I made when I was younger, and it ties to the romantic side of me.” While Ashley was apprehensive about Andrew’s reaction, she visibly relaxed following his understanding response.
He said: “I don’t feel any type of way about that. I think if anything, it shows how strong of a person you are. And you should be proud of yourself. ” Despite their spark, Andrew subsequently ended things as he felt a stronger connection with Libby.
The new footage also uncovers little-known friendships and romances that were left on the cutting room floor. Fans will also be pleased to hear that Age of Attraction has already been commissioned for a second series, with hosts Natalie Joy and Nick Viall set to return.
The Met Office has placed two yellow wind warnings across Scotland over Easter as gusts are set to reach up to 90mph.
22:30, 01 Apr 2026Updated 22:31, 01 Apr 2026
The Met Office has warned Scots to prepare essential items over the Easter weekend as two weather warnings have been put in place. The warning extends to over 59 parts of the UK across North Wales, northern England and Northern Ireland but Scotland is the only country to be included in both yellow warnings.
The national weather forecaster has advised that wind speeds could reach a staggering 90mph at times over the Easter weekend as the first yellow wind warning will cover almost all areas of Scotland. A large number of areas across north east and north west England as well as Northern Ireland and Wales will also be affected.
The warning is in place from 6pm on Saturday, April 4 until midday on Easter Sunday, April 5. The Met Office has warned that delays to road, rail, air and ferry transport are likely, and there is a chance of power cuts too.
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Some buildings may also be damaged and there is a small chance of injuries “from large waves and beach material being thrown onto sea fronts, coastal roads and properties”.
It added: “A rapidly deepening area of low pressure is likely to move northeastwards close to or across northwestern parts of the UK during Saturday evening and night, clearing to the North Sea by Sunday.
“Whilst there is some uncertainty over the exact track, intensity and shape of this area of low pressure, a period of strong west to southwesterly winds is expected during Saturday night and into the first part of Easter Sunday, before gradually easing through the day.
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“Peak gusts of 50-60 mph will be possible fairly widely, with 60-70 mph in more exposed locations.
“There is a slight chance of some very strong winds across parts of Scotland, particularly in the west, where gusts of 80-90 mph may be possible in exposed areas for a time.”
It also urged people to prepare for power cuts by gathering “essential items” as well as torches, batteries, and a mobile phone power pack.
A second yellow warning for wind is in place for all day on Easter Sunday.
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It states: “Peak gusts of 60-70 mph will be possible fairly widely, with a slight chance of 75-85 mph in some exposed areas for a time.”
The warning covers Orkney and Shetland.
Scots in these areas are again being urged to prepare essential items due to the risk of power cuts.
The warning adds: “Prepare to protect your property and people from injury.
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“Check for loose items outside your home and plan how you could secure them. Items include; bins, garden furniture, trampolines, tents, sheds, and fences.”
Areas covered by Met Office warning weathers over Easter Weekend
Chelsea are keeping tabs on Barcelona right-back Jules Kounde (Picture: Getty)
Chelsea have stepped up their interest in Jules Kounde and are ‘keeping a close eye’ on the defender ahead of the summer transfer window, according to reports in Spain.
Kounde has established himself as a regular in Hansi Flick’s starting XI and Barcelona’s hierarchy have no active plans to bring in an upgrade at right-back for next season.
And while Kounde’s level of consistency has dropped off a little from last term, when he scored the decisive goal against Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final, he still has plenty of admirers in Catalonia.
There had been some positive signs of Kounde returning to his best over the winter, only for the full-back to go down with a muscle injury a month ago, meaning he has missed Barca’s last five matches in all competitions.
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The France international was recently linked with Liverpool, who are in the market for a more defensive-minded right-back after capturing Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen last summer.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Kounde has since appeared on the radar of several other top European clubs – and Barca could consider the player’s departure should they receive a suitable offer.
The Spanish champions are well aware that Kounde has a number of potential suitors keeping tabs on the situation, with Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea all said to be circling.
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Kounde is also being eyed by both Liverpool and Manchester City (Picture: Getty)
The Frenchman is currently sidelined with a muscle injury (Picture: Getty)
City are known to be long-term admirers of Kounde, while concrete interest from both Liverpool and Chelsea in a newer development. It’s claimed all three Premier League giants are ‘keeping a close eye’ on the versatile defender.
Kounde’s current deal at the Camp Nou runs through to June 2030.
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After Kounde put pen to paper on a contract extension last August, Barca’s sporting director Deco confirmed that Manchester City had made an approach for the 27-year-old.
Kounde (left) won his second La Liga title with Barca last season (Picture: Getty)
A deal of Kounde would raise funds for Barca’s top target Alvarez (Picture: Getty)
‘There wasn’t an offer as such, but City called to ask if he was available,’ Deco explained at the time.
