SUMMARY
- Court authorized search conducted at Rio Rico residence linked to Nancy Guthrie disappearance.
- Individual detained for questioning following traffic stop south of Tucson.
- FBI Evidence Response Team collaborated with local law enforcement.
RIO RICO, Ariz. — Authorities carried out a court authorized search Tuesday night at a residence in Rio Rico, Arizona, in connection with the ongoing Nancy Guthrie case, detaining an individual for questioning, officials said.
Guthrie, 84, mother of NBC “Today” co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, was reported missing Jan. 31.
Two Santa Cruz County sheriff’s vehicles blocked West Frontage Road and Camino Agosto around 8:30 pm, drawing local media and onlookers as the operation, expected to last several hours, unfolded with assistance from the FBI’s Evidence Response Team, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said.
A person of interest was detained during a traffic stop south of Tucson and questioned regarding the disappearance. Authorities did not release details about potential charges or confirm whether the individual matches surveillance footage taken outside Guthrie’s home.
Guthrie was last seen when she returned home late Jan. 31. Family members alerted authorities the next day after she failed to appear for a scheduled appointment.
Security footage from her property and reports of tampered equipment have led investigators to treat the case as a possible abduction.
Criminologist Dr. Lillian Graves, former FBI behavioral analyst, said a targeted search indicates law enforcement has credible leads.
“Detaining a suspect while executing a search suggests investigators are following a significant trail of evidence,” Graves said.
Professor Marcus Eldridge of George Mason University, an expert on law enforcement procedures, noted FBI involvement signals a methodical approach to gathering forensic evidence, rather than a routine search.
Authorities have not disclosed what evidence they expect to recover and continue to encourage public tips.
The expanded search marks a pivotal development in efforts to locate Guthrie and clarify circumstances surrounding her disappearance.
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