Retired FBI agents have urged law enforcement to widen their search for 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, the mother of “Today” show co-host Savannah Guthrie, into the remote desert surrounding her Tucson, Arizona home and onto the nearby Tohono O’odham Nation Reservation, even as the Pima County Sheriff’s Department reviews tens of thousands of tips nearly six months after her disappearance.
Retired FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer issued a public appeal asking authorities to expand their search radius into the desert area near Guthrie’s home, comparing the case to the 1981 disappearance of 80-year-old millionaire Thelma Gaston whose remains were eventually found near Sugar Loaf Mountain. Separately, retired FBI Supervising Special Agent Steve Moore told NewsNation that investigators should search the Tohono O’odham Nation Reservation near Guthrie’s residence, noting the area shares a border with Mexico and is highly remote.
Meanwhile, new images have surfaced showing Italian-born chef Tommaso Cioni, Nancy’s son-in-law, seated closely with another woman at a table with wine, candles and a heart-shaped mat. The photos were shared on X by investigative journalist Jonathan Lee Riches who believes they should be examined by detectives.
Guthrie was last seen the evening of Jan. 31, 2026, at her residence before being reported missing the next day. Authorities say she was taken against her will from her home, and the case is still being probed as a kidnapping for ransom. A masked man captured in doorbell footage remains a focus of the search, while the FBI has said some ransom demands appear to be extortion attempts while others “may potentially be legitimate.”
YouTubers Arrested Amid Enforcement Crackdown
The high-profile missing-person case has drawn numerous true-crime livestreamers to the Catalina Foothills neighborhood near her home, prompting arrests and law enforcement warnings. Court documents detail misdemeanor cases against three men cited or charged by deputies who encountered content creators in the area, including one accused of creating a filming location with traffic cones, a tripod, and an alleged “pee tent.”
Alexander Zabel Jr., a true-crime content creator known online as “CriminalNetwork,” faced charges of blocking a public roadway and creating a public nuisance. A Pima County Sheriff’s Department citation and probable-cause statement indicate deputies responded around 4:30 p.m. on May 26 to a reported traffic hazard and found Zabel sitting in a lawn chair. According to the probable-cause statement, Zabel intentionally placed cones on the street alongside his equipment, including a tripod for livestreaming. Deputies noted that his YouTube broadcast showed him standing in the roadway.
The situation escalated on June 6, when the statement alleges Zabel erected a “pee tent” on the road, “insinuating that he was urinating” and creating an unpleasant environment for the surrounding neighbors. Deputies noted that because of the “sensitivity & proximity to the high-profile address,” Zabel had created an offensive setting in the middle of the neighborhood. He pleaded not guilty to both misdemeanor counts. Court spokesperson James Pollack said Zabel’s show-cause hearing is set for 9 a.m. on July 21.
Earlier reports of the arrests indicated that Zabel was taken into custody outside Guthrie’s home around 5 p.m. In February, Zabel had said he was only in the area to assist a volunteer search effort and did not want to interfere with investigators.
Additional Citations Issued
A second livestreamer, Troy Lewis Bradshaw, who goes by “DAA JUICE” online, received a citation for blocking a public roadway on June 4, per a separate Arizona traffic ticket and complaint. Bradshaw’s court file lacked a detailed account of what deputies claimed he did to obstruct the road. A June 16 minute entry shows he pleaded not guilty to obstructing a highway or public thoroughfare, first offense, with a fine listed at $282. Pollack said a case management conference for Bradshaw took place on July 13.
The third case involved Damian Todd Enderle, a content creator known as “857 Tucson” who helps manage a local crime blog. He was cited June 8 for public nuisance. A June 30 minute entry shows that charge was dismissed after the state moved to drop it, and Pollack said Enderle has no upcoming court hearings scheduled.
A Neighborhood Under Strain
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos ordered the crackdown following mounting complaints from neighbors about people blocking roadways, trespassing and disrupting the peace. Early in the investigation, the sheriff’s department set up media areas in Guthrie’s neighborhood and warned about possible trespassing charges, while the homeowners’ association added signs discouraging trespassing.
The department said that despite those efforts, some individuals continued to disregard the law, adding that Nanos would no longer tolerate behavior that disrupts the community. A memorial for Guthrie was also removed from near her home, though Nanos said his department did not take it down and suggested the homeowners’ association may have.
Officials have separately warned about fraudulent social media posts tied to the case. The sheriff’s department said scammers have circulated fake QR codes soliciting donations while falsely claiming the money would aid the investigation. Authorities emphasized that no money will be requested from the public in connection with the investigation.
Investigators say the case has not gone cold, noting that tens of thousands of tips have been called in, though no suspects have been identified. Guthrie’s family has offered a $1 million reward for information leading to her recovery.
Anyone with information can contact the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at 520-351-4900 or 88-CRIME at 520-882-7463, call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or submit digital photos, video or doorbell-camera footage to the FBI at fbi.gov/findguthrie.