Nancy Guthrie search uncovers nearly 1,000-year-old human remains
More bones are turning up near the home of Savannah Guthrie's missing mom Nancy Guthrie.
As Arizona authorities continue their investigation into Nancy Guthrie's disappearance, bones unrelated to the case continue to surface. James T. Watson, an anthropologist at the University of Arizona, told Fox News Digital in an interview published Friday, May 29, that a skeleton has been discovered miles from Guthrie's home.
The news from Watson, who was on scene during the discovery of the remains, comes after the Tucson Police Department confirmed a human bone was found seven miles from Guthrie's home. At the time in May, the bone was quickly determined to be "prehistoric" and not related to a "criminal investigation," James Horton, a spokesperson for the Tucson Police Department, told the Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network.
Watson told Fox News Digital that the buried remains are believed to be between several hundred and 1,000 years old, with the anthropologist emphasizing the need to treat future discoveries with respect, no matter their age. "Whether it is a thousand years old or 50 years old, these are human remains," he told the outlet.
Tucson police were assisted by the University of Arizona's Anthropology Department and the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner in making the determination. YouTuber A.J.DoubleU News first discovered the initial bone and alerted authorities, who are still actively investigating the Guthrie case, now four months since her disappearance.
Has Nancy Guthrie been found?
Nancy Guthrie has not been found. Law enforcement officials have emphasized that the search for the 84-year-old remains an active investigation, with Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos telling People magazine in a May 13 interview that he thinks they're "getting closer" on answers.
She has not been seen since Saturday, Jan. 31, with her family reporting she was missing the following morning. She regularly gathered with friends and neighbors to watch church service online, but when she did not show up to a friend's home that Sunday morning, they called her daughter Annie, who lives nearby, a source close to the family told NBC News.
The Pima County Sheriff's Department has said they believe she was taken from her home against her will. Savannah Guthrie and her family have continued to urge fans and the public to reach out to authorities with any relevant information.
The "Today" anchor, 54, took to Instagram on Mother's Day to share a poignant tribute.
"Mother, daughter, sister, Nonie − we miss you with every breath," Guthrie wrote. "We will never stop looking for you. We will never be at peace until we find you."
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 and Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY