Desperate hunt for breakthrough in Nancy Guthrie case turns to Mexico

February 19, 2026

Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC news anchor Savannah Guthrie, has been missing for nearly three weeks after vanishing from her Tucson, Arizona home in early February. While authorities have received approximately 40,000 tips and DNA evidence from a glove found near her residence, investigators have not yet achieved a breakthrough in the case. The FBI has reached out to Mexican authorities in Sonora state about the suspected abduction, though there is no confirmed evidence she crossed the border.

Who is affected

Nancy Guthrie (84-year-old missing person)
Savannah Guthrie (NBC news anchor and daughter)
Nancy Guthrie's family members
The Searching Mothers of Sonora (Mexican non-profit enlisted to help)
Pima County Sheriff's Department and FBI investigators
Mexican authorities in Sonora state

What action is being taken

US investigators are in contact with Mexican authorities about the disappearance
Investigators are sifting through 40,000 leads
The FBI is working with Mexican officials in Sonora state
Investigators are using a "signal sniffer" device mounted on a helicopter to detect Bluetooth signals from her pacemaker
Authorities are investigating the case as a suspected abduction

Why it matters

This case matters because an elderly woman has been missing for nearly three weeks under suspicious circumstances that investigators believe involve abduction. The cross-border dimension adds complexity to the investigation, requiring international cooperation between US and Mexican law enforcement agencies. The involvement of ransom demands and the proximity to the Mexican border raises concerns about potential criminal trafficking, though no evidence currently links the case to drug cartels. The case also highlights the challenges law enforcement faces when investigating disappearances near international borders.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC