New Guthrie video can help law enforcement build a profile of armed individual, former agents say

The newly released video showing an armed individual outside the home of Nancy Guthrie is a key piece of evidence for investigators to not only solicit help from the public — but also to piece together a profile of the subject, according to two former FBI special agents.   

Investigators may be able to use the items like the person’s backpack, gloves, holster and light to narrow down his identity, said Brad Garrett and Richard Frankel, two former agents, who are ABC News contributors.

“Who has bought those gloves? Who’s got that mask? Does anyone recognize the mask? Does anyone recognize that backpack?” Frankel said. 

Law enforcement could also use the video to estimate the weight and height of the individual, Frankel added, though the graininess of the footage and ski mask might make it challenging to use facial recognition technologies. 

The individual’s actions — such as using nearby shrubbery in an apparent attempt to disable the doorbell camera — also could be used by the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit to build a broader profile of the individual, Frankel said. 

According to Garrett, the video suggests that the individual is likely inexperienced because of how long he lingered at the door and was unprepared to disable the camera. 

“All of that suggests to me is that this guy is not a pro — he doesn’t really know what he’s doing,” Garrett said. “It’s very amateurish and not planned out well.” 

Both men also added that the way the individual carried his weapon — in a holster at the center of his waist — suggests he is inexperienced with firearms. 

“It’s just an odd position to have your holster,” Frankel said. “It’d either be on your hip, or it would be on your chest, just because it would get in your way in your walk.”