‘Since we told them no, there was no offer.’
While Barca ideally wish to keep Kounde ‘to avoid a potential problem’, the possibility of a sale cannot be completely ruled out, especially if the player is no longer satisfied with the salary increase he received last summer and agitates for a move.
Eric Garcia, Xavi Espart and Ronald Araujo are all capable of providing cover at right-back. Barca are also exploring a deal with Al Hilal to extend a loan for Joao Cancelo, who can operate on both flanks.
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The report adds that Barca would ‘find it difficult’ to walk away from a deal for Kounde should they receive a bid in the region of €80million for the former Sevilla and Bordeaux man.
The La Liga leaders are determined to bring in an elite level striker this summer and a big-money agreement for Kounde would raise some much-needed funds for a player such as Julian Alvarez, who has emerged as their primary target up front.
The application by housing developer Persimonn Homes on land near Cross Lane, Sacriston, was approved by Durham County Council’s planning committee.
A mix of bungalow and two, three, and four-bedroom homes will be built at the site, which the developer said would improve opportunities for locals to get onto the housing ladder.
Of the 104 homes, 16 properties will be marketed to potential buyers as ‘affordable’.
How the new estate could look. (Image: Persimmon Homes)
Tim Robson, county councillor for Sacriston and Witton Gilbert, said residents have “deep concerns” about the amount of new homes being built in the area, but said the council is at the mercy of government-imposed housing targets.
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He told the committee: “I grew up looking out over corn fields and I understand the concerns residents have. It is quite disconcerting for those living in the area.
“I believe in protecting green belt and farmland, however, this is a central government mandate we cannot stop.”
Local parish councillors also warned about the impact the new houses would have on healthcare and education facilities.
Kimblesworth and Plawsworth Parish Council said: “Many local people struggle to access GP appointments. While it is acknowledged there is a formula for money to follow additional patients, it would seem most likely that additional patients will make the situation even worse.
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“Opportunities for patients to register with existing NHS dentists are very rare. A similar concern was raised in relation to local school places.”
But Persimmon said it will contribute financially to local education, open space and healthcare services.
Homes will be arranged along tree-lined streets and overlook open spaces.
Praising the plans, Cllr James Stephenson, Reform member for Shildon and Dene Valley, said: “It’s a shame to lose the farmland but it’s a pretty good project.
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“There’s plenty of open space, it is well-related to Sacriston, and it has good access to Durham and Chester-le-Street. It’s a really good proposal.”
Work is expected to start on the site later this year.
Olly Thompson, land director at Persimmon Durham, said: “We’re delighted to have these plans for new homes in Sacriston approved.
“This development will provide high-quality homes for first-time buyers, families and local residents alike.
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“We look forward to engaging with residents and the Council to bring these exciting plans to fruition.
More than 100 new homes will be built despite concerns over a lack of local facilities.
The application by housing developer Persimonn Homes on land near Cross Lane, Sacriston, was approved by Durham County Council’s planning committee.
A mix of bungalow and two, three, and four-bedroom homes will be built at the site, which the developer said would improve opportunities for locals to get onto the housing ladder.
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Of the 104 homes, 16 properties will be marketed to potential buyers as ‘affordable’.
Tim Robson, county councillor for Sacriston and Witton Gilbert, said residents have “deep concerns” about the amount of new homes being built in the area, but said the council is at the mercy of government-imposed housing targets.
He told the committee: “I grew up looking out over corn fields and I understand the concerns residents have. It is quite disconcerting for those living in the area.
“I believe in protecting green belt and farmland, however, this is a central government mandate we cannot stop.”
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Local parish councillors also warned about the impact the new houses would have on healthcare and education facilities.
Kimblesworth and Plawsworth Parish Council said: “Many local people struggle to access GP appointments. While it is acknowledged there is a formula for money to follow additional patients, it would seem most likely that additional patients will make the situation even worse.
“Opportunities for patients to register with existing NHS dentists are very rare. A similar concern was raised in relation to local school places.”
But Persimmon said it will contribute financially to local education, open space and healthcare services.
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Homes will be arranged along tree-lined streets and overlook open spaces.
Praising the plans, Cllr James Stephenson, Reform member for Shildon and Dene Valley, said: “It’s a shame to lose the farmland but it’s a pretty good project.
“There’s plenty of open space, it is well-related to Sacriston, and it has good access to Durham and Chester-le-Street. It’s a really good proposal.”
Work is expected to start on the site later this year.
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Olly Thompson, land director at Persimmon Durham, said: “We’re delighted to have these plans for new homes in Sacriston approved.
“This development will provide high-quality homes for first-time buyers, families and residents alike.
“We look forward to engaging with residents and the council to bring these exciting plans to fruition.
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