US2 min(s) read
Human remains have been found in the Arizona desert roughly 15 miles from the home of missing 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie. The discovery prompted a law enforcement response in the area, but officials state there is no immediate evidence linking the remains to the high-profile missing person investigation.
The Pima County Sheriff's Department reported that the remains were located near West Ajo Way and South La Cholla Boulevard in southwest Tucson.
According to authorities, the remains appeared to have been at the site for an extended period. Sheriff's deputies searched the surrounding rugged terrain, which overlooks a four-lane highway on the outskirts of the city.
Investigators have not released details regarding who found the site, the exact date of the discovery, or the specific reasons they currently view the remains as unrelated to Guthrie's case.
Nancy Guthrie, the mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie, was last seen on January 31 at her home in the Catalina Foothills of Arizona. Authorities believe she was abducted from her bedroom during the early morning hours of February 1. She disappeared without her phone or necessary medications.
Doorbell camera footage recorded a masked individual approaching the residence and covering the camera lens on the night she went missing. Law enforcement has made no arrests and has not publicly shared a primary motive behind the suspected kidnapping.
Authorities previously released two ransom notes tied to the investigation to generate public leads. The initial message demanded a payment of $4 million in Bitcoin, which would rise to $6 million if unpaid, alongside threats to kill Nancy.
A follow-up note sent days later stated, "She perished shortly after she was taken," and added, "We believe it was heart related. She is buried in nature now."
Sheriff Chris Nanos noted that officials are treating every note as valid until proven otherwise while continuing to analyze DNA evidence from the home.
Savannah Guthrie has made public pleas for information to assist law enforcement, writing: "Six months ago, someone took her out of her bed in the dead of night. We have lived every moment, every breath, and every heartbeat in agony and despair ever since."
"We are begging for help. We are desperate. We need someone to come forward. Someone knows something. Someone suspects something. Someone recognizes the writing in the ransom demand notes."
"Give her the dignity of a proper goodbye – a celebration of her remarkable life that she so deserves."
"Please. Bring her home."
The family has offered a $1 million reward for information leading to Nancy's recovery, and the investigation remains active.
.webp_SmgFsc?tr=cr-292.0.1244.952,f-webp,q-70,w-100)