Authorities say human remains found Aug. 17 near West Ajo Way and South La Cholla Boulevard outside Tucson are not believed to be connected to the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie. Guthrie — mother of "Today" co-anchor Savannah Guthrie — was last seen entering her home on Jan. 31; investigators have treated the house as a crime scene and matched blood at the residence to her DNA. Doorbell footage released by the FBI shows a masked male whom authorities are seeking to identify, and two ransom-style communications were sent in early February.
Human Remains Found Near Tucson Deemed Unrelated to Nancy Guthrie Disappearance, Officials Say
Human remains found in Arizona not linked to Nancy Guthrie case, authorities say
Pima County authorities announced on Aug. 17 that human remains discovered in a desert area outside Tucson do not appear to be connected to the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, whose case remains under active investigation.
Deputies responded to reports of remains near West Ajo Way and South La Cholla Boulevard. In a statement posted on X, the Pima County Sheriff's Department said the remains "appeared to have been at the location for an extended period of time" and that investigators currently see no indication they are tied to the Guthrie case. Officials said more information will be released as it becomes available.
Background: Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, was last seen entering her Tucson home at about 9:48 p.m. on Jan. 31, 2026, after being dropped off by her son-in-law following a family dinner. Her family reported her missing the following day when she failed to attend a church service. Investigators later treated her Catalina Foothills property as a crime scene after finding evidence indicating she did not leave voluntarily, including dried blood that was matched to Guthrie by DNA testing.
Doorbell-camera footage released by the FBI showed an armed, masked individual appearing to tamper with the device on the morning of her disappearance. Authorities described the person as a male roughly 5'9" to 5'10" with an average build, carrying a black 25-liter Ozark Trail backpack. The FBI and local law enforcement have asked the public for help identifying him.
Two communications sent in early February to Tucson's KOLD-TV 13 — released publicly by the Pima County Sheriff's Department on July 31 — included a Feb. 2 message demanding a Bitcoin ransom and a Feb. 6 message that claimed Guthrie had died and been buried. The first message demanded $4 million if paid by Feb. 5 or $6 million by Feb. 9. Investigators said the notes show distinctive linguistic patterns that may help identify their author.
Authorities recovered a pair of gloves about two miles from Guthrie's home; those gloves appear to match gloves seen in the surveillance footage. DNA recovered from the gloves did not produce a match in the FBI's national DNA database. Investigators have said DNA found at the property "may" belong to the suspect but that further analysis and sorting are required.
Federal agents have assisted at times, including releasing doorbell footage and searching a vehicle near a sealed neighborhood area. The Guthrie family has offered a $1 million reward for information leading to Nancy Guthrie's recovery, in addition to a $100,000 FBI reward and $102,500 from Tucson's 88-CRIME program.
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities continue to focus on identifying the masked person captured on camera, locating Nancy Guthrie's pacemaker and analyzing DNA and other forensic evidence. The Pima County Sheriff's Department has said all immediate family members and their spouses have been cleared as suspects. Officials stressed that new discoveries — including the recently found desert remains — are being evaluated on their own merits and are not automatically linked to Guthrie's disappearance.
"At this time, there is no indication they are connected to the Nancy Guthrie investigation," the Pima County Sheriff's Department said regarding the desert remains. The department added it will release further information as it becomes available.
Investigators continue to ask anyone with information to contact the Pima County Sheriff's Department or the FBI. Tips prompted by public releases of surveillance images and ransom communications remain an important part of the probe.
Chris Castorena, a private detective based in Phoenix, volunteers his time to search for 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie on Feb. 5, four days after she disappeared from her Tucson, Arizona home.(Rebecca Noble, REUTERS)
Nancy Guthrie was taken from her home in the affluent Catalina Foothills area just north of Tucson, Arizona, in a suspected kidnapping for ransom.(Sarah Lapidus/The Republic)
The Pima County Sheriff's Department labeled Guthrie's property "a crime scene" after finding evidence she did not leave on her own.(Sarah Lapidus/The Republic)
Guthrie was last seen entering her home in the evening of Jan. 31 after her son-in-law dropped her off from family dinner nearby.(Richard Ruelas/The Republic)
Media outlets and private security gather outside Guthrie's home on Feb. 4 as officials search the property for clues in her disappearance.(Rebecca Noble, REUTERS)
A Pima County Sheriff's Department deputy patrols Guthrie's property on Feb. 10 after authorities appear to search a manhole in the backyard.(Rebecca Noble/Reuters)
Investigators block off entry to Guthrie's property after reporters on the scene witness blood on her front steps on Feb. 4.(Richard Ruelas/The Republic)
Neighbors start a memorial on the curb in front of Guthrie's home on Feb. 3, encouraging people to leave yellow ribbons as a symbol of her safe return.(Jan Sonnenmair, Getty Images)
Private detective Chris Castorena volunteers to scan Guthrie's street for clues on Feb. 5.(Rebecca Noble, REUTERS)
Nancy Guthrie's neighbors continue to leave flowers, yellow ribbons and other items at the memorial in front of her Tucson, Arizona home.(Rebecca Noble, REUTERS)
The FBI releases new images from Guthrie's front doorbell footage on Feb. 10, showing an armed, masked individual appearing to tamper with the camera on the morning of her disappearance.(Provided by the FBI)
New images show a close up of the unidentified individual at Nancy Guthrie's front door the day she disappeared.(FBI)
The masked individual at Guthrie's front door is described by police as a male about "5'9" - 5'10" tall, with an average build."(FBI)
Authorities seek help identifying the masked individual at Guthrie's front door the day she went missing.(FBI)
Live-streamers, journalists and a Pima County Sheriff's Department deputy gather at the home of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of U.S. journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, who went missing from her home in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 9, 2026.(Rebecca Noble, REUTERS)
Investigators showed renewed interest at the home of Nancy Guthrie on Feb. 4, 2026, stringing up crime scene tape for a time in the late afternoon. They removed it shortly before 6 p.m. Guthrie had been missing since Jan. 31, 2026, with investigators saying she had been taken from her home northeast of Tucson. Guthrie is the mother of "Today" show anchor Savannah Guthrie.(Richard Ruelas/The Republic)
Reporters station outside Guthrie's home as investigators reveal images of a potential suspect tampering with her front doorbell camera.(Rebecca Noble, REUTERS)
The Pima County Sheriff's Department releases a photo of Nancy Guthrie as her family offers a $1 million reward for any information leading to her recovery, which is in addition to a $100,000 reward offered by the FBI and a $102,500 reward from Tucson's 88-CRIME program.(Provided by the Pima County Sheriff's Department)
The missing persons flyer describes Nancy Guthrie as 5'5" and about 150 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes. Authorities say she has limited mobility and relies on medications for her health.(Provided by the Pima County Sheriff's Department)
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos gives an update on the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie on Feb. 2, one day after she was reported missing.(Provided by Pima County Sheriff's Department)
Reporters gather on the street of Nancy Guthrie's home, where she was last seen on Jan. 31.(Jan Sonnenmair, Getty Images)
NBC releases another photo of Nancy Guthrie as authorities continue to search for her amid her disappearance(Provided by NBC)
Nancy Guthrie appears on "Today with Hoda & Jenna" with her daughter, anchor Savannah Guthrie, on April 17, 2019.(Provided by NBC)
January 31, 2026“Today” show host Savannah Guthrie’s 84-year-old mother, Nancy Guthrie, disappears from her Tucson, Arizona home. She was last seen entering her garage at 9:48 p.m. Jan. 31, after being dropped off by daughter Annie Guthrie's husband following family dinner at their house nearby.(Provided by NBC)
February 1, 2026Nancy Guthrie's family reports her missing around noon Feb. 1 after she failed to attend a church service that morning.(Pima County Sheriff’s Office, via REUTERS)
February 2, 2026Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos reveals at a Feb. 2 news conference that Guthrie's home is a crime scene and says authorities have reason to believe she did not leave on her own. That day, That same day, local news outletKOLD News 13receives a ransom note that "contained specific details about the home and what Nancy Guthrie was wearing" the night she disappeared.(Patrick Breen, The Republic/USA TODAY Network)
February 3, 2026Reporters for The Arizona Republic – part of the USA TODAY Network – visit Guthrie's home on Feb. 3, where they see dried blood droplets on the Spanish tile entrance. Officials later confirm the blood matches Guthrie's DNA.(Richard Ruelas/The Republic)
February 4, 2026Savannah Guthrie, accompanied by her siblings Annie Guthrie and Camron Guthrie, addresses their mother's potential abductor directly, referencing the unverified ransom notes sent to both TMZ and CBS affiliate KOLD News: "As a family, we are doing everything that we can. We are ready to talk."(Savannah Guthrie Instagram, via REUTERS)
February 4, 2026About 400 people gather at a vigil for Nancy Guthrie at St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church in Tucson, Arizona. Each person places a prayer candle on the altar during the ceremony.(Diannie Chavez, The Republic/USA TODAY Network)
February 5, 2026The first of two deadlines given in the alleged ransom letter passes as Camron Guthrie speaks to the person who might be "holding our mother" in a video posted to Savannah Guthrie's Instagram. He says, "We want to hear from you."(Savannah Guthrie Instagram)
February 6, 2026Law enforcement tows Guthrie's blue SUV, and broadcast video shows investigators placing evidence markers on the roof of her home. Authorities also confirm the receipt of a second ransom note, which NBC News, ABC News and CBS News later reported said Nancy Guthrie was dead.(Rebecca Noble, REUTERS)
February 7, 2026Savannah Guthrie and her siblings post another video telling the individual behind the ransom notes, "We received your message and we understand." They say they are willing to pay for the release of their mother.(Savannah Guthrie Instagram, via REUTERS)
February 8, 2026Authorities search Guthrie's yard and look under what appears to be a manhole cover into a drainage or septic system located behind the home, according to reports. As the media presence grows in the neighborhood, the Pima County Sheriff's Department reminds the public and press not to trespass on private property.(Rebecca Noble, Getty Images)
