Three true-crime content creators have faced charges or citations in connection with their activities near the Tucson-area home of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of “Today” show co-host Savannah Guthrie who was taken against her will the evening of Jan. 31, 2026. Court documents reveal law enforcement’s crackdown on YouTubers who have descended on the Catalina Foothills neighborhood to livestream and film content about the missing-person investigation.
Tommaso Cioni, Nancy Guthrie’s son-in-law, was photographed with another woman at a table with wine, candles, and a heart-shaped mat in images published by investigative journalist Jonathan Lee Riches on X on Thursday. Riches flagged the images for detectives to examine. However, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and FBI have repeatedly and explicitly ruled out any Guthrie family member as a suspect in the case. Cioni and his wife Annie, Nancy’s daughter, were reportedly the last relatives to see Nancy before she vanished.
Authorities continue to investigate the case as a kidnapping for ransom. Guthrie was reported missing the next day. Nearly six months later, law enforcement has issued new warnings as YouTubers continue arriving at the scene, with at least one creating an elaborate filming setup complete with traffic cones and what deputies described as a “pee tent.”
Equipment, Cones and a Tent in the Street
Alexander Zabel Jr., who operates online as “CriminalNetwork,” faces misdemeanor charges of blocking a public roadway and creating a public nuisance. Deputies responded around 4:30 p.m. on May 26 to a traffic hazard report and found the true-crime content creator sitting in a lawn chair. A Pima County Sheriff’s Department probable-cause statement alleges Zabel intentionally placed traffic cones on the street next to a tripod for livestreaming, and his YouTube broadcast showed him standing in the roadway.
On June 6, the statement alleges, Zabel erected a “pee tent” on the road, “insinuating that he was urinating” and creating an unpleasant environment for surrounding neighbors. Deputies noted that because of the “sensitivity & proximity to the high-profile address,” Zabel had created an offensive setting in the middle of the neighborhood. Zabel pleaded not guilty to both counts. Court spokesperson James Pollack said his show-cause hearing is set for 9 a.m. on July 21.
Earlier reports indicated Zabel was taken into custody outside Guthrie’s home around 5 p.m. In February, he said he was only in the area to assist a volunteer search effort and did not want to interfere with investigators.
Additional Citations Issued
Troy Lewis Bradshaw, who uses the online name “DAA JUICE,” received a citation on June 4 for blocking a public roadway, according to a separate Arizona traffic ticket and complaint. His court file lacked a detailed account of what deputies claimed he did to obstruct the road. A June 16 minute entry shows he pleaded not guilty to obstructing a highway or public thoroughfare, first offense, with a fine listed at $282. Pollack said a case management conference for Bradshaw took place on July 13.
Damian Todd Enderle, a content creator known as “857 Tucson” who helps manage a local crime blog, was cited June 8 for public nuisance. A June 30 minute entry shows that charge was dismissed after the state moved to drop it, and Pollack said Enderle has no upcoming court hearings scheduled.
The court records, obtained through recent reporting, illustrate how the case has drawn online investigators and streamers who filmed near Guthrie’s home.
Sheriff Orders Crackdown Amid Community Complaints
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos ordered the enforcement action following mounting complaints from neighbors about people blocking roadways, trespassing and disrupting the peace. Early in the investigation, the sheriff’s department set up media areas in Guthrie’s neighborhood and warned about possible trespassing charges, while the homeowners’ association added signs discouraging trespassing.
The department said that despite those efforts, some individuals continued to disregard the law, adding that Nanos would no longer tolerate behavior that disrupts the community. A memorial for Guthrie was also removed from near her home, though Nanos said his department did not take it down and suggested the homeowners’ association may have.
Officials have separately warned about fraudulent social media posts tied to the case. The sheriff’s department said scammers have circulated fake QR codes soliciting donations while falsely claiming the money would aid the investigation. Authorities emphasized that no money will be requested from the public in connection with the investigation.
A law enforcement official made a statement saying “it’s a shame” regarding a sudden development in the case.
The FBI has said some ransom demands appear to be extortion attempts while others “may potentially be legitimate.” A masked man captured in doorbell footage remains a focus of the search. Investigators say the case has not gone cold, noting that tens of thousands of tips have been called in, though no suspects have been identified. Guthrie’s family has offered a $1 million reward for information leading to her recovery.
Anyone with information can contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at 520-351-4900 or 88-CRIME at 520-882-7463, call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or submit digital photos, video or doorbell-camera footage to the FBI at fbi.gov/findguthrie.