New information released in the Nancy Guthrie case: Body search area identified, part of body found, blood DNA analysis results shock investigators

Editor’s note: This story was updated with statements from the Pima County Sheriff and FBI.

(NEXSTAR) – It’s been nearly three months since Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC host Savannah Guthrie, disappeared from her Arizona home.

The search for Nancy, and for her alleged kidnapper or kidnappers, continues, but with few updates from authorities in the past 30 days, speculation has grown and rumors have swirled.

While investigators continue their work, Savannah Guthrie has also returned to work, and the pieces of information that were trickling out have slowly dried up.

On Wednesday, the Pima County Sheriff’s Office and FBI both confirmed to NewsNation parent company Nexstar the investigation is active and ongoing, but didn’t have any updates to share with the public.

“The Pima County Sheriff’s Department continues to work closely with the FBI as investigators follow up on leads, review information, and pursue the facts surrounding this case,” the sheriff’s office said. Anyone with information is asked to leave a tip by calling 1-800-225-5324.

Here’s what we know – and what we don’t – about the investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance.

What do we know about Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance?

It has been weeks since the Pima County Sheriff’s Office or the FBI released new information or an update on the case, but there are some key pieces of information we have confirmed from earlier in the investigation.

After going to dinner with family on Jan. 31, Nancy Guthrie was dropped off at her home near Tucson at 9:48 p.m. Hours later, at 1:47 a.m., her doorbell camera was disconnected. At 2:28 a.m., her pacemaker app disconnected from her phone.

After the sun came up Sunday morning, Nancy’s family realized she had missed church service. They called 911 before noon to report her missing. The search operation started at 12:15 p.m. with drones and dogs.

On Monday, authorities said they believed Guthrie had been kidnapped, abducted or otherwise taken against her will.

The first ransom note came that night to the KOLD-TV newsroom. In the weeks that followed, many ransom notes were sent to various news outlets and publications. Savannah Guthrie said she believed most of the notes were not real, but thinks two that her family responded to were authentic. The FBI hasn’t confirmed the legitimacy of any ransom notes, but law enforcement sources told the Los Angeles Times they believed at least one note was considered real because it contained details about Guthrie’s home that weren’t known to the public.

In the first few days of February, investigators collected evidence from the Guthrie home. They said there were signs of forced entry and DNA testing revealed blood found on the front porch was Nancy’s.

Savannah Guthrie posted a video pleading with her mother’s abductors. “We received your message, and we understand. We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her,” she said. “This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay.”

On Feb. 10, the FBI said it was finally able to recover video from the doorbell camera. They said it showed an armed person tampering with the device. Videos showing the person, wearing a backpack and a ski mask, were released to the public.

A delivery person was detained for questioning but released.

In her first TV interview on March 26, Savannah Guthrie shared new investigation details, including that her mom’s home’s back doors were found propped open and her phone and purse were found inside. Savannah Guthrie returned to co-hosting the “Today” show on April 6.

Nancy Guthrie case: What big questions remain?

Despite an intense search involving thousands of federal and local officers and volunteers, there has been no sign of the 84-year-old mother of three since she was reported missing Feb. 1.

The questions that remain are large and more numerous than the pieces of concrete evidence. Authorities have not released the names of any suspects, only black and white surveillance images that make it hard to discern meaningful details.

A source told NewsNation’s Brian Entin this week that there are no new leads and still no suspects. Authorities have received thousands of tips that they are still sorting through.

the FBI released doorbell camera footage from her Tucson home. The video shows an armed individual wearing a mask, gloves and a backpack standing on Guthrie’s front doorstep and looking around.
The FBI released doorbell camera footage from her Tucson home. The video shows an armed individual wearing a mask, gloves and a backpack standing on Guthrie’s front doorstep and looking around. (Photo: FBI)

The number of people involved is also not known. The FBI hasn’t said if they believe one person was responsible, or if it was an organized team effort.

“I think it’s more likely statistically that it was two people,” retired FBI Special Agent Steve Moore hypothesized. “But when you go back and you look at a lot of the famous kidnapping cases in history, occasionally they are and frequently they are sole individuals.”

It also remains unclear if Nancy is still alive. Seven weeks after her disappearance, the Guthrie family acknowledged Nancy might no longer be alive. In the early days, they had warned that she had health conditions that required daily medications.

Neighbors tell NewsNation they fear the case will never be solved.

The FBI has upped its reward to $100,000 for information that leads to an arrest or conviction. The Guthrie family is offering a $1 million reward.


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