(NewsNation) — A former FBI agent says the Thelma Gaston case is an example of why the Arizona desert needs to be thoroughly searched for Nancy Guthrie.

Jennifer Coffindaffer, NewsNation contributor and former FBI agent, posted about the two cases on social media.

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“Thelma was a millionaire who went missing 40 years ago when she was 80 YO. Her remains were finally found near Sugarloaf Mountain in a desolate area,” she wrote.

What happened to Thelma Gaston? Ex-FBI compares to Nancy Guthrie
Gaston disappeared in 1981, with a note left saying she was going to tend to a sick cat. Police say a companion half her age, Lawrence Remsen, left the note to conceal her murder. He was convicted of the crime in 1983.

But what happened to Gaston’s remains was a mystery until earlier this month.

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Officials in Riverside County, California, identified remains found in 1981 as Gaston’s, having finally positively identified them using genetic genealogy.

“This is exactly why searches need to be conducted for Nancy,” Coffindaffer said.

Nancy Guthrie case: What we know about her disappearance
Nancy Guthrie, 84, was reported missing on Feb. 1. Authorities believe she was taken from her Arizona home in what has been described as a possible kidnapping for ransom.

In the months since Guthrie disappeared, multiple ransom notes were sent. Some were deemed illegitimate by authorities.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – MAY 04: Australian-born presenter, Savannah Guthrie poses alongside her mother Nancy Guthrie during a production break whilst hosting NBC’s “Today Show” live from Australia at Sydney Opera House on May 4, 2015 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Don Arnold/WireImage)
Savannah Guthrie hugs Al Roker during a visit to the “Today” show at Rockefeller Plaza in New York on Thursday, March 5, 2026. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)
The Pima County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI released several surveillance photos, including the one seen here, related to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie on Feb. 10, 2026. The 84-year-old was reported missing on Feb 1, 2026. (VIa Pima County Sheriff’s Department)
This combo from images provided by the FBI shows surveillance footage at the home of Nancy Guthrie the night she went missing in Tucson, Ariz. (FBI via AP)
No suspects have been named in the case. The FBI released footage of an armed, masked person at Guthrie’s home, but it has not led to the public identification of anyone involved with the crime.

The FBI has said the case is being investigated as a kidnapping for ransom.

Investigators continue to pursue tips in the case.

Chris Nanos in the spotlight in search for Nancy Guthrie
The Arizona sheriff leading the investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, Chris Nanos, has gained nationwide recognition for his involvement and handling of the search for the missing mother of “Today” host Savannah Guthrie.

Sheriff leading Nancy Guthrie case wins dismissal of $1.35 lawsuit
Earlier this week he received a legal victory after a judge dismissed a lawsuit filed against him by a county jail inmate.

Christopher Michael Marx sued Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos and the sheriff’s department in March, seeking $1.35 million in damages for allegedly violating Article 2 of the Arizona Constitution, known as the “Declaration of Rights.”

Source: https://www.newsnationnow.com/missing/arizona-desert-search-nancy-guthrie-fbi-agent/