Authorities have confirmed that new digital evidence has been formally logged after a neighboring child voluntarily turned over a memory card from a recreational drone. The child, accompanied by a guardian, explained the drone had been flown casually and not to document anything suspicious. Metadata verification — including timestamps, altitude, and flight path — placed the footage within the same general timeframe as Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance. Police clarified that the child is not considered a legal witness, but rather a source of potentially corroborating material.

According to investigators, the footage appears to show two unidentified individuals moving an object consistent in size with a person along a route not previously prioritized in search efforts. While no facial details or definitive identification are visible, the drone’s GPS data allowed officers to reconstruct the path taken. That reconstruction led search teams to an area where visible soil disturbance was discovered — including a recently excavated pit not noted during earlier sweeps.

During a controlled excavation, authorities documented the scene and recovered a large suitcase positioned within the pit. Officials emphasized that strict forensic protocols were followed and declined to disclose the suitcase’s contents, stating that premature details could compromise the investigation and any future legal proceedings. They reiterated that the presence of a container alone does not confirm its significance.

Investigators are now conducting detailed frame-by-frame analysis, cross-referencing timelines, vehicle data, and prior digital evidence. Forensic teams are assessing environmental indicators and examining the suitcase for handling patterns. Authorities continue to caution against speculation, noting that while the drone footage has narrowed investigative focus, it remains one element within a broader and ongoing inquiry.