Nancy Guthrie Update: Native Reservation Could Hold Key in Search for Grave

As the search for Nancy Guthrie continues well into its fifth month, with no updates on her whereabouts, former law enforcement officials continue to share theories about what might have happened.

NewsNation’s Brian Entin, who has been closely following the case from the beginning, recently spoke with retired FBI Supervising Special Agent Steve Moore and retired Pima County SWAT Commander Bob Krieger for the latest episode of Brian Entin Investigates.

Entin asked if it’s possible that Nancy’s potential abductors could have taken her to Mexico by cutting through the nearby Tohono O’odham Nation reservation. “Is it practical or probable? I would say yes,” Krieger responded.

Nancy, the 84-year-old mother of Today‘s Savannah Guthrie, has been missing since February 1, when police believe she was abducted from her home in Tucson, Arizona. Investigators have released doorbell camera footage of a masked suspect and sent DNA for testing at the FBI lab in Quantico, but no suspects have been named.

One of the prevailing theories is that Nancy was taken across the border to Mexico. Last week, Buscando Corazones Nogales, a volunteer search group in Mexico, received an anonymous call informing them that Nancy had been buried in an unmarked grave in the Mariposa area. The position is located west of Nogales and near the border strip with Arizona.

While the search uncovered 25 unmarked graves, none were connected to Nancy, and no other evidence was found. However, the group is expanding its search to two new locations near Nogales. This search was scheduled for June 16 but was postponed as the Mexican authorities are required to join the search and were not available that day.

Krieger told Entin that if Nancy were taken to Mexico, going through the reservation would be likely, as there is less surveillance there. “If I were a betting man and someone said they absolutely went into Mexico, I’d say they probably went through the reservation at some point,” he stated.

Moore agreed that the reservation should be considered as a potential route, but also noted the risks for the alleged kidnappers. “You could go miles without seeing any kind of residents,” he said, “but at the same time, if anybody does see you and doesn’t recognize you, you’re going to stand out, especially if there’s two or three of you, or a vehicle is going to be a big deal.”

The former FBI agent also said law enforcement has to be careful when investigating on native land. While he explained that the FBI has jurisdiction to investigate crimes on reservations, he said the relationship between the feds and tribal police can be “delicate at the best of times.”