True Crime Livestreamers Dominate Coverage in Nancy Guthrie Disappearance Case

As the search for 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie enters its third week, the quiet Catalina Foothills neighborhood in Tucson has transformed into a media encampment with a new breed of journalist at the forefront: true crime livestreamers.

On February 16, when news broke that a car was being towed from a house that law enforcement had recently investigated, true crime reporter Jonathan Lee Riches, known online as JLR Investigates, immediately sprung into action. “We gotta go,” Riches told his more than 45,000 live viewers as he rushed to document the development.

Unlike traditional journalists covering the disappearance of the mother of “Today” show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, these livestreamers operate without filters, broadcasting unverified information and often speculative theories directly to their audiences in real time.

Standing outside homes with phones raised, these digital-age reporters narrate events as they unfold, frequently blending facts with conjecture. The unfiltered approach has drawn both devoted followers and sharp criticism as the investigation continues with few official updates.

“You’re kind of right there in the midst,” explains Crystal Rogers, a 44-year-old true crime enthusiast from Florence who traveled to meet Riches and even brought him a candy bar to keep his coverage going. “Not everything that pops up is fact, but you just have to know that.”

The media presence around the case has grown substantially since Guthrie was reported missing on February 1. What began with local Tucson television crews expanded to include major networks like NBC, ABC, CNN, and Fox, along with crews from as far away as Los Angeles and Australia. Drones from various outlets buzz overhead, with journalists coordinating their own impromptu air traffic control system to prevent collisions.

In this environment, livestreamers have found a niche providing constant coverage when official information remains scarce.

“A lack of information leads to speculation,” Riches admitted when approached by The Arizona Republic. His near-constant stream of the Guthrie home has attracted tens of thousands of viewers eager for updates in a case that has produced more questions than answers.

Other true crime figures have joined the coverage. Joshua Ritter of Courtroom Confidential has traveled to Arizona to host nightly online shows, while former cable news host Ashleigh Banfield has discussed the case on her podcast “Drop Dead Serious,” including theories about possible family involvement.

This speculation prompted a rare rebuke from Pinal County Sheriff Chris Nanos, who on February 16 issued a statement declaring that the Guthrie family, including spouses, had been “cleared” of involvement. “The family… are victims in the case,” the statement said. “To suggest otherwise is not only wrong, it is cruel.”

State Representative Alma Hernandez, a Tucson Democrat, has also criticized the livestreamers. “I can’t believe I have to say this, but if you’re not law enforcement, go home,” Hernandez wrote on X, accusing some online personalities of spreading “lies” and interfering with the investigation.

Her comments drew pushback from conservative commentator Jack Posobiec, who told his more than 3 million followers: “We will not stop reporting.” His brother, Kevin Posobiec, now works as a correspondent for conservative outlet Real America’s Voice and has been reporting from outside Guthrie’s home.

Law enforcement has taken measures to shield their investigation from the watchful eyes of media and livestreamers. On February 12, authorities erected a pop-up tent over Guthrie’s front patio as evidence was processed. The following day, sheriff’s vehicles blocked intersections while armored SWAT vehicles entered nearby neighborhoods.

Riches, who declined a formal interview with The Arizona Republic but answered questions while continuing to livestream, described himself simply as “just a journalist.” However, his background includes a felony conviction for filing a fake lawsuit against former U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords, who was nearly assassinated in 2011 in the same neighborhood where Guthrie’s house stands.

As the investigation continues without major breakthroughs, the gap between traditional journalism and these new digital reporters remains stark. While established media outlets exercise caution and verify information before publishing, livestreamers provide immediate, unfiltered content that sometimes veers into speculation — leaving viewers to sort fact from fiction.

For now, as investigators continue their search for Nancy Guthrie, the media circus shows no signs of packing up, with both traditional journalists and digital-age crime reporters competing to break the next development in this high-profile case.