More than two and a half months after 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie was abducted from her Tucson home in the Catalina Foothills, investigators have executed search warrants on the property of a convicted felon living just two miles away, marking one of the most concrete developments in the high-profile case.

On February 13, 2026 — Day 79 of the investigation — agents from the FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department carried out simultaneous searches at the home and Range Rover of 37-year-old Luke Daley. Daley, who is on probation for drug distribution charges, has a prior criminal record that includes convictions for solicitation of drugs, criminal damage, and flight from law enforcement. He served approximately 1.5 years in prison between 2019 and 2020 and faced additional arrests in 2022 and as recently as May 2025 for fentanyl possession and illegal firearm possession.

During the operation, Daley was detained after a traffic stop in a Culver’s parking lot, while his 77-year-old mother was also detained at the residence. Both were released without arrest after physical samples, including DNA, were collected. Authorities have emphasized that no charges have been filed against Daley in connection with Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, and his attorney has stated that his client has “no link whatsoever” to the case and possesses no relevant information.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos confirmed that evidence was recovered from the home and is still undergoing processing. When asked whether the searches cleared Daley as a suspect, the sheriff replied, “Does that mean he’s not a suspect any longer? No, we’ll do our work. We’ve got evidence to process from the home.” The FBI’s involvement in executing two coordinated warrants underscores the seriousness with which investigators are treating this lead.

The proximity of Daley’s residence to Nancy’s home is particularly notable. Nancy was last seen on the evening of January 31, 2026, after dinner with family. She was reportedly dropped off at her residence later that night. Early the next morning, around 1:47 a.m., her doorbell camera captured a masked individual — described as approximately 5’9” to 5’10” with a medium build — tampering with the device before it went dark. Blood evidence was found outside the home, and Nancy’s pacemaker lost signal around 2:28 a.m. A black glove containing male DNA from multiple contributors was later discovered roughly two miles away and submitted to CODIS, though no immediate match was returned.

Investigators requested doorbell camera footage from all homes within a two-mile radius, a perimeter likely informed by the location of the glove and other physical evidence. The case has been classified as a kidnapping, possibly for financial gain, after ransom notes demanding Bitcoin payments were sent to local news outlets. The family responded with public videos pleading for proof of life and expressing willingness to pay. A California man was charged in relation to follow-up ransom texts, but he has not been connected to the original notes or the abduction itself.

Forensic efforts continue on multiple tracks. A hair sample recovered from Nancy’s home has been sent to the FBI laboratory for advanced analysis, including potential genetic genealogy. Forensic genetic genealogist CeCe Moore previously described the mixed DNA profiles in the case as extremely challenging. The FBI is also coordinating with Mexican authorities following an unverified anonymous tip claiming Nancy was seen alive in Sonora, Mexico, though this lead remains unconfirmed.

Sheriff Nanos has been clear in clearing Nancy’s family members, including Savannah Guthrie and her siblings Annie and Tommaso Cioni, stating that they have been fully cooperative and are not considered persons of interest. “To suggest otherwise is not only wrong, but it is also cruel,” he emphasized. The family has offered a $1 million reward for information leading to Nancy’s safe return or the identification of those responsible.

Savannah Guthrie, co-anchor of NBC’s “Today” show, has spoken publicly about the unbearable emotional toll on the family. In an emotional interview with colleague Hoda Kotb, she shared the heartbreaking questions her 11-year-old daughter Vale and 9-year-old son Charley have asked, including notes from Vale asking, “Mama, any leads? Have you heard anything? Any hope?” Savannah has wrestled openly with guilt, wondering if her own public profile may have made her mother a target. She has appealed directly to the kidnappers: “It is never too late to do the right thing. We are in agony. It is unbearable.”

No-trespassing signs have appeared at family properties, including at Annie and Tommaso’s home approximately ten miles from Nancy’s residence, as the family seeks privacy amid increased neighborhood activity from amateur investigators and content creators.

Nancy Guthrie is remembered as a vibrant, independent woman and the beloved matriarch of her family. Her sudden disappearance from a quiet suburban neighborhood has shaken the Tucson community and drawn sustained national attention.

As the investigation moves forward, authorities continue to process evidence from the recent searches, review digital records, and pursue thousands of tips. The vast desert terrain surrounding Tucson has complicated physical searches, but ground and aerial efforts persist when new leads emerge. Anonymous tips can be submitted to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov or by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI. Local information can be directed to Crime Stoppers Tucson.

While Luke Daley has not been charged and his attorney denies any involvement, the execution of federal search warrants on his property represents a significant step in a case that has seen limited public breakthroughs. Sheriff Nanos has noted that the absence of a CODIS hit does not equate to the absence of a suspect, and the processing of collected evidence could take weeks or longer.

The Guthrie family continues to wait for answers. Behind the forensic updates, ransom demands, and investigative developments lies a family desperate to bring Nancy home. As one of the most closely watched missing persons cases of 2026 unfolds, the hope remains that advancing science and persistent police work will eventually provide the clarity the family and the community seek.