TUCSON, Ariz. — A neighbor of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today co-host Savannah Guthrie, reported seeing FBI agents return to search the desert brush behind her Catalina Foothills home days before the case reached its six-month mark. The neighbor, who lives nearby, said she recognized faces from earlier law enforcement activity in the area.
Pima County Sheriff’s Department officials, however, stated that no task force investigators had recently returned to the location. The FBI did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Guthrie was last seen in the early hours of February 1, when authorities believe she was taken by force from her home. The case remains unsolved, with investigators continuing to pursue multiple leads.
Possible Reasons for the Search
Retired Pima County Sheriff’s Department lieutenant and former SWAT commander Bob Krygier suggested several potential reasons for the renewed search activity. He noted that investigators may have received new, viable tips prompting a targeted search. Alternatively, heavy monsoon rains in the region could have shifted the landscape, potentially exposing or displacing evidence that was previously undetected.
Krygier also speculated that the six-month milestone may have prompted authorities to reassess the case with fresh investigative approaches. "There’s a couple of different reasons that go through my mind," he said. "First is going to be they got some leads, they got some new tips that are viable, and they’re out there looking for something specific or in an area specific to that."
Ongoing Investigation
The search comes as the investigation into Guthrie’s disappearance enters its seventh month. Authorities have not publicly detailed the nature of any new leads or whether the FBI’s involvement indicates a shift in the case’s direction. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department remains the lead agency on the investigation, with the FBI providing support as needed.
Neighbors have described the area as typically quiet, with Guthrie known for her active lifestyle before her disappearance. The brush behind her home, part of the Catalina Foothills’ desert landscape, has been a focal point in earlier search efforts.
Weather’s Role in the Search
Monsoon season in Arizona, which began about a month ago, has brought significant rainfall to the region. Krygier emphasized that such weather could alter the terrain, making previously obscured evidence more visible or accessible to search teams. "Heavy rains may also have altered the landscape, potentially exposing or moving evidence investigators hadn’t previously seen," he noted.
The investigation remains active, with authorities urging anyone with information to come forward.