Task force travels to Florida
Members of a task force formed to solve the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie went to Florida to meet with laboratory scientists, the Pima County Sheriff's Department said Friday. The aim, according to the department, is to move forward on DNA analysis in the case.
In a statement posted on X, the department said the group “traveled to Florida to meet with lab scientists to see what more could be done to advance the case.” It added: “A number of ideas were discussed, and we continue to work with all of our partners to solve this case.”
According to NBC News, which reported the statement, the department did not say in that message which ideas were discussed or what the next steps might be. The update comes as the case approaches the nine-month mark.
What is known about the case
Guthrie is 84 and is the mother of Savannah Guthrie, a co-host of NBC's “TODAY.” She disappeared from her home in Tucson, Arizona, in February. Federal authorities have characterized the matter as a kidnapping-for-ransom case, and it has held national attention for much of the year.
Public updates have been scarce in recent months. In late July, federal law enforcement officials announced that hair collected during the investigation was not tied to any potential suspects. In practical terms, that meant one piece of physical evidence did not point toward anyone investigators were considering.
Against that backdrop, the Florida meeting shows that laboratory work remains an active part of the effort. Forensic DNA analysis can be painstaking, and investigators often look for new methods or approaches when a case stalls, though officials have not said whether that is the goal here.
The family's message
Savannah Guthrie has kept up her appeals for help from the public. In August, she shared a photo of her mother on Instagram and wrote about the family's grief, saying, “There is a hole inside us that can never be filled. There is an ache that cannot be softened.”
She continued: “And there is a determination in us that cannot be quenched - to find out what happened to her, so that we can give her the dignity of a proper goodbye - a celebration of her remarkable life that she so deserves.”
How the public can help
The sheriff's department emphasized that “no tip is too small.” It said, “Even the smallest piece of information could be critical to this investigation.”
Anyone with information is asked to call 88-CRIME or 1-800-CALL-FBI. Authorities have not announced a timeline for any further developments from the DNA work, and they have said they will continue working with their partners on the case.
