Search Hits 100 Days: Former FBI Operative Says Nancy Guthrie Case 'Not Hopeless'

As the search for 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie reached its 100th day, former FBI and CIA operative Tracy Walder told NewsNation she does not consider the investigation "hopeless." Guthrie was last seen after a family member dropped her off at her Tucson, Arizona, home on Jan. 31, and investigators have pursued multiple leads since her disappearance.

What Officials Have Released

Authorities released surveillance footage from the night Guthrie vanished that appears to show a masked person tampering with a camera at the front door of her residence. Investigators have also examined DNA evidence recovered at or near the home, but officials say neither the video nor the DNA has produced an identified suspect so far.

Experts and Family Pleas

Walder said the public’s view of the case seems bleak because "absolutely nothing has surfaced" publicly despite "a copious amount of digital surveillance" available to investigators. She echoed calls for anyone with information to come forward but noted that breakthroughs often depend on a witness or informant deciding to speak.

"We need help. Someone knows something that can make the difference," wrote Savannah Guthrie, the missing woman’s daughter and host on Today, in a Mother’s Day social media post that included a video montage of family footage.

Forensic nurse Dr. Ann Burgess, in a NewsNation one-hour documentary titled "NewsNation Presents: The Nancy Guthrie Mystery," suggested the individual seen on the surveillance footage might have been killed by another person involved in Guthrie’s disappearance — a theory investigators are weighing alongside physical evidence and tips.

Investigation, Criticism and Interagency Relations

The Pima County Sheriff’s Office, led by Sheriff Chris Nanos, has handled the local probe with assistance from the FBI. Some critics say local authorities made early missteps, including initial comments that Guthrie may have wandered off despite reports that blood drops belonging to her were found at her front entrance.

On May 9, Fox News reporters approached Sheriff Nanos outside his department seeking an update; he declined to elaborate but told reporters as he entered his car, "We are," when asked whether investigators were close to solving the case. Separately, the Pima County Board of Supervisors was scheduled to vote on May 12 on whether to discipline Nanos over his conduct and past performance.

FBI Director Kash Patel publicly criticized the Pima County Sheriff’s Office in an interview, alleging the department tried to limit federal involvement and that DNA evidence from outside Guthrie’s home was sent to a lab in Florida rather than directly to the FBI. Acting U.S. Attorney Todd Blanche later disputed reports of major friction, telling NewsNation that "The FBI has worked closely since the day that this happened with the local law enforcement."

Current Status

The investigation remains active. Authorities continue to analyze surveillance footage, DNA results and tips from the public. Officials urge anyone with information — no matter how small it may seem — to contact investigators; many missing-persons cases are solved when a witness steps forward or a new tip emerges.

Reporting note: This account compiles statements from NewsNation reporting and public comments by officials and family members. The situation remains fluid as law enforcement continues its inquiry.