Share and Follow
The search for 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, who has been missing in southern Arizona, remains a pressing concern for authorities. Despite the proximity to the U.S.–Mexico border, officials report no evidence suggesting Guthrie has been taken across it. Federal border protocols, however, are automatically considered in cases of disappearances near such international boundaries.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos shared with Fox News’ Jonathan Hunt that the investigation has yet to uncover any signs of Guthrie being moved to Mexico. “I’m certain the FBI has also examined this possibility, but at present, there’s nothing to suggest she was transported over the border,” Nanos remarked. “We pursue every lead available to us. Given our geographical closeness to Mexico, it remains a potential avenue, but currently, there is no evidence supporting that theory.”
Despite the lack of concrete evidence pointing towards Mexico, Jason Pack, a retired FBI supervisory special agent, notes that coordination across the border doesn’t rely solely on confirmed proof. This highlights the collaborative nature of such investigations, especially near international borders.
In a recent development, Fox News captured drone footage of investigators returning to Nancy Guthrie’s residence on Friday, February 6, 2026. The search and investigation continue fervently after she was last seen on Saturday night, with authorities leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to locate her.
Fox News drone footage captured investigators returning to the home of Nancy Guthrie on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. Guthrie was last seen on Saturday night as an investigation into her disappearance continues. (Fox News Flight Team)
“When any disappearance occurs near the international border, certain federal protocols activate almost automatically, regardless of whether there’s confirmed evidence the victim crossed,” Pack told Fox News Digital.
According to Pack, the FBI maintains dedicated Border Liaison Agents stationed along the southern border who work directly with Mexican law enforcement counterparts in real time.
“That coordination happens at the working level, in real time, without waiting for a formal case to develop,” he explained.
FBI investigators search Catalina Foothills in Tucson, Arizona, Wednesday, Feb.11, 2026. The investigations into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie continues. (DWS for Fox News Digital)
Those agents operate alongside the FBI’s Legal Attaché office in Mexico City, which serves as the bridge between FBI Headquarters, the U.S. Embassy, and Mexico’s federal attorney general’s office, he added.Â
“These are not reactive positions,” Pack said. “They exist precisely so that when something like this happens, the relationships and channels are already in place.”
Pack stressed that Sheriff Nanos is being “accurate and responsible” in stating there is no indication Guthrie was taken into Mexico. However, he added a key investigative distinction.
An undated photo of Nancy Guthrie was provided by NBC in response to the disappearance of the 84-year-old mother of “Today” show host, Savannah Guthrie. (Courtesy of NBC)
“From an investigative standpoint, the absence of evidence is not the same as evidence of absence,” Pack said. “Border protocols don’t require a confirmed lead. They require geographic proximity and a missing person. Both boxes are checked here.”
If cross-border movement were ever to become a credible line of inquiry, Pack said the formal mechanism for cooperation would be a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty request, known as an MLAT.
“An MLAT allows U.S. authorities to formally request that Mexican authorities preserve evidence, conduct interviews, or share records,” he explained. That process runs through the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and can move quickly “when there’s urgency and diplomatic goodwill — which currently exists between the two governments at the law enforcement level.”
For now, authorities say there is no evidence Guthrie crossed into Mexico. Pack noted that established border coordination protocols are designed for cases occurring near the international boundary.
The search continues as investigators follow every available lead.
Nancy Guthrie disappearance timeline:
Jan. 31, 2026
Between 9:30–9:45 p.m. — Family drops Nancy off at home
9:50 p.m. — Garage door closes (per authorities)
Feb. 1, 2026
1:47 a.m. — Doorbell camera disconnects
2:12 a.m. — Security camera detects motion
2:28 a.m. — Pacemaker disconnects from phone application
11:56 a.m. — Family checks on Nancy after she misses weekly church livestream gathering
12:03 p.m. — 911 called
12:15 p.m. — Sheriff’s deputies arrive at home
Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.