Nancy Guthrie Case: Investigators Shift Gears as Major Phase Ends

Since Nancy Guthrie first went missing, observers have been intensely interested in every step that law enforcement officials have taken in their search for Savannah Guthrie's mom. They have now learned that it appears the investigation is wrapping up a major phase.

After conducting a final evidence sweep of Nancy Guthrie's home, reports indicate that officials are preparing to return it to the family. This marks a major shift in the abduction investigation as the authorities turn to other leads.

Nancy Guthrie's Home Is Reportedly Being Returned to Her Family

On February 26, NBC News reported that law enforcement officials are preparing to return Nancy Guthrie's home to her family, per two federal law enforcement sources. Those insiders told the outlet that officials believe they no longer need to keep the crime scene sealed.

The previous day, on February 25, a group of investigators was spotted at the home. The New York Post described the resulting activity as them conducting a final sweep of the property.

Also on February 25, 2026, the Pima County Sheriff's Department made another move regarding the area outside Guthrie's home. As ABC News reported, they extended the no-parking zone around the residence after concluding that the traffic restrictions they enforced in the area previously hadn't worked as planned.

Why the Home Phase Ending Marks a Key Shift in the Probe

The return of the home to Nancy Guthrie's family is significant for two main reasons. First, and most importantly, it shows that investigators believe that efforts to garner leads and evidence from the property have been exhausted. Second, no longer needing to control and investigate the residence will free up resources to follow other leads. There are several indications that an expanded focus on other avenues is already underway.

During the early stages of the investigation, much of the visible law enforcement activity took place around the Guthrie home, as a timeline of the case shows. As the examination of the residence is reportedly concluding, the focus is moving on. On February 25, 2026, Fox 10 Phoenix reported on several different roads the investigation was taking at the time. For example, the Pima County Sheriff's Department confirmed to the outlet that detectives and agents were canvassing the neighborhood looking for information.

The outlet also noted that authorities had confirmed that they have more evidence that is undergoing forensic analysis. Additionally, FBI officials had received a flood of new tips following another potentially huge moment in the investigation. On February 24, Savannah Guthrie announced that the Guthrie family is offering a $1 million reward for information that leads to Nancy Guthrie's recovery. Fox 10 Phoenix reported that the FBI had received 1,500 new tips after the reward offer was announced.