Twenty-two days. That’s how long 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie has been missing from her Tucson, Arizona home — and for many in the community, waiting on authorities to find answers is no longer an option.
On Sunday morning, a group of determined volunteers — some of whom traveled all the way from Mexico — combed through storm drains and back alleys near the neighborhood where Nancy was last seen. What they found sent a fresh jolt of urgency through an investigation that has begun to stall: a backpack, hidden inside a storm drain, accompanied by two homeless individuals who quickly fled when law enforcement arrived.
Volunteer Catherine Lopez used a long stick to carefully retrieve the bag, cautious not to contaminate potential evidence, and immediately dialed the Pima County Sheriff’s Office. A deputy arrived roughly 15 minutes later, photographed the scene, donned gloves, and took possession of the closed bag. Investigators later said the backpack does not appear to match the 25-liter black Ozark Trail Hiker bag that the FBI identified as being carried by the masked suspect seen on Nancy’s doorbell camera in the early morning hours of February 1 — but that doesn’t mean it holds no value to the case.
The group that made the discovery is no ordinary search party. Founded by mothers who have personally suffered the devastating loss of loved ones at the hands of cartel violence, the Searching Mothers of Sonora crossed an international border to join the hunt for an American grandmother they’ve never met. “We dedicate ourselves to actively looking for them — putting flyers all over the city, in the field, digging, moving land,” said Lidia Hernandez, a member of the group. Their determination reflects what has become a nationwide — and now international — wave of frustration over the pace of the investigation.
Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance sent shockwaves through the country partly because of who her daughter is. Savannah Guthrie, 54, co-host of NBC’s TODAY show, flew to Arizona at the start of the month to assist in the search effort, and has since made multiple emotional public pleas — including a direct message to whoever took her mother: “It’s never too late to do the right thing.” The family has not publicly spoken in over a week.
The FBI has confirmed it has received more than 21,000 tips, with over 200 law enforcement personnel involved in the case at various points. A total reward of more than $200,000 is being offered for information leading to Nancy’s safe return. And yet, as of this writing, investigators have identified no suspects and no persons of interest.
That vacuum of progress has driven community members to act. Earlier this week, separate volunteer searchers were spotted poking around in Nancy’s own front yard — prompting Pima County Sheriff’s deputies to show up and speak with them directly. On February 21, the Sheriff’s Department released a formal statement warning all private search groups to stand down: “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. We appreciate their concern, and we all want to find Nancy, but this work is best left to professionals.”
But the Sheriff himself is now under fire. Multiple sources close to the investigation have accused Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos of allowing personal ego to impede the search — a charge that, if true, would represent a devastating failure at the worst possible moment. Authorities have also signaled they plan to scale back the official search operation in the coming days, a development that has alarmed Nancy’s supporters and reignited debate about how the case has been handled.
Nancy Guthrie was last seen the evening of January 31, when someone dropped her off at her home shortly before 10 p.m. Her doorbell camera went dark at 1:47 a.m. on February 1. Her pacemaker disconnected from her phone less than an hour later. By morning, she was gone. The FBI has described the prime suspect as a man approximately 5 feet 9 or 10 inches tall with an average build, dressed in a ski mask, jacket, gloves, and pants — and carrying that now-infamous Ozark Trail backpack, sold exclusively at Walmart.
What happened inside that house in the dark hours of February 1 remains unknown. But one thing is increasingly clear: the people who love Nancy Guthrie — strangers and family alike — are not ready to stop looking.
If you have any information regarding Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Office tip line at pcsotips.com.