February 9, 2026Savannah Guthrie speaks in a video message as she enters "another week of this nightmare." She says she believes Nancy Guthrie "is still out there" and pleads to anyone who knows information to reach out to law enforcement.(Savannah Guthrie Instagram, via REUTERS)
February 11, 2026The Catalina Foothills Association Board in Guthrie's neighborhood encourages residents to leave bouquets of yellow roses and yellow ribbons to a memorial in front of Guthrie's home. The gesture is meant to create a "visible show of solidarity on the street and a traditional sign of hope for her safe return."(Patrick Breen, The Republic/USA TODAY Network)
February 12, 2026The FBI releases new details about the kidnapping suspect, who is described as a male, approximately 5-foot-9 inches to 5-foot-10 inches tall, with an average build. In the doorbell camera footage, the FBI says the suspect was wearing a black, 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack.(Provided by the FBI)
February 13, 2026FBI agents search and tow a vehicle located close to a neighborhood that was sealed off earlier in the evening on Feb. 13, as the Pima County Sheriff's Department says authorities collected evidence from Nancy Guthrie's property that did not belong to her or anyone in close contact with her.(Brandon Bell, Getty Images)
February 14, 2026Early-morning searches near the Guthrie home do not result in any arrests, and authorities have doubled their reward to $100,000 for information leading to her discovery or an arrest and conviction of anyone involved.(Joe Rondone,The Republic/USA TODAY Network)
February 15, 2026Savannah Guthrie shares a Feb. 15 video message stating, "We still have hope and we still believe" in their mother's return. The FBI reveals that same day that gloves that "appear to match the gloves of the subject in the surveillance video" were found two miles away from Guthrie's home "in a field near the side of the road."(Savannah Guthrie Instagram, via REUTERS)
February 16, 2026Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos confirms that all members of the Guthrie family, including siblings and spouses, have been cleared as possible suspects. The department also refutes reports that Nancy Guthrie was taken in "a burglary gone wrong."(Brandon Bell, Getty Images)
February 17, 2026The Pima County Sheriff's Department reveals DNA on the gloves recovered near Nancy Guthrie's home did not result in a match in the FBI's national DNA database. Officials state their focus is on locating Guthrie's pacemaker, identifying the suspect in the doorbell footage and trying to get to the bottom of the DNA evidence found at and near the scene.(Brandon Bell, Getty Images)
February 18, 2026Tributes to Guthrie continue in front of her home as Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos tells NBC News that DNA found at the property "may" belong to the suspect, but "we won't know that until that DNA is separated, sorted out."(Joe Raedle, Getty Images)
April 6, 2026Savannah Guthrie appears on the “Today” show after being absent for more than two months following her mother's disappearance."Well, here we go. Ready or not, let's do the news," Guthrie said."It's really hard to come back. I've been trying so hard to hold it together," Guthrielater told her colleague, Jenna Bush Hager. "I cry every morning on the way to work, and I cry every morning on the way home."(TODAY/NBC)
May 5, 2026After three months with no suspect in custody, FBI Director Kash Patel sayscriticized the Pima County Sheriff's Departmentfor its handling of the case.On theMay 5 episodeof Sean Hannity's podcast, Patel agreed with the Fox News personality's assertion that local authorities attempted "to keep [the FBI] out" early in the case. "The first 48 hours of anyone's disappearance are the most critical," he added.(Josh Morgan, USA TODAY)
June 22, 2026Multiple outlets reportedon June 22 that the second message sent to KOLD said Nancy Guthrie died after being kidnapped.NBC NewsandABC Newscited unnamed people "familiar with" the case, whileCBS Newsreferred to "sources who reviewed the notes."CBS reported investigators familiar with the case had reason to believe both notes came from the same person or people.(Provided by NBC Universal)
July 27, 2026Savannah Guthrie renewed her appeal for information – and closure – in a July 27 Instagram video."Our family is in agony. We are in a nightmare that will not end; nothing about our situation has changed," she said in the minute-long video. "We will never stop looking for her. We will always ache for her and feel that hole in our hearts."(@savannahguthrie via Instagram)
July 31, 2026The Pima County Sheriff's Department shared the two communications sent toTucson's KOLD-TV 13after the 84-year-old disappeared on Feb. 1.The first, sent Feb. 2,demanded ransomin exchange for her safe return. The second, sent Feb. 6, claimed she had died."These communications reveal distinctive patterns of word choice, syntax, and phraseology that reflect the writer’s unique linguistic style," the sheriff's department said in a statement. "They also provide valuable insight into the person’s mindset, motives, and the evolution of their tone over time."(Provided by Pima County Sheriff's Department)
July 31, 2026In the second note, the purported kidnapper claims that 84-year-old is dead and buried and apologizes to the Guthrie family."We did not fully grasp the seriousness of her physical condition. We never intended to hurt her, that was not our intention. She perished shortly after she was taken. We believe it was heart related. She is buried in nature now," the Feb. 6 note claimed. "Nothing you could have done could have changed the outcome. We want your family to know this and hope you all can find peace. We are truly sorry."(Provided by Pima County Sheriff's Department)
Help us improve.
