Nearly nine months after 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie was taken from her home in the Catalina Foothills near Tucson, Arizona, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department has issued a new public update on the status of the investigation. Officials confirmed that the joint Nancy Guthrie Task Force, working with the FBI, continues to prioritize advanced DNA analysis in the hope of generating new leads.
In a statement released in late October 2026, the department revealed that investigators had traveled to Florida earlier that month to consult directly with laboratory scientists. The purpose of the meetings was to examine what additional testing or techniques might help advance the case. “A number of ideas were discussed, and we continue to work with all our partners to solve this case,” the department said. Authorities also stressed that the public’s help remains essential, noting that even the smallest piece of information could prove ᑕriᩚtiᩚcal.
Nancy Guthrie was last seen on the evening of January 31, 2026, when a relative dropped her off at her residence. She was reported missing the following day after she failed to attend church. Sheriff Chris Nanos has previously stated that evidence shows she did not leave voluntarily. Surveillance footage from her doorbell camera captured a masked individual at the property around the time of her disappearance, but no suspect has been publicly named.
In the days immediately after she vanished, two notes were sent to a local television station. The first, received on February 2, claimed she was alive and demanded millions of dollars in cryptocurrency for her release. A second note, sent on February 6, stated that she had died shortly after being taken and had been “buried in nature.” Investigators released the full contents of both messages in late July, highlighting distinctive patterns in wording and sentence structure in the hope that someone familiar with the writer’s style might come forward. A possible additional note that later circulated was reviewed by the task force and determined not to be credible.
As of early November 2026, the investigation remains active. Detectives continue to examine forensic evidence, digital records, and other material collected since February. No arrests have been announced. A combined reward of more than $1.2 million is still available for information that leads to Nancy Guthrie’s recovery or the identification of those responsible. Her daughter, Savannah Guthrie, and other family members have continued to issue public appeals, describing the prolonged uncertainty as deeply painful and urging anyone with knowledge to contact authorities.
Anyone with information is asked to call the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI or the anonymous local number 520-88-CRIME.
Nearly nine months after Nancy Guthrie disappeared, the latest update from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department shows that investigators are still actively pursuing scientific avenues and relying on public cooperation in the search for answers.
