The search for missing grandmother Nancy Guthrie is nearing the end of its third week, with investigators continuing their work despite several lines of inquiry failing to produce results.
On Wednesday,it was reported that the FBI has been coordinating with Mexican law enforcement over a theory that Guthrie may have been taken across the border at some point after her abduction.
Two officials briefed on the case told NBC News there was no indication she had crossed into Mexico.
Since the investigation began, the Pima County Sheriff’s Office and later the FBI have remained in contact with authorities on both sides of the border to exchange information. Officials said that such cooperation is standard in cases unfolding close to the international boundary.
Retired FBI agent Jason Pack told Fox News Digital, “Border protocols don’t require a confirmed lead. They require geographic proximity and a missing person. Both boxes are checked here.”
That outreach can involve sharing physical descriptions, potential evidence and other details that could assist officers monitoring border crossings. The FBI maintains border liaison agents based in offices along the frontier who work directly with Mexican law enforcement on cross-border matters, according to a senior law enforcement official.
Separately, the FBI’s DNA database, CODIS, did not identify any matches linked to black gloves found two miles from Guthrie’s home, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos confirmed. DNA test results from inside the property remain pending.
Around 400 personnel are still assigned to the case, pursuing thousands of tips and leads, Sheriff Nanos said. “As long as we have the ability to chase a lead, it’s not cold,” he added.
The latest development follows a report from TMZ that a fifth ransom communication has been received.
The outlet has been acting as the main point of contact for one individual claiming to know who took Guthrie, who is demanding payment of $6 million Bitcoin. In a further development, the reported payment demand has shifted from Bitcoin to another form of cryptocurrency. According to TMZ, the most recent email included what it described as a “highly sophisticated” demand, setting out unspecified consequences if payment was not made.
Separately, a second person has contacted the outlet seeking the reward on offer, claiming to have information that could lead to Nancy’s whereabouts and an arrest. TMZ founder Harvey Levin has said he is prepared to act as an intermediary between this individuals and the FBI to help ensure any legitimate reward is processed.
Nancy Guthrie, 84, is the mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie. She was reported missing from her $1 million home in Tucson, Arizona, on February 1.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.the-express.com ’
