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Authorities in Phoenix have identified the battered body of a woman found near a canal last week, and investigators say it is not Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of “Today” show co-host Savannah Guthrie who vanished in Tucson five weeks ago.
The remains were discovered Friday more than 100 miles from Tucson, where Nancy Guthrie is believed to have been kidnapped from her home in the early morning hours of Feb. 1.
The woman was identified as Alex Fleming, 42, according to KTAR. Police said her body showed signs of trauma and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Phoenix homicide detectives are investigating.
The discovery briefly sparked speculation that the victim could be connected to the Nancy Guthrie case, given the intense public attention surrounding the Tucson kidnapping. But the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, which is leading the search for Nancy Guthrie, said it had not been alerted to any connection between the cases.
Nancy Guthrie has not been seen or heard from since the night she disappeared. No suspects have been identified 37 days later, despite a flood of tips and ongoing FBI assistance.
Investigators recovered doorbell footage showing a masked man on Guthrie’s front porch. Authorities have also collected evidence from the home, including traces of blood. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has said it could take up to “a year” to analyze all of the evidence, particularly items containing DNA.
The slow pace and limited public updates have frustrated Guthrie’s loved ones, who have offered a $1 million cash reward for information leading to her safe return or recovery.
Investigators have also been looking into a damaged utility box near Guthrie’s home as part of the case. Several people were briefly detained during the investigation and released within hours. Those individuals have said they had nothing to do with the disappearance.
A series of purported ransom notes demanding millions for Guthrie’s return also surfaced earlier in the case, but each deadline passed without proof of life.
The sheriff’s office has said the investigation remains active, with roughly 300 to 400 personnel assigned, the same staffing level as when the case began. Nanos said last week investigators “are definitely closer” to finding Guthrie.