Citizen Investigators and Archaeological Discoveries in Tucson

In early May, Alec Wysopal was on his regular search around the trails of Tucson, Arizona. He was on the lookout for any trace of Nancy Guthrie. Guthrie, the mother of ‘Today’ show host Savannah Guthrie, went missing in February, prompting a wave of concern nationwide.

Mr. Wysopal belongs to a group of livestreamers dedicated to investigating Guthrie’s disappearance. Equipped with gaiters for protection against rattlesnakes, he filmed the area with his cellphone. Near a dry river bank, a few miles from Guthrie’s home, he made a significant observation.

Oh, what is that? That’s a bone.

His adrenaline surged, and he quickly contacted the emergency services.

The bone’s discovery quickly spread across social media. It sparked intrigue among true crime enthusiasts, hinting at a possible breakthrough in the case of the missing 84-year-old.

However, local authorities soon arrived and clarified the situation. A Tucson police spokesperson stated, This will be a prehistoric anthropological investigation. This is not a criminal investigation.

Experts in archaeology view this incident as a cautionary example. It highlights the potential issues arising when citizen investigators intervene in such cases.