KEY POINT
- FBI and local authorities executed a search warrant near Nancy Guthrie’s Tucson home and detained at least three people.
- A gray Range Rover was searched and towed following a traffic stop linked to the broader investigation.
- The FBI increased its reward to $100,000 for information leading to Guthrie’s location or the arrest and conviction of those responsible.
TUCSON, Ariz. — The investigation into the Nancy Guthrie disappearance intensified late Friday after a Pima County SWAT team and the FBI executed a search warrant at a Tucson area residence about two miles from the 84 year old woman’s home, detaining at least three people and towing a gray Range Rover linked to a separate traffic stop.
Authorities said the coordinated operation unfolded as the search for Guthrie entered its second week. Law enforcement officers detained the driver of a Range Rover during a traffic stop in the parking lot of a Culver’s restaurant in Tucson. The vehicle was searched for several hours before being loaded onto a tow truck and removed from the scene.
Officials have not publicly identified any suspects or persons of interest in the Nancy Guthrie disappearance.
The large-scale law enforcement presence marks one of the most significant developments in the Nancy Guthrie disappearance since she was reported missing Feb. 1. Federal and local agencies have escalated investigative steps, signaling a shift from a missing persons inquiry toward a potential abduction case.
The FBI confirmed it has increased the reward to $100,000 for information leading to Guthrie’s location or to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved. The move is often used in high profile cases to expand public engagement and generate new leads.
Guthrie is believed by investigators to have been abducted in the early morning hours of Feb. 1. The FBI has released a description of a masked individual seen tampering with a doorbell camera outside her home around the time she went missing.
According to the agency, the person was described as a male between five-foot-nine and five foot 10 inches tall with an average build, wearing gloves and carrying a 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack.
The residence searched Friday is located roughly two miles from Guthrie’s home, placing it within what investigators typically call a “primary radius” zone in abduction cases. Law enforcement officials have not disclosed what prompted the warrant.
During the traffic stop tied to the operation, officers covered the Range Rover’s license plate and removed items from the vehicle for documentation.
At one point, authorities held up a sheet to shield activity inside the trunk from public view. It remains unclear whether the driver detained at the scene remains in custody.
Police have clarified that investigators are focusing on a Range Rover, not a white van, addressing online speculation circulating in recent days.
High-profile disappearances involving older adults often prompt multi agency coordination due to heightened vulnerability concerns, said John Cohen, a former acting undersecretary for intelligence and analysis at the Department of Homeland Security.
“When you see a SWAT-assisted warrant and a parallel traffic stop tied to the same investigation, it typically indicates authorities are acting on specific, time sensitive intelligence,” Cohen said. “That does not necessarily mean they have identified a suspect, but it suggests investigative momentum.”
Dr. Sherry Towers, a research professor at the University of Arizona who studies crime pattern analysis, said geographic proximity can be a key factor in early investigative stages.
“In cases involving residential abductions, statistical modeling often shows a concentration of activity within a short radius of the victim’s home,” Towers said. “A search two miles away is consistent with what we see in many offender movement analyses.”
Authorities have not confirmed whether forensic evidence, digital data or witness information led to Friday’s warrant.
A local law enforcement source familiar with the operation said the traffic stop was connected to the search warrant executed nearby.
The source was not authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity.
Tucson resident Maria Alvarez, who lives near the Culver’s parking lot where the stop occurred, described a heavy police presence.
“There were unmarked vehicles and officers around the SUV for hours,” Alvarez said. “They were very careful about what they showed.”
The FBI has urged anyone with information about the Nancy Guthrie disappearance to come forward, emphasizing that even seemingly minor details can assist investigators.
Investigators have not announced any arrests, and authorities have not referred to the man detained during the traffic stop as a suspect.
The outcome of forensic analysis on the Range Rover and any materials seized during the search warrant could shape the next phase of the case.
Legal experts note that search warrants typically require judicial approval based on probable cause, though supporting affidavits often remain sealed during active investigations.
As the search enters its third week, federal and local authorities continue to coordinate efforts. Officials have not indicated when additional updates may be provided.
The Nancy Guthrie disappearance has now entered a more intensive investigative stage, with coordinated federal and local operations signaling heightened urgency.
While multiple individuals have been detained for questioning and a vehicle seized for examination, no suspects have been publicly identified.
The $100,000 reward remains in effect as authorities continue seeking information that could determine Guthrie’s whereabouts and clarify the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.
