A shocking mix-up by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department has ignited outrage online after a vague social media post sent waves of false hope through followers of the high-profile disappearance of Nancy Guthrie.
Late Thursday night, the department posted a brief and cryptic update on X that simply read: “Nancy has been located.” Within minutes, thousands of people tracking the case of Savannah Guthrie’s missing mother rushed to the post, believing it could finally be the breakthrough they had been waiting more than two months for.
But the relief didn’t last long.
Clicking into the post revealed it had nothing to do with the Guthrie case at all. Instead, authorities were referring to a completely different missing person — 82-year-old Nancy Radakovich, a vulnerable adult who had disappeared earlier that same day and was safely found.
The backlash was immediate and brutal.
Frustrated users slammed the sheriff’s office for failing to include a last name, calling the post “tone deaf” and accusing officials of unintentionally “toying” with a community desperate for answers. Many said the wording sparked a moment of genuine hope — only to rip it away seconds later.
While commenters expressed relief that Radakovich was found safe, anger quickly shifted back to the still-unsolved disappearance of Nancy Guthrie — a case that has only grown more chilling with time.
The 75-day mystery began on January 31 in Tucson, when Guthrie was dropped off at her home after a quiet evening with family. By the next day, alarm bells were ringing after she failed to show up for church — something loved ones say was completely out of character.
Investigators later revealed disturbing details: her home security system had been disabled, and surveillance captured a shadowy figure lurking outside. The suspect, described by FBI Phoenix, was seen wearing a ski mask, gloves, and carrying a backpack — fueling fears that Guthrie may have been abducted.
Despite extensive searches, DNA analysis, and even alleged ransom note leads, the case has hit a wall. No arrests. No confirmed suspects. No sign of Guthrie.
Meanwhile, her daughter Savannah and family members have continued making emotional public pleas, urging the Tucson community to come forward with anything — no matter how small.
“We are all family now,” they said in a recent statement, calling on neighbors to revisit security footage, messages, and memories from the days surrounding her disappearance.
Now, after the sheriff department’s misfire sparked fresh outrage, one thing is clear: the public’s patience is wearing thin — and the demand for real answers in Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance is only getting louder.
