Even if Nancy Guthrie’s remains are never recovered, prosecutors could still pursue a homicide case against her alleged abductor, according to a leading expert on “no-body” murder prosecutions.

Prosecutor Tad DiBiase, who has spent two decades training law enforcement and fellow prosecutors on how to try murder cases without a body, told journalist Brian Entin that the Nancy Guthrie investigation has the potential to be successfully brought to trial without human remains.

“That said, it is always, always better to have a body, without a doubt,” DiBiase explained. Having remains would provide critical details such as the time of death, cause of death, and whether any medical issues played a role. He strongly advised investigators to continue searching for Guthrie’s body.

Why a Thorough Search Matters
DiBiase stressed that extensive searches are essential even in cases that may proceed without remains. At trial, prosecutors need to demonstrate to a jury that all other possibilities — that Guthrie walked away on her own, escaped, or died by suicide — have been thoroughly ruled out.

He expressed surprise that more searches have not been conducted in the area surrounding Guthrie’s home in the Catalina Foothills outside Tucson, Arizona, from which she disappeared on February 1, 2026.

An Unusual Type of Case
DiBiase also noted that this case does not fit the typical profile of no-body murders. Approximately 54 percent of such cases involve people in a domestic relationship. Many others involve acquaintances, friends, roommates, business associates, or members of organized crime.

“A stranger-on-stranger no-body murder case with an adult victim is highly, highly unusual,” he said.

Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today co-host Savannah Guthrie, was last seen on the evening of January 31 after being dropped off at her home. Authorities believe she was abducted in the early morning hours of February 1. A masked figure was captured on her doorbell camera, blood was found on the front porch, and her pacemaker monitoring app disconnected shortly afterward.

The investigation remains active, with both local authorities and the FBI involved. A substantial reward continues to be offered for information leading to her recovery or the identification of those responsible.

Main Sources: TV Insider and comments from prosecutor Tad DiBiase.