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Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has acknowledged that the search for Nancy, Savannah Guthrie’s mother, might extend over several years.
Despite encountering numerous obstacles in the investigation, the determined sheriff assured that his team remains committed to locating Guthrie, even if the search takes longer than initially expected.
“It could happen an hour from now,” Nanos stated to the New York Times on Friday. “It might take weeks, months, or even years. But we will not give up. We are committed to finding Nancy and tracking down this individual.”
This statement came shortly after authorities thought they had a significant lead when they questioned a delivery driver named Carlos Palazuelos on Tuesday.
Unfortunately, the optimism was short-lived as Palazuelos reportedly informed investigators that he had no knowledge of the “Today” show host or her 84-year-old mother. He was subsequently released.
“This has to to be it, the evidence, everything’s there,” Sheriff Nanos told the outlet on Friday, reflecting on what he called a fleeting high in the 13-day search.
“Then you talk to people, you learn, you do your search, and you think, ‘Maybe not.’”
“It’s exhausting, these ups and downs,” the Sheriff continued before promising that the investigation will continue on. “But we will keep moving forward.”
In the most recent updates, authorities revealed on Friday that officers collected DNA evidence from Nancy’s residence that did not belong to anyone in “close contact” with the grandmother.
Without sharing where the evidence was located, a spokesperson for the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said “Investigators are working to identify who it belongs to.”
Earlier this week, it was reported that law officials took DNA samples from hired workers around Nancy’s residence.
On Friday night, at least four people were detained for questioning as the investigation into Nancy’s purported abduction drags on into its second week.
A SWAT team with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department swarmed a home and vehicle located near Nancy’s property and executed a search warrant on the home after receiving a tip.
As a result, two men and one of their mothers were taken into custody. An additional man believed to have connections to the home was brought in for questioning after police stopped his Range Rover at a Culver’s parking lot.
All four people were released from custody and no arrests were made.
The grandmother was last seen on Jan. 31 around 9:45 p.m. after having dinner with some family members. She was reported missing on Feb. 1 after she failed to show up for church services that Sunday.
Police, who previously speculated that Nancy was taken from her home while sleeping, released a suspect description for a male who’s approximately 5-foot-9 or 5-foot-10, with an average build on Tuesday.
The FBI also announced an increased reward of up to $100,000 “for information leading to the location of Nancy Guthrie and/or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance.”