Nancy Guthrie case: Body language expert decodes armed suspects calculated stillness

Body language expert assesses suspect in Nancy Guthrie case

A body language expert said the man captured in newly released FBI surveillance footage in the Nancy Guthrie disappearance appeared calm and deliberate, suggesting the encounter was planned rather than a random act.

ORLANDO, Fla. - Authorities detained an unidentified person of interest Tuesday night in the case of missing 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, just hours after SWAT vehicles were seen leaving the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.

That person was apprehended hours after authorities released surveillance video taken at Guthrie's home that showed a possible suspect in her disappearance.

The backstory:

While the video footage recovered at Nancy Guthrie's home is chilling, it is the calculated stillness of the suspect that has investigators on edge. 

According to body language expert Susan Constantine, a specialist in identifying persons of deadly intent, this was not a crime of opportunity — it was a performance of precision.

Constantine points to the subject’s unnervingly "relaxed" demeanor. Despite the high stakes of standing at a front door with a drawn weapon, the subject shows no visible tension in his eyebrows and maintains a steady, normal blink rate. Constantine describes the individual as "cool as a cucumber," a trait often associated with individuals who feel no remorse or fear during a violent act.

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The expert also identified key physical markers to assist the public in identification. The suspect has a shorter leg-to-torso ratio, a muscular build with thicker thighs, and a distinctive "patch" of facial hair. Based on the density of his eyebrows, Constantine also believes the suspect is likely bald or has very short hair.

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Perhaps most telling is how the suspect handled his equipment. He carried a front-mounted pouch for his handgun, holding it close to his body — a behavior Constantine says signals the importance of the object to the perpetrator.

His direct path to the door proves he wasn't "stumbling around"; he knew the layout of the property and exactly where the cameras were positioned.

What they're saying:

Susan Constantine, a body language expert, explains the psychological weight behind the suspect's movements:

"If this is actually the person who abducted her, and he had no fear of walking in — which is very similar or consistent with sociopathic personality — they can carry out that event with no remorse or concern whatsoever."

She further elaborates on the suspect's connection to his weapon:

"He has a pouch up front where he is carrying some sort of handgun, and he held it very close to him… Why? Because they know that’s an important part in what they use to perpetrate the act. Whatever they are holding on to is typically the object in which they will perpetrate with."

What's next:

While the suspect’s movements were highly orchestrated, Constantine notes he may not be a "professional hitman" in the traditional sense. Instead, she believes he is someone who has likely been inside the house before or spent a significant amount of time "casing" the family to learn their routines.