Search for Missing Nancy Guthrie Continues in Tucson

TUCSON, Ariz. — Just a short walk from Nancy Guthrie’s home in the Catalina Foothills, retired Pima County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Bob Krigier points out dense brush along a desert trail. “You could easily toss something beneath that tree or in those bushes,” he suggests. “Many folks have probably strolled by things that seem… well, questionable—like animal remains—but the terrain itself conceals a lot,” he adds.

This area, often referred to by locals as the “washing place,” serves as a natural drainage route during heavy rainfall, often called ephemeral rivers that wind through Tucson and Pima County.

“There are countless, if not thousands, of these scattered throughout the county and city,” Krigier shared. It’s truly how the landscape is structured.

Krigier, who spent close to three decades with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, is involved in the ongoing search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie.

During his tenure, he chased suspects through places like these multiple times. Over the years, authorities have often discovered the remains of missing individuals in such areas.

Some wash areas are narrow, while others, particularly one just east of Guthrie’s neighborhood, can extend over 150 yards. In these cases, vehicles might easily get stuck.

“You could be here in minutes, and if you drive down that road for just seconds, you could become completely hidden from view,” he explains. “In these circumstances, time and concealment from onlookers become your allies.”

In February, deputies responded after an abandoned vehicle was found near a wash entrance, just steps away.

A spokesperson from the Pima County Sheriff’s Office indicated the vehicle was unrelated to Guthrie’s case. Records regarding its presence have been requested but not yet provided.

This route was reported to FOX News Digital by another neighbor who witnessed a suspicious individual in the vicinity on the same day. Out of concern for a child’s safety linked to an unsolved kidnapping, the neighbor wished to remain anonymous.

Video footage from a Ring camera, obtained by Fox News Digital, showed a car leaving Guthrie’s residence shortly after her disappearance. This footage was shared with the FBI in February, although no updates have emerged since.

Krigier stated that the area would be unfamiliar to those who hadn’t scouted it in advance. “If someone came here without knowledge of the surroundings, they likely wouldn’t find their way,” he said. However, evidence may suggest that someone had been scouting the area prior to that night.

Guthrie is believed to have been taken around 2:30 a.m. on February 1, with her family discovering her absence around noon. Subsequent searches on foot and by air have yielded no results.

High-tech equipment from the federal government was also deployed to capture Bluetooth signals from her pacemaker, but the efforts have not been fruitful.

“I think it would be unwise to decline any help offered, even from cadaver dogs,” Krigier remarked. He mentioned the Cajun Navy’s assistance, stating, “They’re practically a free resource. If they find something, great; if not, that’s fine too.”

Currently, there is a combined reward of over $1.2 million available for information that could help solve this case. The agency continues to encourage anyone with leads to reach out, as the search for Nancy Guthrie persists.

If anyone wishes to share information anonymously, they can reach Tucson’s Crime Report Line. The family also urges anyone with pertinent information to contact the FBI directly.