Six months after the abduction of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, the mother of “Today” show co-host Savannah Guthrie, the Tucson, Arizona neighborhood near her home has attracted numerous true-crime YouTubers, resulting in arrests and new law enforcement warnings. Court documents detail misdemeanor cases against three men cited or charged by deputies who encountered livestreamers in the Catalina Foothills area, including one accused of creating a filming location with traffic cones, a tripod and an alleged “pee tent.”
The court records, obtained through recent reporting, show how the missing-person case drew online investigators and streamers who filmed near where Guthrie was last seen. Authorities say she was taken against her will from her residence on Jan. 31, and the case is still being probed as a kidnapping for ransom.
The Roadside Livestream Setup
The most detailed allegations center on Alexander Zabel Jr., a true-crime content creator known online as “CriminalNetwork,” who faced charges of blocking a public roadway and creating a public nuisance. A Pima County Sheriff’s Department citation and probable-cause statement indicate deputies responded around 4:30 p.m. on May 26 to a reported traffic hazard and found Zabel sitting in a lawn chair.
According to the probable-cause statement, Zabel intentionally placed cones on the street alongside his equipment, including a tripod for livestreaming. Deputies noted his YouTube broadcast captured him standing in the roadway itself.
The situation escalated on June 6, when 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. He pleaded not guilty to both misdemeanor counts. Court spokesperson James Pollack said Zabel’s show-cause hearing is set for 9 a.m. on July 21.
Two More Streamers Cited
A second livestreamer, Troy Lewis Bradshaw, who goes by “DAA JUICE” online, received a citation for reportedly blocking a public roadway on June 4, per a separate Arizona traffic ticket and complaint. Bradshaw’s 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 Monday.
The third case involved Damian Todd Enderle, a content creator known as “857 Tucson” who helps manage a local crime blog. He 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.
Earlier reporting from the arrests indicated Zabel was taken into custody at his home before 6 p.m. In February, Zabel had said he was only in the area to assist a volunteer search effort and did not want to interfere with investigators.
A Neighborhood Under Strain
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos ordered the crackdown 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 HOA 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.
The FBI has determined that all three ransom notes connected to the case were fake, including a second note that claimed Guthrie had died shortly after the kidnapping. 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.
