As the search for Nancy Guthrie entered its fourth week on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, investigators in Arizona continued active canvassing operations, evidence processing, and tip review, while authorities also issued a warning to volunteer search groups to stay clear of the active investigation scene. FOX 10 Phoenix reported that Day 22 brought continued police activity but no publicly announced breakthrough in the case.
Nancy Guthrie, 84, was reported missing on Feb. 1 after she did not show up for church, and investigators have said they believe she was taken from her Tucson-area home during the night. By Feb. 22, law enforcement remained focused on a combination of neighborhood canvassing, forensic analysis, and thousands of public tips.
According to FOX 10’s Day 22 live updates page, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department (PCSD) said detectives and agents were back in the Guthrie neighborhood canvassing as part of the investigation. The same update noted that several hundred law enforcement personnel remained dedicated to the case, and officials emphasized that the investigation would remain active until Nancy Guthrie is found or leads are exhausted.
FOX 10 also reported that barricades were set up near Guthrie’s home on Feb. 21, with traffic controls in place as law enforcement and media activity continued in the area. That visible police presence carried into the Day 22 coverage, reinforcing what authorities had previously warned: residents and onlookers should expect continued investigative activity in and around the neighborhood.
A major focus remained on forensic evidence, especially DNA and items recovered near the scene. FOX 10’s coverage said investigators had collected multiple gloves from the area and that those items were being analyzed as part of the investigation. The sheriff’s department also stated that all crime scene evidence and evidence from search warrant locations had been submitted for analysis.
But officials also reiterated that the forensic process is proving difficult. FOX 10’s Day 22 updates referenced Sheriff Chris Nanos saying there was a snag involving mixed DNA sent to a private lab in Florida. In a separate interview summarized by PEOPLE (published Feb. 22, citing an NBC News interview conducted Feb. 20 and published Feb. 21), Nanos said the DNA samples recovered from inside Guthrie’s home contained genetic material from more than one person, making them harder to process through databases. He said the lab reported challenges and suggested some issues may take weeks, months, or even longer to resolve.
At the same time, authorities say the investigative work is still expanding in some areas. PEOPLE reported that Nanos said the investigation was “still growing” in terms of leads and fieldwork, even as he acknowledged frustration with the pace. He also said investigators are getting closer to identifying other clothing items worn by the masked person seen in surveillance footage, beyond the backpack already under scrutiny.
One of the most notable developments around Feb. 21–22 was law enforcement’s response to unauthorized volunteer search efforts. FOX 10 reported that some members of the public, frustrated by the lack of visible progress, attempted to conduct their own searches in the Tucson area. According to the station, one volunteer-led group said it found a black glove and a backpack a few miles from Guthrie’s home. FOX 10 reported that deputies took possession of the backpack, though the item was not the same backpack seen in surveillance video, and some volunteers were reportedly seen searching near Nancy Guthrie’s front yard.
In response, PCSD issued a warning asking private search groups to give investigators room to work. FOX 10 quoted the department as saying the work is best left to professionals, while also noting that private property laws still apply and landowners must grant permission for anyone to enter their property. The department added that there are volunteer opportunities through PCSD for those who want to assist appropriately.
Authorities also continued to stress the importance of credible tips. FOX 10 reported that by Day 22, the FBI had received more than 21,000 tips (with some coverage citing “more than 20,000” earlier), underscoring both the scale of public attention and the workload facing investigators as they sort through information.
Reward money in the case remained a central part of the appeal for information. FOX 10’s Day 22 coverage noted that a total reward of more than $200,000 was being offered for information. PEOPLE also reported that the FBI’s earlier $100,000 reward was later doubled after an anonymous donation received by PCSD.
As of Feb. 22, no arrests had been announced and no suspects had been publicly identified. PEOPLE reported that Nanos said there were not currently any names the sheriff’s department was looking into at that time, a point also reflected in FOX 10’s Day 22 roundup.
Despite the setbacks and the slow pace of forensic testing, the sheriff publicly maintained that the investigation remains active and ongoing. PEOPLE quoted Nanos as saying, “We’re not quitting,” as the search entered week four.
For now, the Feb. 22 update reflects a case still in a difficult, evidence-heavy phase: canvassing continues, forensic teams are processing complex DNA and other items, public attention remains intense, and investigators are urging people to send in credible information while avoiding interference with the investigation.
If you want, I can also format it with a breaking-news style header (for example: “LIVE UPDATE — Feb. 22, 2026”) and a short timeline box at the top.