Human remains discovered near Nancy Guthrie’s Arizona residence have prompted authorities to share new information as the search for the Today co-anchor’s missing mother continues.
According to the Tucson Police Department, a human bone was uncovered on Thursday, May 7, near the intersection of North Craycroft Road and East River Road, roughly seven miles from the 84-year-old’s home in the Catalina Foothills area. In a statement obtained by PEOPLE, officials said the case is being handled as a “prehistoric anthropological investigation” and emphasized that it is not considered criminal.
The University of Arizona’s Department of Anthropology and the Pima County Medical Examiner’s Office are assisting with the investigation.
The development comes amid the ongoing search for Nancy Guthrie, journalist Savannah Guthrie’s mother, who has been missing since Jan. 31.
Investigators suspect Nancy was abducted from her home by a masked individual seen on surveillance video outside her door during the early hours of Feb. 1.
Authorities previously revealed that blood belonging to Nancy was discovered outside the residence, along with a “mixed DNA” sample currently undergoing analysis in hopes of identifying a suspect. Mixed DNA samples contain genetic material from multiple people, making them more difficult to interpret.
ABC News reported in April that the FBI has been using advanced forensic technology to examine the DNA evidence, which originated from a private lab in Florida working with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.
Sheriff Chris Nanos has stated that investigators believe they may understand the motive behind the suspected kidnapping and that the act appears to have been targeted, though officials are not completely certain.
The FBI has offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to Nancy’s recovery or an arrest. Savannah Guthrie and her family later raised the reward to $1 million and also donated $500,000 to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
