In a major update to the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, law enforcement officials in Arizona have detained a person of interest and are conducting a court-approved search of a residence in Rio Rico. The developments come as authorities intensify efforts to piece together what happened to Guthrie after she was last seen at her Tucson area home more than a week ago.
Traffic Stop Leads to Detention of Person of Interest
Late Tuesday night, deputies from the Pima County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from federal agents, stopped a vehicle south of Tucson and took a person into custody for questioning in connection with Guthrie’s disappearance, according to law enforcement sources.
While the individual has been detained and is believed to be connected to the case, authorities have not confirmed the person’s identity or charged them with any crime. Officials also have not disclosed whether this person is the same individual featured in previously released surveillance images from the scene.
Court-Authorized Search Underway in Rio Rico
Following the detention, investigators executed a court-ordered search at a home in Rio Rico, a community approximately 60 miles south of Tucson and near the U.S.–Mexico border. The FBI’s Evidence Response Team is assisting local law enforcement in examining the property, and officials expect the operation to last several hours.
Neighbors and onlookers have reported a noticeable law enforcement presence in the area as authorities comb through the residence for evidence related to the case. A local woman whose family member was briefly detained has maintained that neither she nor her relative had involvement in Guthrie’s disappearance.
Investigation Continues Amid National Attention
Guthrie, the mother of a nationally recognized television personality, vanished from her home on the night of January 31. Since then, investigators have been searching for leads, including releasing surveillance footage showing a masked, armed individual near her front door around the time she went missing.
Officials say the case remains active as they follow up on tips and continue to piece together the sequence of events that led to Guthrie’s disappearance. The public has been urged to provide any information that could help locate her.
