The search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie, has taken another turn.Police have revealed that they discovered human remains in the Sonoran Desert near Tucson.Investigators, however, quickly determined that the find was unrelated to the high-profile disappearance case.
The remains were located less than five miles from Guthrie’s home in the Catalina Foothills, where authorities believe she was abducted during the early morning hours of Feb. 1.The discovery initially raised hopes that investigators might have uncovered a significant lead.
Instead, local YouTuber AJ Wysopal found the remains on May 7 during an independent search effort.
After spotting what appeared to be an exposed bone, Wysopal contacted authorities, who responded to the scene and secured the area for further examination.
Investigators soon confirmed the remains were human but determined they were not connected to Guthrie’s disappearance.
Experts concluded the remains were ancient rather than recent.
James T. Watson, an anthropologist with the University of Arizona who assisted at the scene, told Fox News Digital that the discovery involved an entire skeleton rather than a single bone, as some early reports had suggested.
Based on evidence at the site, Watson estimated the individual had likely been buried sometime between several hundred and 1,000 years ago.
“Whether it is a thousand years old or 50 years old, these are human remains,” Watson said, adding that anyone who finds human remains should always treat them with dignity.
Watson said investigators were able to determine the age and likely cultural origin of the remains by examining the broader archaeological context surrounding the discovery site.
According to the anthropologist, the location sits near a previously documented archaeological area, and artifacts recovered alongside the remains provided important clues about their history.
Watson noted that ceramic fragments found at the scene were consistent with examples previously identified in the region.
“All of that contextual evidence allowed me to be pretty sure that this individual was in fact Native American,” he said. “The ceramics really sort of drove home that point.”
The remains have since been transferred to the Tohono O’odham Nation, whose reservation is located west of Tucson.
According to Watson, no additional scientific testing or research is currently expected, with the remains instead being handled in accordance with tribal protocols and cultural considerations.
The discovery also served as a reminder of the unique challenges presented by Arizona’s desert landscape.
Watson noted that the Sonoran Desert frequently reveals traces of the region’s past, sometimes in unexpected ways.
According to Watson, a combination of harsh environmental conditions, erosion, shifting terrain, and ongoing development can expose human remains and artifacts that have been buried for decades, centuries, or even longer.
“The desert there is a pretty harsh environment, and obviously it’s been settled for hundreds, thousands of years,” he said.
The area’s closeness to the U.S.-Mexico border introduces additional factors.
Watson mentioned that he has responded to scenes where migrants died after attempting to cross in perilous conditions.
“There are literally probably hundreds of bodies that are discovered every year out in the desert,” he said.
The combination of rugged geography and expansive open space makes the desert both unforgiving and vast, Watson added.
“So there [are] a lot of places that an individual could get lost or pass away, or hide a body,” he said.
“I think…as people start to poke into some of these crevices that don’t normally get poked into across the desert, they’re likely to find more individuals,” he said.
The investigation into Guthrie’s disappearance is still ongoing.
A total reward of over $1.2 million is being offered for information that could lead to her whereabouts. Her family is urging anyone with tips to contact the FBI or local police.