Authorities are pursuing multiple leads in the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of an 84-year-old woman from her Arizona home last month. The case, which has drawn significant public attention, was quickly reclassified as a criminal matter after evidence was discovered at the residence.
The woman was last seen on the evening of January 31, after being driven home from a family dinner. She was reported missing the following day after failing to appear for a morning church service. Upon searching her home, family members contacted law enforcement.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department subsequently declared the home a crime scene. Investigators confirmed the presence of the woman’s blood on the front porch. Analysis of the blood spatter suggested it may have originated from her nose or mouth, indicating potential injury.
Complicating the investigation, several media outlets reportedly received communications demanding a ransom paid in Bitcoin for the woman’s safe return. The messages set specific deadlines. Family members have publicly stated their willingness to comply with such demands, with one retired FBI agent suggesting a payment may have already been made. The authenticity of these communications has not been officially verified by law enforcement.
In emotional public appeals, the woman’s children have pleaded for her return and for direct communication from anyone holding her. The FBI has announced a $50,000 reward for information.
A significant break came when the FBI released surveillance footage recovered from the home’s security systems. The video depicts an individual wearing a mask, black gloves, and a backpack. Investigators later recovered a black glove along a trail near the property. Forensic analysis has reportedly matched this glove to the one worn by the suspect in the footage, and it is said to contain DNA evidence. Final test results are pending.
Law enforcement has questioned several individuals in connection with the case. Officials have stated that those detained for questioning are not members of the missing woman’s family, countering speculative theories that have circulated online. The investigation remains active, with a continued law enforcement presence in the area as authorities follow new leads.