Investigators have returned to search areas near the Tucson home of Nancy Guthrie, whose disappearance in February has left authorities without answers for six months. A neighbor told Fox News Digital that she observed individuals, whom she recognized from previous law enforcement activity, searching the desert brush behind Guthrie's Catalina Foothills residence shortly before the six-month mark of her unsolved vanishing.
While a spokesperson for the Pima County Sheriff's Department stated that no task force investigators had recently returned to the area, the neighbor's account suggests renewed activity. The FBI did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of "Today" co-host Savannah Guthrie, is believed to have been forcibly taken from her home in the early hours of Feb. 1. Authorities have been actively pursuing leads in the case, which they do not consider cold.
Bob Krygier, a retired lieutenant from the Pima County Sheriff's Department and former SWAT commander, suggested several reasons for a potential return to the search area. These include the possibility of new, viable leads or tips directing investigators to specific locations. He also noted that the landscape could have been altered by recent weather, potentially exposing or moving evidence.
"About a month ago, monsoon season started here in Tucson and a lot of water has come down — a lot of water at once, and it pushes things," Krygier told Fox News Digital. "So it's moved the environment. Rocks have been pushed away."
He explained that monsoon rains in Tucson can cause flash floods, with water levels capable of rising significantly and carrying away debris, vehicles, and even people. The Santa Cruz River, which the local washes feed into, can reach depths of 20 to 30 feet and widths of 50 to 60 feet during peak flow, creating a powerful, churning environment.
Last week, the Pima County Sheriff's Department released a pair of purported ransom notes related to the case. Sheriff Chris Nanos expressed hope that the unique linguistic style of the notes could help identify the sender. Investigators are continuing to review "tens of thousands" of videos as part of their active investigation.
A combined reward of over $1.2 million has been offered for information leading to Guthrie's recovery, and it remains unclaimed. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the FBI or the Pima County Sheriff's Department.