kayla day: FBI alerts Mexican authorities as search for Nancy Guthrie expands
The federal response to the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie has broadened, with investigators notifying Mexican authorities and the reward for information now topping $200, 000. Law enforcement officials continue to comb tips and trace leads after Guthrie was discovered missing from her Tucson-area home in the early hours of Feb. 1, 2026, Eastern Time.
Cross-border outreach and investigative posture
Federal investigators have made Mexican counterparts aware of the case, a step investigators describe as routine in disappearance inquiries close to an international boundary. There is no evidence at this stage that Guthrie was taken out of the United States, and officials emphasize that the outreach is an effort to ensure all possibilities are covered given the home's proximity to the border.
Investigators continue to treat multiple scenarios as viable, including a targeted abduction and the possibility of an opportunistic crime. Officials have said they have no confirmed motive and have not identified a suspect. Two men briefly detained early in the probe were released and are not considered suspects.
Items gathered near the scene have been processed for forensic material. DNA taken from a glove found close to Guthrie's home was run through federal databases and produced no matches. Investigators say that outcome narrows some leads but does not rule out other avenues of inquiry, and that forensic work will remain a focus as the probe continues.
Timeline, tips and unverified communications
Investigators have reconstructed a narrow window overnight between Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. Security-system logs show a doorbell camera disconnected at 1: 47 a. m. ET, followed by a camera software alert detecting a person on camera at 2: 12 a. m. ET though no video from that detection is available. Relatives arrived later that morning and found Guthrie missing at 11: 56 a. m. ET; the family called 911 at 12: 03 p. m. ET.
Investigators say they have received tens of thousands of tips and have reviewed more than 30, 000 individual leads as the public search effort continues. Authorities urge anyone with relevant information to contact local law enforcement immediately; investigators stress the value of small details that may seem insignificant but could help connect pieces of the timeline.
Unverified communications referencing a ransom demand have circulated in public forums. Investigators have been notified of such messages and are treating them cautiously; at this point there is no confirmation that these communications are directly connected to Guthrie's disappearance.
Rewards, family appeals and next steps
The financial incentive for information has grown substantially. An anonymous donation increased a community reward program by six figures, and a federal reward has also been offered, bringing total known rewards above $200, 000. Officials say the combined incentives are intended to spur new tips and reward credible leads that result in locating Guthrie or identifying those responsible.
Guthrie's family has made repeated public pleas for information, asking anyone who saw suspicious activity near her home in the relevant time frame to come forward. Investigators say the public's assistance remains critical and that they continue to follow leads in Arizona and beyond, with the federal outreach to Mexican authorities designed to close geographic gaps in the investigation.
Authorities caution that complex missing-person cases can take time to resolve and pledge to continue exhaustive investigative work. They express confidence that persistent effort, forensic analysis and public cooperation will be key to advancing the case, whether that yields a swift resolution or a longer search.
