TRUE CRIME NEWSNancy Guthrie Case: Police Say Human Remains Found Near Missing Mom's Home Are Unrelated to Her Disappearance
Nancy Guthrie is still missing as unrelated human remains were found near her Tucson, Ariz., home.
Aug. 18 2026, Published 2:47 p.m. ET
The Pima County Sheriff's Department has confirmed that human remains found in an Arizona desert are unrelated to the ongoing disappearance investigation of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie.
The discovery was made on Monday, August 17, near West Ajo Way and South La Cholla Boulevard in Tucson.
Officials noted that the remains appeared to have been at the location for an extended period and were unrelated to Guthrie's case.
Human Remains Predate Nancy Guthrie Timeline
Nancy Guthrie was last seen on January 31.
The Pima County Sheriff's Department Search and Rescue teams responded to a desert area approximately 15 miles away from Guthrie's residence.
Law enforcement reports that the skeletal remains appear to have been exposed to the elements for an extended duration, predating Guthrie's timeline.
A preliminary review indicates that the discovered bone is likely prehistoric, and the case is being handled as an anthropological examination rather than a criminal investigation.
'No Indication They Are Connected to the Nancy Guthrie Investigation'
Nancy Guthrie is the 84-year-old mother of 'Today' star Savannah Guthrie.
Authorities issued statements on social media platforms, including the Pima County Sheriff's Department X account, clarifying that there is "no indication" of a link to rule out premature public speculation.
“PCSD Search & Rescue deputies are responding to reports of human remains found in a desert area near West Ajo Way and South La Cholla Boulevard. The remains appear to have been at the location for an extended period of time,” the department posted on social media. “At this time, there is no indication they are connected to the Nancy Guthrie investigation.”
Nancy, the mother of Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, vanished from her Catalina Foothills home on February 1. Investigators believe she was kidnapped against her will after discovering blood on her porch and reviewing doorbell camera footage of a masked man outside her residence.
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No Named Suspects in Nancy Guthrie Disappearance
Nancy Guthrie's family is offering a more than $1 million reward for her 'recovery.'
Despite a more than $1 million reward offered by the family and extensive efforts by the FBI, no primary suspects have been publicly identified. This latest desert discovery is one of multiple sets of unrelated remains uncovered in the region since the high-profile search began.
A forensic analysis of a pair of gloves found two miles from her residence yielded no DNA match to any national databases or to evidence collected at the crime scene.
Investigators at the FBI lab are currently testing a rootless hair sample found at her home, with results expected between late September and early October.
Todd Blanche Says FBI Remains Committed to Helping Nancy Guthrie Case
The FBI released the full text of ransom notes on the six-month anniversary of Nancy Guthrie's disappearance.
At the end of July, officials released the full text of a ransom note and a follow-up letter claiming Guthrie had died, hoping the public could help trace the sender.
Earlier in July, a California man pleaded guilty to sending a separate, fraudulent ransom note.
United States Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that the FBI remains fully committed to assisting local authorities, while local officials face internal and public scrutiny over early missteps in the case.
