Search for Nancy Guthrie enters 19th day

The agonizing search for Nancy Guthrie is stretching into its 19th day, as authorities in southern Arizona continue to field a flood of tips from the public.

(NBC)- The agonizing search for Nancy Guthrie is stretching into its 19th day, as authorities in southern Arizona continue to field a flood of tips from the public.

Inside the Pima County Sheriff’s 911 communications center, dispatchers say they are being inundated with calls related to the case.

“We’ve been inundated with phone calls,” a department spokesperson said.

But with intense public interest has come significant distraction. The sheriff’s department says the tip system is being bogged down by callers sharing everything from theories to premonitions — rather than actionable information.

“If you’re thinking about calling in a tip or lead, or if you have specific information regarding the case, I ask that you stop and take a moment and think, is this a tip?” the spokesperson said. “What we don’t want are the opinions and the thoughts and kind of wondering if investigators are doing A, B, C and D.”

Currently, roughly 400 investigators are assigned to the case, canvassing Tucson and surrounding areas for any clues.

Part of what makes the search especially challenging is the sheer size and terrain of Pima County. Covering nearly 9,000 square miles — larger than the entire state of New Jersey — the region includes vast mountain ranges and miles of Sonoran Desert.

Authorities say they continue to pursue leads while urging the public to submit only credible, case-related information to avoid slowing down the investigation.

Ballistics expert John Correia also weighed in on evidence connected to a suspect, pointing to a holster he described as a “universal fit.”

“Universal fit means it doesn’t fit anything well,” Correia said, adding that the holster appeared inexpensive and not typical of someone highly familiar with firearms.

Investigators have not released additional details about potential suspects but say the search remains active and ongoing.