TUCSON, Ariz. — Just days before the six-month anniversary of Nancy Guthrie’s mysterious disappearance, a neighbor in the Catalina Foothills reported seeing FBI agents combing through the brush behind the octogenarian’s home. This new development unfolds in a case that has left investigators with more questions than answers.
Although the Pima County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson mentioned that no task force investigators had visited the neighborhood recently, the neighbor insists she identified individuals who had previously participated in law enforcement activities linked to Guthrie’s case. As of now, the FBI hasn’t issued a comment regarding these claims.
This particular neighbor, residing just a few houses away, observed authorities diligently sifting through the dense desert vegetation.
Authorities believe that Guthrie, the mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie, was forcibly taken from her residence in the early morning hours of February 1. This gripping case has stirred considerable public interest due to its high-profile connections and the unsettling nature of the incident.
Bob Krygier, a seasoned former lieutenant with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and an ex-SWAT commander, speculated on the potential reasons behind investigators revisiting the area. Possibilities include the emergence of new leads or shifting evidence caused by recent weather changes, both of which could significantly impact ongoing search efforts.
“There’s a couple of different reasons that go through my mind first is going to be they got some leads, they got some new tips that are viable, and they’re out there looking for something specific or in an area specific to that, because I’m certain that they’ve searched those areas already,” he told Fox News Digital.
It could also be that, six months into the investigation, authorities are putting a fresh set of eyes on the case, he said.
And heavy rains may also have altered the landscape, potentially exposing or moving evidence investigators hadn’t previously seen, he said.
“About a month ago, monsoon season started here in Tucson and a lot of water has come down — a lot of water at once, and it pushes things,” he said. “So it’s moved the environment. Rocks have been pushed away.”
Depending on the area, floodwaters can rise from just a few inches to as much as 12 feet, Krygier said, with enough force to sweep away vehicles, trees, rocks and even people.
“I’m not sure if they found him yet, but there was a report of a man in the wash floating down, being pushed downstream by the water — and the Santa Cruz is what that feeds into, which is, you’re looking at 20, 30 feet deep when it’s at its peak and 50, 60 feet across,” he said. “All that water, it’s rushing fast, and it’s taken not only the people, but it’s taken cars, it’s taken trees, branches, rocks, all of this stuff, and basically turned into a big blender.”
Authorities did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told Fox News Digital last week that investigators are still following up on active leads, reviewing “tens of thousands” of videos and do not consider the case cold.
On Friday, his office also released a pair of purported ransom notes in the case, in the hope that someone in the public can help identify the sender’s “unique linguistic style.”
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI. Tipsters can remain anonymous by calling 520-88-CRIME.
The combined sum of rewards in the case is over $1.2 million and remains unclaimed.