TUCSON, Arizona — A private investigator assisting in the search for missing Arizona woman Nancy Guthrie is urging members of the public to continue submitting tips, saying a single overlooked detail could help break open the case more than five months after her disappearance.
Former New York Police Department detective Herman Weisberg said public participation and "crowdsourcing" have played important roles in solving other high-profile missing-person cases and could prove equally significant in the investigation into Guthrie's disappearance, according to interviews published on Thursday. Weisberg said even an apparently minor observation, such as a suspicious vehicle or unusual activity, could provide investigators with a crucial lead.
Nancy Guthrie, 84, the mother of NBC "Today" co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, disappeared from her home near Tucson on Feb. 1. Authorities have said evidence at the residence, including blood confirmed to belong to Guthrie and surveillance footage showing a masked individual outside the home, led investigators to conclude she was taken against her will.
The FBI continues to classify the investigation as a kidnapping-for-ransom case despite determining that several ransom-related messages received during the investigation were fraudulent. The agency said this week that other extortion communications remain under investigation as potentially legitimate and that all credible leads continue to be assessed.
Authorities have not identified a suspect or announced any arrests directly connected to Guthrie's disappearance. One man has been charged with harassment after allegedly sending a fraudulent ransom text to the Guthrie family. He has pleaded not guilty, according to court records cited by Reuters.
Investigators from the FBI and the Pima County Sheriff's Department have pursued thousands of public tips, conducted extensive searches in southern Arizona and reviewed digital and forensic evidence. Previous investigative activity, including the detention and release of individuals for questioning, has not resulted in criminal charges tied to the disappearance.
The Guthrie family has continued to appeal for information, and combined rewards exceeding $1.2 million, including a $1 million reward offered by the family, remain available for information leading to Nancy Guthrie's recovery, according to investigators and those assisting the search.
The FBI and local authorities continue to ask anyone with information relevant to the case to contact law enforcement as the investigation remains active.
