A joint task force of approximately 400 local and federal investigators has intensified the search for Nancy Guthrie in Arizona, as the investigation enters its fifth week with few public developments. The 84-year-aged mother of Savannah Guthrie, co-host of NBC’s “Today” show, was reported missing February 1 after investigators believe she was abducted from her Tucson home.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed Saturday that detectives and agents were again canvassing the neighborhood surrounding Guthrie’s residence, seeking additional clues. Work crews have erected traffic barriers near the home, impacting local access. The department stated that multiple gloves recovered from the area are undergoing analysis, but provided no further details.
The FBI has taken steps to consolidate its resources for the long-term investigation, relocating its command post from Tucson to Phoenix on Thursday. According to a law enforcement source, the move is intended to improve operational efficiency, as the majority of agents assigned to the case are based in Phoenix. Investigative squads, evidence recovery teams, and SWAT teams will remain in Tucson, operating from the FBI’s existing satellite office.
Despite the shift in command structure, the FBI maintains that the investigation remains active and is proceeding at full capacity. Agents continue to review hundreds of hours of surveillance footage obtained from the area, analyze digital evidence including cellphones, and follow up on incoming tips. The source emphasized that much of the ongoing work does not require a physical presence in Tucson and can be effectively managed remotely.
The investigation gained public attention after the FBI released photos and videos on February 10 depicting an armed individual wearing a mask near Guthrie’s home, appearing to tamper with a security camera. Savannah Guthrie announced a $1 million reward on February 24 for information leading to her mother’s safe return, reiterating the family’s plea for assistance in a subsequent video posted February 27. The Guthrie family is urging anyone with information to contact the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI, assuring potential informants of anonymity.
On February 26, deputies arrested a man on misdemeanor DUI charges near Guthrie’s house, but Pima County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson Angelica Carrillo stated the arrest was unrelated to the abduction investigation. Investigators have not ruled out the possibility of multiple suspects being involved, according to a recent statement from the Sheriff’s office.
The FBI has likewise reached out to Mexican authorities for assistance, according to sources familiar with the investigation. Analysis of DNA recovered from a glove found near the scene has not yielded a match in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), the Sheriff’s Department reported February 17.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has not provided a timeline for the next phase of the investigation, and no further public updates are currently scheduled.
