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Forensic expert spots missed detail that might reveal what was inside backpack of masked Nancy Guthrie suspect
Clinical and forensic psychologist Dr. John Paul Garrison has weighed in on the case involving 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, who is believed to have been abducted on January 31.
In a YouTube video, Garrison said he reviewed footage connected to the masked suspect and shared what he described as a small but potentially useful observation that he had not heard others discuss.
In his analysis, Garrison focused on the suspect’s backpack and argued it may offer clues about what the person was carrying. He suggested the bag looked overstuffed and may not have been able to stay zipped, which, in his view, could hint at something large, bulky, and possibly heavy inside.
What Dr. Garrison says he noticed about the backpack
While discussing the footage, Garrison said: “Now, I want to show you the backpack. Now, there's a detail that I haven't heard anybody talk about, so I zoomed way in so you can see this. The backpack is actually open. I think that whatever's in there is so big that they can't keep it closed. The zipper may have actually busted at the top. I want you to watch this right here.”
He continued: “See the backpack? The top of the backpack's actually open. As we go forward, you can see it better. Like I said, I'm going to cover this a few times, but I think there's a tarp or something like that in there.” Garrison later added: “There's something black in there. I really think that it's a tarp or something similar.”
The clue he thinks the footage offers about what was inside
Garrison said the bag appeared to open and close depending on how the suspect moved, describing moments where it “fell back open again” as the person shifted position. He also suggested the zipper area may have been strained, saying: “So, something is in there that's so big and so bulky that it just busted. I think it actually tore open more right when he stepped down.”
He concluded that even if the observation is not the central issue, it may still help viewers think about what could have been carried, saying: “I know this may not be the most important detail, but at least it gives us some insight to to the inside of that bag.”
How he connects the backpack detail to his wider profile discussion
In the same video, Garrison described his broader impressions of the suspect shown in the footage, including his view that “it seems clear to me that this is a male.”
He also pointed to what he described as layered gloves and a visible holster, while emphasizing that the video reflects his own opinions and is “not a psychological evaluation of any kind.”
Garrison’s backpack theory ultimately ends with a cautious takeaway about size and weight, stating: “So, whatever's in there is bulky and potentially quite heavy.”