Authorities intensify two-week search for missing Arizona grandmother with detentions and forensic vehicle sweep near her home.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Federal agents and local law enforcement carried out a large-scale operation Friday night in connection with the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, detaining multiple individuals and towing a vehicle as investigators escalate efforts in the two-week-old case.
A Pima County SWAT team, working alongside the FBI, executed a search warrant at a residence in the Tucson area located roughly two miles from Guthrie’s home. At least three individuals at the property were detained for questioning during the operation. Authorities have not publicly identified those detained, and no arrests have been announced.
Simultaneously, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop involving a gray or silver Range Rover in the parking lot of a Culver’s restaurant in Tucson. The vehicle’s driver was detained for questioning and fingerprinting. It remains unclear whether that individual continues to be held.
Investigators examined the SUV at the scene for several hours before it was loaded onto a tow truck and removed. During the search, authorities covered the vehicle’s license plate and were observed removing items from the interior for documentation. At one point, officers used a sheet to shield activity occurring near the vehicle’s trunk from public view.
The developments come as the search for the 84-year-old mother of NBC “Today” host Savannah Guthrie reaches its second week. Nancy Guthrie was last seen in the early morning hours of Feb. 1.
The FBI has released a description of a man captured on surveillance footage outside Guthrie’s home around the time she disappeared. The individual was seen wearing a mask and gloves while tampering with the residence’s doorbell camera. Authorities describe the suspect as a male standing between 5 feet 9 inches and 5 feet 10 inches tall with an average build. He was reportedly carrying a black 25-liter “Ozark Trail Hiker Pack” backpack.
Federal investigators have increased the reward for information leading to Guthrie’s location or to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance to $100,000. Despite the detentions and search activity Friday, officials have not publicly named any suspects or persons of interest.
Authorities have not disclosed what evidence, if any, was recovered during the residence search or vehicle seizure. The FBI and local agencies continue to urge the public to provide tips as the investigation moves forward.
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