Couple Discovers Disturbing Evidence in Desert as Nancy Guthrie Investigation Intensifies

As the desperate search for 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie stretches into its third week, new developments from the Arizona desert are raising fresh questions — and deepening concern.

Earlier this month, on Feb. 11, a Tucson couple stumbled upon what they described as alarming items roughly a mile from Guthrie’s residence, according to KVOA-TV. The discovery has since drawn the attention of investigators and the broader public following the case.

While walking in the desert, the couple located what appeared to be a torn black glove bearing visible stains.

“Sure enough it was a black glove in the desert it appeared to have looked like it was ripped. It also appeared to like it looked like it had blood on it. The blood appeared to be towards the wrist side of the glove and on the pointer finger,” the wife said. KVOA withheld the couple’s name.

The unsettling nature of the find was immediately apparent to them.

“It looked like this was like used for something that could’ve possibly been what they were looking for,” the wife said, referencing the ongoing investigation into who abducted the mother of “Today” host Savannah Guthrie.

Approximately 10 feet away, they discovered a second glove.

“And also from the glove it looked like a blood drop on a rock underneath the glove was like dried blood or something. We didn’t move it or touch it. We immediately were like we have to do something. So I was like I will call the sheriff department,” the husband said.

Authorities with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department declined to publicly comment on the specific items discovered. However, Sheriff Chris Nanos reiterated his commitment to solving the case.

“We’re not quitting. We’ll find her,” he said Friday, according to NBC News.

Growing Suspicion of Multiple Suspects

From the beginning, investigators have acknowledged the possibility that more than one individual may have been involved.

“The sheriff has said all along that while investigators are working to identify the person seen on doorbell video, they are not ruling out that that was the only person involved,” a representative of the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said Friday, according to Fox News.

Public speculation intensified after the FBI released an additional image showing a man dressed in clothing similar — though not identical — to the masked suspect captured on home security footage.

Law enforcement veterans say certain details strongly suggest coordination rather than a lone actor.

Randy Sutton, a retired Las Vegas police lieutenant, pointed to damaged floodlights at the rear of Guthrie’s home as a possible indicator of a coordinated plan.

“You would break those floodlights so as not to be silhouette,” he said. “It’s a common thing.”

He added, “I think that the individual at the front of the house was accompanied by somebody who made entry at the rear of the house, and there was probably a driver involved,” he said. “It would be very unwieldy to have just one person.”

A Community Waiting for Answers

The disappearance of Nancy Guthrie has shaken Tucson and drawn national attention. As Americans watch and pray for her safe return, the case underscores a painful reality: violent crime remains a persistent threat in communities across the country.

With law enforcement promising they are not backing down, the coming days may prove critical. The desert discovery could either turn out to be a key break in the case — or yet another troubling mystery in an investigation already filled with unanswered questions.