Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy Guthrie, remains missing nearly three weeks after she vanished from her Arizona home. As investigators work through complex new evidence, private volunteers searching the area say they have uncovered a fresh discovery.
Volunteers Recover Backpack Near Nancy Guthrie’s Home Despite Sheriff’s Warning
The search for Nancy Guthrie took a new turn Sunday as volunteers gathered near her Arizona home and recovered a backpack, even after authorities urged private groups to stay away.
According to AZ Central, nearly three weeks after Nancy vanished, about a dozen people met in a Hobby Lobby parking lot and set out with maps, determined to search the surrounding area.
GettyPhotos shared by investigative reporter Jonathan Lee Riches, known as JLR, showed the group preparing to canvass the neighborhood.
Senior National Correspondent Brian Entin of NewsNation, who has closely covered the case since the beginning, also shared video from the scene.
GettyIn his post, Entin wrote, “Volunteer searchers are canvassing the neighborhood around Nancy Guthrie’s house. They found a backpack that does not match the one in the surveillance video – but deputies came and picked it up. One searcher got emotional, saying her mom is around Nancy’s age.”
GettyThe independent effort came despite a public warning from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.
“Volunteer search groups have inquired about being in the area. Per the Sheriff, they were asked to please give investigators the space they need to do their work,” the department posted on X on Saturday, February 21.
“We appreciate their concern, and we all want to find Nancy, but this work is best left to professionals. PCSD has volunteer opportunities if they wish to get involved with the department,” the message continued.
Getty“Private property laws apply, and it is up to each individual property owner to grant permission for someone to search their property.”
Investigators Zero In on Masked Figure
As volunteers combed the area on foot, detectives stayed focused on a masked figure captured on Nancy’s doorbell camera the night she vanished.
GettyNancy, 84, has not been seen since January 31. Authorities believe she may have been taken from her home overnight.
The residence has been treated as a crime scene. Investigators confirmed they collected DNA evidence and found blood inside the home. Drops of blood on the front stoop were later confirmed to match Nancy.
Days earlier, Savannah Guthrie made an emotional appeal on social media, writing that it was “never too late” for anyone with information to come forward.
Authorities have also confirmed that members of Nancy’s family, including her siblings and their partners, have been cleared as suspects in the case.
Nanos told NBC that the DNA collected at the scene is mixed, meaning it includes genetic material from more than one individual. That makes it more difficult to compare against national databases.
Detectives are also combing through surveillance video tied to key evidence, including footage of a backpack believed to have been purchased at Walmart.
Authorities said they are coordinating with the retailer to identify the buyer. Sheriff’s Department spokesperson Angelica Carrillo said there were no new developments to report as of the morning of February. 22.
