Canadian Woman Missing in Arizona: Family Seeks Answers

Nancy Guthrie, a Canadian woman from Alberta, is currently missing in Arizona and her family — alongside U.S. authorities — is urging the public for help in locating her, according to an announcement from law enforcement and relatives. Guthrie was last seen in the Arizona desert region near Phoenix earlier this week, and concerns are mounting as temperatures remain high and the landscape poses serious risks to anyone stranded without water or shelter.

According to police reports, Guthrie was reported missing after she failed to check in with family members back in Canada. She had been travelling in the southwestern United States, and relatives became alarmed when they lost contact with her. U.S. law enforcement agencies, including county sheriff’s offices and search-and-rescue teams, have been conducting coordinated efforts to find her, deploying ground teams and aerial searches in areas where she was last believed to be.

Family members gathered at a community centre in Alberta have been distributing flyers and sharing Guthrie’s photo on social media to raise awareness about her disappearance. In public statements, they have described her as a loved mother and sister who was excited about her travels but is not known to take unnecessary risks — deepening their concern about her safety.

Search efforts have been complicated by the vast terrain and the hot, arid climate of the Arizona desert, which can be unforgiving even for experienced hikers and travellers. Authorities are urging anyone in the region who may have seen Guthrie or who has dashcam, trail camera or other footage from rural roads and trails to contact local law enforcement immediately.

Local sheriff’s deputies said they are treating the case as a missing-person investigation, and have asked for tips from the public. Investigators are also trying to trace Guthrie’s last known movements through cellphone activity, credit card transactions and vehicle sightings, though no confirmed leads have yet brought authorities significantly closer to finding her.

Supporters and community members across Alberta and beyond have expressed solidarity with Guthrie’s family through social media posts and community vigils, hoping that renewed attention can help generate leads. The family has thanked the public for support and continues to appeal for any information that might assist in locating her.

The case has highlighted both the joys and risks of travel in remote regions, and underscores the challenges that families and investigators face when a loved one goes missing far from home. Authorities emphasise that even small pieces of information can be crucial in missing-person cases, and encourage anyone with relevant information to come forward.