Nancy Guthrie update today as search intensifies in Tucson case

Authorities on Thursday, February 12, 2026, expanded ground searches and continued forensic work tied to the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie in the Catalina Foothills area near Tucson, Arizona. The case has drawn national attention because of her family’s public pleas for help, but investigators have not announced an arrest or identified a named suspect.

As of mid-morning Thursday (about 9:15 a.m. ET), law enforcement said the investigation remains active and is being treated as a criminal matter, with additional tips still coming in.

Nancy Guthrie update today

Investigators continued searching areas around Guthrie’s neighborhood and nearby routes, while also requesting more private security and doorbell footage from residents in the surrounding blocks. Authorities have indicated they are working through a high volume of incoming information, including thousands of calls and messages from the public since surveillance material was circulated.

Officials have also emphasized that any piece of camera footage—especially from late January 31 into the early hours of February 1—could help establish a timeline of vehicles and pedestrian movement near the home.

What investigators are focusing on

Law enforcement activity has centered on three tracks:

• Video and timeline reconstruction: surveillance review to identify vehicles, clothing details, and movement patterns.

• Scene processing and forensic testing: continued collection and analysis of items recovered in the area, including objects found near the home that may be relevant (some testing results have not been publicly confirmed).

• Public tip triage: sorting and prioritizing tips for immediate follow-up, particularly those that include time-stamped media, first-hand observations, or leads that can be corroborated quickly.

Investigators have also highlighted signs that suggest deliberate interference with home security equipment around the time she vanished. That detail, combined with the scale of the response, has reinforced that the incident is not being handled as a routine missing-person search.

Detention near border ends without charges

A key development highlighted in Thursday updates is that a man who was briefly detained during a traffic stop in Rio Rico, Arizona—south of Tucson—was later released. Authorities have not publicly said the stop produced evidence tying him to the disappearance, and no charges have been announced in connection with that detention.

The detention drew attention because it occurred while the search was intensifying, but the release underscores that investigators are still in the evidence-gathering phase and have not publicly named a suspect.

Tips, reward, and public requests

Authorities have continued urging anyone with information to come forward, especially people who:

• live near the Catalina Foothills area and can share exterior camera footage,

• noticed unusual vehicles parked or circling between January 31 and February 1,

• saw anyone on foot wearing face coverings or behaving suspiciously near residences,

• have information about communications claiming knowledge of the case (some such claims are not publicly verified).

A reward of $50,000 has been publicized for information that helps locate Guthrie or leads to the capture of those responsible. Officials have stressed the value of verifiable, specific details—times, locations, images, and direct observations—over general speculation.

Family concern and medical urgency

Guthrie’s family has publicly expressed belief that she could still be alive, while also emphasizing her age and health needs. Investigators have noted concerns that she requires regular medication, which heightens urgency as days pass.

Family statements have focused on keeping attention on actionable leads—camera footage, sightings, and credible tips—rather than unconfirmed rumors. Authorities have similarly cautioned that misinformation can slow an investigation by diverting resources away from high-quality leads.

What to watch next

With no arrest announced, the next meaningful developments are likely to come from one of these points:

• Additional surveillance releases that clarify the suspect description or vehicle interest.

• Forensic results from items recovered near the home or along possible routes.

• A structured briefing if investigators determine they need the public’s help on a specific detail (such as a vehicle description, a person’s clothing, or a tighter time window).

For now, officials continue to frame this as an active, evolving investigation, with the public’s most helpful role being the sharing of time-stamped footage and first-hand observations from the relevant dates.

Sources consulted: ABC News; The Guardian; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Pima County Sheriff’s Department