Sheriff Admits Search for Savannah Guthrie's Missing Mother Could Take Years

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos says the investigation into Nancy Guthrie's disappearance has been exhausting with many ups and downs.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has admitted that the search for Savannah Guthrie's 84-year-old mother, Nancy, could take 'years' to resolve. Despite several dead ends and a brief potential break in the case that ultimately led nowhere, Nanos vowed that his team will remain dedicated to finding Nancy Guthrie, even if the investigation drags on for a long time.

Why it matters

The disappearance of Savannah Guthrie's mother has garnered national attention, with the 'Today' show host pleading for information that could help locate her. The case highlights the challenges law enforcement can face in high-profile missing persons investigations, especially when there are few concrete leads to follow.

The details

Authorities detained a delivery driver, Carlos Palazuelos, for questioning on Tuesday, but he claimed to have no knowledge of Guthrie or her mother. Sheriff Nanos said this was a fleeting high in the 13-day search that ultimately led nowhere. Police have also collected DNA evidence from Nancy's residence that did not belong to anyone in 'close contact' with her, and they are working to identify the source. On Friday, a SWAT team detained four people near Nancy's property, but they were all released without any arrests.

  • Nancy Guthrie was last seen on Jan. 31 around 9:45 p.m. after having dinner with family members.
  • Nancy Guthrie was reported missing on Feb. 1 after she failed to show up for church services that Sunday.
  • On Tuesday, authorities detained a delivery driver, Carlos Palazuelos, for questioning.
  • On Friday, police collected DNA evidence from Nancy's residence that did not belong to anyone in 'close contact' with her.
  • On Friday night, a SWAT team detained four people near Nancy's property, but they were all released without any arrests.

The players

Chris Nanos

The Pima County Sheriff who admitted the search for Savannah Guthrie's mother, Nancy, could take 'years'.

Savannah Guthrie

The 'Today' show host whose 84-year-old mother, Nancy, has been missing since February 1.

Nancy Guthrie

Savannah Guthrie's 84-year-old mother who was reported missing on February 1 after failing to show up for church.

Carlos Palazuelos

A delivery driver who was detained for questioning by authorities but claimed to have no knowledge of Guthrie or her mother.

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What they’re saying

“Maybe it's an hour from now. Maybe it's weeks or months or years from now. But we won't quit. We're going to find Nancy. We're going to find this guy.”

— Chris Nanos, Pima County Sheriff (New York Times)

“This has to to be it, the evidence, everything's there. Then you talk to people, you learn, you do your search, and you think, 'Maybe not.' It's exhausting, these ups and downs.”

— Chris Nanos, Pima County Sheriff (New York Times)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow any of the four people detained on Friday to be released on bail.

The takeaway

The ongoing search for Savannah Guthrie's missing mother highlights the challenges law enforcement can face in high-profile missing persons cases, where leads can be scarce and the investigation can drag on for years. The case has garnered national attention, and authorities remain committed to finding Nancy Guthrie, even if the process is exhausting.