The investigation into the disappearance of “Today” host Savannah Guthrie’s mom, Nancy Guthrie, continues to develop as officials address new rumors and provide updates on the evidence. Authorities in Arizona confirmed there has been no new detention tied to the case, despite widespread speculation online.
Nancy, 84, was last seen on January 31 after being dropped off at her home in the Catalina Foothills near Tucson. The case remains under active investigation as law enforcement continues to pursue leads.
Sheriff Nanos Urges Public to Come Forward in Nancy Guthrie Case
More than three months after Nancy was taken from her home in the Catalina Foothills of Tucson, Arizona, authorities are again asking for the public’s help.
In a video shared by X user Shana Lee, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos provided an update on the investigation and said officials believe someone has key information.
“The reward money is still here,” Nanos said. “It’s there for a reason. We think somebody out there knows something. We know they do. We know that someone out there knows what happened. Call us.”
Nanos repeated that message directly, urging anyone with information to come forward.
His comments align with a statement from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department to Fox News on May 1.
“Anyone with information related to the Nancy Guthrie case is encouraged to come forward,” a department spokesperson told Fox News Digital. “Please contact 88-CRIME or the FBI tip line at 1-800-225-5324.”
April 22 Update: Sheriff Chris Nanos Responds to Questions About Past Discipline
New developments in the investigation involve Nanos, who is leading the search for Nancy Guthrie.
The response follows an April 7 request from the Pima County Board of Supervisors, which asked Nanos to clarify statements made during a sworn deposition in a separate First Amendment lawsuit brought by Sgt. Aaron Cross, president of the Pima County Deputies Association.
During that deposition, Nanos stated under oath that he had never been suspended as a result of disciplinary action while working in law enforcement.
In an April 21 letter to the board, which was obtained by Fox News, Nanos’ attorney, James Cool, said the sheriff misunderstood the question. Cool explained that Nanos has never been suspended during his time with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, where he has worked since 1984.
“It is 100% correct that Sheriff Nanos was never suspended during his four decades of decorated and faithful service with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department (‘PCSD’),” Cool wrote in the letter.
However, Cool acknowledged that Nanos had been suspended earlier in his career while working for the El Paso Police Department in Texas. Nanos resigned from that position in 1982 to avoid a three-day suspension for insubordination.
Cool said the confusion stemmed from how the question was interpreted during the deposition. “In the context of his live deposition, Sheriff Nanos did not understand the question related to discipline with a different agency not governed by the Arizona Peace Officer’s Bill of Rights,” he wrote.
Nancy Guthrie Investigation Update Addresses Viral Rumors
Chris Nanos publicly denied claims that a new person of interest had been detained.
When asked by a Fox News reporter about the rumor, Nanos responded with a one-word answer: “Nope.”
The denial followed viral social media posts suggesting a new development in the case. The claims gained significant traction before being addressed by officials.
Authorities have not announced any arrests or named suspects in connection with Nancy’s disappearance.
Meanwhile, the area surrounding Nancy’s neighborhood has seen increased police presence. Reports indicate that patrols have expanded near the homes of her daughter, Savannah Guthrie, and other family members, including Annie Guthrie and her husband, Tommaso Cioni.
Nancy Guthrie DNA Evidence Update and FBI Analysis
Law enforcement also clarified recent reports about DNA evidence connected to the case.
According to the FBI, the evidence currently being analyzed is not new. An official told ABC News, “There is no new DNA evidence in the Nancy Guthrie case. The FBI requested this material over two months ago.”
The statement continued, “The Pima County Sheriff’s Office sent it to a private lab in Florida. Eleven weeks later, that lab has now transferred an original hair sample to the FBI Laboratory for testing. We remain fully committed to this investigation.”
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department added, “This is not new information. The private lab we utilize in Florida continues to share information with the FBI lab and other partner labs across the country. DNA analysis remains ongoing.”
Former FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer raised concerns about how the evidence was handled.
“The fact that they’re saying the FBI has this advanced technology, they would’ve always had it,” she said. “So that should really irk everyone that the sample didn’t go there because they would have always had the advanced technology and expertise.”
She added, “But knowing that they had that technology, that should really have the Guthrie family and anybody who cares about justice for Nancy Guthrie upset, because that is not tracking at all.”
Officials have indicated that testing could take months before results are available.
Savannah Guthrie Returns to ‘Today’ Amid Ongoing Investigation
Savannah has returned to the anchor desk on “Today” after a two-month absence following her mother’s disappearance.
During a recent episode, viewers noticed a brief on-air change when Savannah stepped away before a scheduled interview. The show did not address the switch, and she later returned to the broadcast.
Savannah previously announced that her family is offering a $1 million reward for information leading to Nancy’s recovery.
In a recent interview with People, co-anchor Hoda Kotb said, “I feel like I get to be in the seat to watch what strength looks like. There’s nobody like her.”
Authorities continue to ask the public for assistance. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department tip line at 520-351-4900 or the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
