Prehistoric skeleton near Tucson, unrelated to Guthrie

Human remains discovered in the Arizona desert earlier this month have been identified as prehistoric and are not connected to the ongoing search for missing 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, authorities confirmed. The finding, made by a member of the public on May 7, briefly drew intense interest due to its proximity to Guthrie's home.

The skeletal remains were located approximately five miles from Guthrie's residence in the Catalina Foothills area of Tucson. After securing the site, officials from the Tucson Police Department and the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner, assisted by forensic experts, determined the bones were human. A subsequent anthropological assessment concluded the discovery was unrelated to any criminal investigation, including Guthrie's disappearance.

University of Arizona anthropologist James T. Watson, who examined the site, stated that investigators uncovered a complete skeleton, not isolated bones. Based on ceramic artifacts recovered nearby, experts believe the individual was Native American and was buried several centuries ago, potentially up to 1,000 years in the past. Watson explained that the term "prehistoric" is used because the burial predates...