NOGALES, MEXICO — The search for missing Arizona grandmother Nancy Guthrie has taken an unexpected international turn after a volunteer group in Mexico received an anonymous tip claiming her remains could be buried near the U.S.-Mexico border.

Guthrie, 84, disappeared from her Tucson-area home on February 1, 2026. Her disappearance has been investigated as a suspected abduction, but authorities have not publicly identified a suspect or confirmed where she was taken.

The latest lead came through Buscando Corazones Nogales, a Mexico-based volunteer organization that searches for missing people.

According to the group, an anonymous caller claimed Nancy had been buried near a stream in the Mariposa area, close to Nogales, Sonora.

The information prompted volunteers to begin searching the rugged desert terrain.

An Anonymous Caller Pointed Searchers Toward the Border
Ramona Guadalupe Ayala Ortiz, who leads the volunteer organization, told local media that the group received the first tip in May.

The caller allegedly provided information about where Nancy’s remains could be located.

Volunteers conducted their first search on May 16, but found no evidence confirming the claim.

The group later received another call with additional information about the possible location, prompting a second search on June 10. That search also failed to locate Nancy or evidence connecting her to the area.

Despite the unsuccessful searches, the volunteers said they intended to continue looking.

The Area Has a Troubling History
The location described by the anonymous tipster is significant because volunteer search groups have previously discovered numerous unmarked graves in the surrounding region.

Reports indicate that more than 25 clandestine graves were found in the broader area during earlier searches.

That history made the anonymous allegation especially concerning, although investigators have not confirmed that any of those graves are connected to Nancy Guthrie.

Searchers faced difficult terrain, including streams, washes, rocky ground and large stretches of open desert.

The size and geography of the area made a complete search extremely challenging.

Arizona Authorities Know About the Tip
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department has acknowledged that it is aware of the anonymous information.

Sheriff Chris Nanos said the department had been informed about reports involving the tip provided to the Mexican volunteer group.

However, he also made clear that Mexican authorities had not contacted his department regarding the search at that point.

The sheriff’s office stressed that Nancy’s case remains active and that investigators will continue following credible information.

That means the Mexico search should not be interpreted as confirmation that investigators believe Nancy was taken across the border.

There is currently no publicly confirmed evidence showing that Nancy entered Mexico.

No Evidence Has Been Found at the Search Site
Despite multiple searches, volunteers have not found evidence confirming the anonymous claim.

That is perhaps the most important detail surrounding the latest development.

The tip remains just that — an unverified lead.

No remains identified as Nancy’s have been recovered from the area.

No grave connected to her disappearance has been publicly confirmed.

And authorities have not announced that the tip has produced a breakthrough in the investigation.

Nancy Was Last Seen at Her Tucson Home
Nancy was last seen at her Tucson-area residence on the night of January 31.

According to PEOPLE, surveillance footage showed her entering her garage at approximately 9:50 p.m.

Her family reported her missing the following day after she failed to appear for a virtual church service with friends.

Investigators later determined that Nancy was likely taken against her will.

Blood evidence was reportedly recovered from her home, while surveillance footage showed a masked individual near the property.

Despite extensive investigative efforts, authorities have not publicly identified the person responsible.

The Investigation Has Already Produced Other Leads
The Mexico tip is only one of many developments in the investigation.

Authorities have reviewed surveillance footage, forensic evidence, digital information and thousands of tips since Nancy disappeared.

The case has also involved purported ransom communications that investigators have examined for possible clues.

Despite the enormous amount of information collected, Nancy has still not been located.

Her daughter, Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, has repeatedly appealed to the public for information.

The family has offered a $1 million reward for information that helps locate Nancy.

Volunteers Refuse to Give Up
For the Mexican search group, the lack of immediate evidence has not ended the effort.

Ayala Ortiz and her volunteers have continued searching areas identified through information provided by anonymous sources.

Their work is independent of the main U.S. investigation, making it important to distinguish between a volunteer search effort and an official law-enforcement finding.

So far, the volunteers have found no evidence confirming that Nancy is buried in the area.

But they continue to examine new information as it becomes available.

A Lead — But Not Yet a Breakthrough
The anonymous tip has understandably generated renewed attention around Nancy’s disappearance.

But investigators still face a major unanswered question:

Where is Nancy Guthrie?

The Mexico theory has not been confirmed.

There is no publicly verified evidence that Nancy crossed the border.

And no remains have been identified as hers.

For now, the search in Mexico represents another possible avenue rather than a confirmed explanation of what happened.

The Search Continues
Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance has now stretched into its fifth month, with investigators still working to determine what happened after she vanished from her home.

The anonymous tip has sent volunteers into the desert near Nogales, but two searches have failed to locate evidence supporting the claim.

Authorities in Arizona remain aware of the information and say they will pursue credible leads.

For Nancy’s family, however, the uncertainty remains devastating.

An anonymous voice says Nancy may be somewhere near the border. Volunteers are searching. But after months of investigation, the location of the 84-year-old grandmother remains unknown.

Source: PEOPLE — Volunteers Search for Nancy Guthrie After Anonymous Tip