Nancy Guthrie, the mother of Today co-host Savannah Guthrie, disappeared on January 31 from her home near Tucson, Arizona, and has not been seen since. Now, police have issued a new update after bones were discovered close to her home.
Nancy Guthrie, the mother of Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, has been missing since February 1. Since then, a large police investigation has been underway, but no arrests have been made.
Theories about her disappearance have been numerous, but recently strong criticism has been directed at Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos. FBI Director Kash Patel has also criticized him and Arizona authorities, claiming the FBI was delayed from getting involved early in the investigation.
Speaking to Sean Hannity on an episode of Hang Out with Sean Hannity released Tuesday, Patel said the sheriff’s office kept the FBI out for several days.
“What we, the FBI, do is say, ‘Hey, we’re here to help,’” Patel told Hannity. “What do you need, what can we do? And for four days, we were kept out of the investigation.”
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos quickly disputed Patel’s remarks. In a statement Tuesday, he said that when he arrived at the scene the night Guthrie disappeared, an FBI Task Force member had already been notified and was present, working with local police.
Nancy Guthrie investigation criticized by FBI Director Kash Patel
“The FBI was promptly notified by both our department and the Guthrie family,” Nanos said, according to NBC, adding that his department continues to work with the FBI and remains committed to a “thorough, coordinated, and fact-based investigation.”
Patel also criticized how physical evidence was handled. Blood found on her porch matched Guthrie’s DNA, but smaller mixed samples found inside her home have been harder to analyze. “We would have analyzed it within days and maybe gotten better information or more information. Our lab’s just better than any other private lab out there,” he told Hannity. “And we didn’t get a chance to do that,” he added. “I understand everybody’s frustration.”
He also highlighted the most significant lead in the case: doorbell camera footage showing a masked man outside her home on the morning she disappeared.
Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance continues to puzzle both investigators and the public. While theories have varied, a recent discovery initially raised new concerns.
Bones found near Nancy Guthrie’s home – police say they may be “prehistoric”
According to the New York Post, police responded after human remains were found in a wash less than five miles from Nancy Guthrie’s home. Some initially believed it could be linked to her disappearance. However, authorities quickly determined the remains were at least 50 years old and possibly even “prehistoric.”
The bones were discovered by a livestreamer searching the area for Nancy Guthrie. Police secured the scene to investigate, but it was soon ruled out as related to the case.
“This will be a prehistoric anthropological investigation,” the Tucson Police Department told KVOA. “This is not a criminal investigation.”
