Sheriff opens up about communications with Savannah Guthrie's family

The Arizona sheriff leading local investigative efforts in the apparent abduction of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie has shared an update on how much communication is happening between law enforcement and Savannah Guthrie's family.

More than 100 days after Nancy Guthrie disappeared from her Tucson-area home, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told People in a May 18 report that while "I personally am not" in touch with Nancy Guthrie's family, investigators working on the case contact the Guthries "if they need the family for anything."

"It works both ways," Nanos added. When reached by USA TODAY May 18, the sheriff's department declined to share further information.

Nancy Guthrie has three children: Savannah, Annie and Camron Guthrie. Savannah Guthrie is married to Michael Feldman, with whom she shares two children; Annie Guthrie has a husband, Tommaso Cioni.

After stepping back from the "Today" show in February, Savannah Guthrie returned to the show to resume anchoring duties in April. Sitting down with her longtime colleague Hoda Kotb in March, a tearful Guthrie said she and her siblings "are in agony" over her mother's disappearance, adding, "It is unbearable."

The "Today" show anchor's elderly mother was last seen Jan. 31 before her apparent kidnapping from her Catalina Foothills neighborhood directly north of Tucson, Arizona. In February, the FBI released images showing an armed person at Nancy Guthrie's front door tampering with the camera prior to her disappearance, but the suspect in the images has not been identified.

Sheriff thinks 'we're getting closer' as DNA analysis continues

The investigation into Guthrie's abduction has produced various DNA evidence − from dried blood droplets on the tile at Nancy Guthrie’s entrance to multiple pairs of gloves − but so far has yielded no additional information. Gloves discovered near Nancy Guthrie's home, which resembled those worn by the suspect and were once seen as a possible lead in the investigation, were deemed unrelated to the case.

Law enforcement previously confirmed the discovery of DNA in Nancy Guthrie's home that does not belong to her or her inner circle. They have not provided updates on the analysis.

"Every day, our DNA labs are working with our investigators, and they're coming up with different ideas and different thoughts of how to help them make this DNA work for us," Nanos told People. "How can we do more with what we have? And so that's why I say it is – I think we're getting closer."

Speaking with Tucson station 13 News for a report published May 12, Nanos said local and federal law enforcement "are working hard to get this resolved, and I think every day they get closer."

In a May 5 statement to USA TODAY, the Pima County Sheriff's Department said it remains "committed to a thorough, coordinated, and fact-based investigation and will continue working closely with our federal partners as the process moves forward."

A reward totaling more than $1.2 million has been offered for information leading to her recovery.

Law enforcement asks anyone with information to contact 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov, the Pima County Sheriff's Department (520-351-4900) or 88-CRIME.

Contributing: Edward Segarra, USA TODAY