Police Identify Woman’s Body Near Phoenix Canal Amid Nancy Guthrie Speculation

Authorities have identified the woman whose body was discovered near a canal in Phoenix last week, clarifying that the victim is not Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie, who disappeared earlier this year, as reported by The New York Post.

The remains were found on Friday in Phoenix, more than 100 miles from Tucson, where Nancy Guthrie was last seen before she was believed to have been kidnapped five weeks earlier.

Police confirmed that the victim discovered near the canal has been identified as Alex Fleming, a 42-year-old woman, according to KTAR.

A body discovered in a Phoenix canal has been identified as 42 year old Alex Fleming. They were found unresponsive with signs of trauma when police arrived. Fleming was located on Friday, March 6, near 27th Place and the Grand Canal Trail. https://t.co/8M4aiojkKr

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Investigators reported that Fleming’s body showed signs of trauma, and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Phoenix homicide detectives are now leading the investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.

The discovery initially triggered speculation that the body might have been connected to the ongoing search for Nancy Guthrie.

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However, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, which is overseeing the investigation into Guthrie’s disappearance, said it had not been notified of any link between the cases.

Nancy Guthrie has not been seen or heard from since she was believed to have been abducted from her home in the early hours of Feb. 1.

The disappearance has prompted a large-scale investigation involving local law enforcement and federal authorities.

More than a month after her disappearance, investigators have not publicly identified any suspects in the case.

Authorities have received tens of thousands of tips from the public, and investigators have reviewed doorbell camera footage that reportedly captured a masked man on Guthrie’s front porch shortly before she vanished.

The investigation has also been supported by the FBI as law enforcement agencies continue to pursue leads connected to the case.

Family members have publicly expressed frustration with the pace of the investigation as weeks have passed without a confirmed breakthrough.

In an effort to encourage additional information from the public, Guthrie’s loved ones have offered a $1 million reward for information that could lead to her safe return or recovery.

Investigators have recovered a significant amount of evidence from Guthrie’s home, including traces of blood. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos previously warned that analyzing all the evidence could take considerable time.

Nanos told reporters that it could take as long as “a year” for investigators to process and analyze the material, particularly items containing DNA evidence.

Authorities are also examining other potential evidence connected to the case. Investigators recently began reviewing a damaged utility box located near Guthrie’s home as part of the ongoing probe.

Throughout the investigation, several individuals described by authorities as persons of interest were briefly detained and questioned.

Those individuals were later released within hours, and each has maintained they had no involvement in Guthrie’s disappearance.

The investigation has also involved a series of purported ransom notes believed to have been sent by individuals claiming to be responsible for Guthrie’s kidnapping.

The notes demanded millions of dollars in exchange for her return. However, the deadlines listed in the messages passed without any confirmed developments.

Despite the lack of a public suspect, law enforcement officials say the investigation remains active.

According to the sheriff’s office, between 300 and 400 personnel remain assigned to the case, a level of resources similar to when the investigation was first launched.

Sheriff Nanos said last week that investigators “are definitely closer” to finding Guthrie.

Meanwhile, Phoenix authorities continue to investigate the separate death of Alex Fleming, whose body was discovered near the canal, as homicide detectives work to determine what led to her death.

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