More than eight months after Nancy Guthrie disappeared from her Arizona home, investigators still have not identified a suspect or publicly established what happened to the 84-year-old mother of “Today” co-anchor Savannah Guthrie.

The case remains active, with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and FBI continuing to investigate what authorities have described as an apparent abduction from Nancy’s home in the Catalina Foothills outside Tucson.

A new development in late September briefly raised hopes that investigators might have received fresh information. But authorities subsequently determined that a newly reported ransom message was not credible.

The latest setback has left the central questions unchanged: Who entered Nancy Guthrie’s property in the early hours of February 1? Where was she taken? And is she still alive?

Despite speculation circulating on social media, authorities have not announced that the kidnapping theory was wrong. On the contrary, investigators continue to say they believe Nancy was kidnapped, abducted or otherwise taken from her home against her will.

Latest Ransom Message Ruled Not Credible
The most recent major update came after the joint Pima County Sheriff’s Department-FBI task force learned of a possible new ransom message in late September.

A woman in Tucson reported being contacted online by someone claiming Nancy was alive and demanding payment for her return.

Investigators examined the communication but announced on September 29 that they did not consider it credible.

Authorities warned the public to be cautious about scams and urged anyone receiving messages concerning Nancy to immediately provide them to law enforcement rather than respond independently. AP News

The incident demonstrates one of the difficulties investigators have faced throughout the case.

Nancy’s disappearance attracted enormous national attention because her daughter Savannah Guthrie is one of the most recognizable television journalists in the United States. That attention has generated thousands of tips, but it has also produced hoaxes and attempted scams that investigators must examine before determining whether they have any genuine connection to the case.