Chris Nanos, the sheriff leading the investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, recently said that investigators almost immediately suspected something more serious than a routine missing persons case when the first call was made. Speaking to PEOPLE as the case crossed the 100-day mark, Nanos further recalled receiving an alert on February 1 about an 84-year-old woman missing from her home in Tucson.
According to Nanos, the situation escalated within minutes.
“A few minutes after the chief notified him about an 84-year-old woman missing from her house,” Nanos said, he received another message stating the scene “doesn’t look right, something is wrong. We’re calling homicide.”
Why homicide investigators were called
Nanos explained that homicide detectives were brought in early because they oversee missing persons investigations within the department.
“The reason that homicide was called is because they are the investigative unit in charge of missing person. Search and rescue is their operational team that helps assist with these issues,” he told PEOPLE.
The disappearance of Nancy Guthrie has since triggered a large-scale, multi-agency investigation involving local authorities and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
DNA evidence remains key focus
Investigators have continued examining evidence collected during the case, including doorbell camera footage showing an armed suspect and a glove discovered near Nancy’s home. Nanos indicated that forensic work, especially involving DNA analysis, remains central to the investigation.
“Everyday our DNA labs are working with our investigators and they’re coming up with different ideas and different thoughts of how to help them make this DNA work for us,” he told PEOPLE.
“How can we do more with what we have? And so that’s why I say it is — I think we’re getting closer.”
Savannah Guthrie and family continue pleas
Meanwhile, ‘Today’ show host Savannah Guthrie and her siblings, Camron and Annie Guthrie, have continued publicly pleading for answers in the case. In an emotional Mother’s Day post, Savannah wrote: “We will never stop looking for you. We will never be at peace until we find you.”
The FBI has offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to Nancy’s return or an arrest, while the Guthrie family has separately announced a $1 million reward connected to the case.
Anyone with information about Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance is asked to contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation or the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.
