Human remains discovered less than five miles from Nancy Guthrie’s Tucson home during an amateur search have been determined to be prehistoric and completely unrelated to her disappearance, according to an anthropologist who examined the site.

A local YouTuber conducting a private search for the 84-year-old mother of Today co-host Savannah Guthrie came across an exposed bone in an ephemeral riverbed on May 7. Authorities quickly responded and confirmed the remains were human. Further examination revealed a full skeleton belonging to someone buried between several hundred and roughly 1,000 years ago.

Expert Assessment
James T. Watson, an anthropologist at the University of Arizona who was called to the scene, said the remains predate written language in the region and are therefore classified as prehistoric. Ceramic artifacts found nearby matched known examples from a local archaeological site, reinforcing the conclusion that the individual was Native American.

“All of that contextual evidence allowed me to be pretty sure that this individual was in fact Native American,” Watson said. “The ceramics really sort of drove home that point.”

The remains have been transferred to the Tohono O’odham Nation. No further testing is planned.

Desert Context
Watson noted that the harsh Sonoran Desert terrain regularly yields human remains — both archaeological and more recent. Erosion from seasonal rivers, new construction, and the vast open landscape all contribute to discoveries. He estimated that dozens of bodies surface in the region each year for a variety of reasons, including natural exposure of ancient burials and the difficulties of the desert environment near the U.S.-Mexico border.

He stressed that any human remains found during continued searches for Nancy Guthrie should be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of age.

Case Status
Nancy Guthrie was last seen on the evening of January 31, 2026, and is believed to have been abducted from her Catalina Foothills home in the early hours of February 1. The investigation remains active, with a combined reward of more than $1.2 million still available for information leading to her recovery or the identification of those responsible.

The discovery of the ancient skeleton generated brief national attention because of its proximity to the search area, but investigators have confirmed it has no connection to the ongoing case.

Anyone with information about Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance is urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit tips anonymously through local channels.

Main Sources: Fox News and comments from University of Arizona anthropologist James T. Watson.