Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos responded to reports of an anonymous tip over the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie that allegedly led to searches of unmarked graves in Mexico.
“We are aware of reports regarding an anonymous tip related to the Nancy Guthrie investigation that was provided to a group in Mexico,” Nanos, 70, said in a statement on Thursday, June 11. “At this time, we have not been contacted by Mexican authorities.”
His statement concluded, “This investigation remains active and ongoing, and we will continue to follow up on any credible information.”
TMZ reported on Thursday that a group of volunteer searchers called Buscando Corazones Nogales received an anonymous tip that led them to the U.S.-Mexico border.
The group was reportedly assisted by the Sonora State Commission for the Search of Missing Persons in searching a remote area on Wednesday, where they allegedly found 25 unmarked graves. Per the outlet, there was no sign of Guthrie.
Nancy — the mother of Today host Savannah Guthrie — disappeared from her home just outside of Tucson, Arizona, in the early hours of February 1. She has yet to be found and local police have not publicly identified any suspects.
The Guthrie family offered a $1 million reward for information leading to Nancy’s return in February, in addition to the FBI putting up $202,500.
Last month, Sheriff Nanos acknowledged that he was not “personally” in contact with the Guthries regarding updates in the case.
“If [my team] need the family for anything, they get in touch with them and the family,” he told People on May 14. “It works both ways.”
Nanos subsequently offered insight on why the Guthrie case has been so difficult to solve during an interview with local Tucson, Arizona outlet KOLD News 13.
“These cases are difficult,” he clarified on June 1. “Not just this case. A number of our cases come to us where it requires a lot of work from other people. It’s not just a detective who goes out there, talks to somebody, and we can make an arrest.”
He described Nancy’s disappearance as particularly “sensitive” because there has been so little valuable DNA evidence recovered thus far.
“What really makes it prolonged is we do rely on labs,” he added. “You don’t want to jeopardize not just the integrity of this case, but the integrity of DNA as a supplement to law enforcement work.”
Savannah, 54, officially returned to her job at NBC’s Today in New York City on April 6. Earlier this week, the TV host shared a religious painting depicting Christ’s ascension along with an appeal on her mom’s behalf.
“Oh my, my soul, it cries out, soul, it cries out,” Savannah wrote via her Instagram Story on Sunday, June 7. “Bring her home.”
