Arizona police continued the search for Nancy Guthrie as the investigation surrounding her supposed kidnapping entered its second week.
Law enforcement ramped up operations on Friday in a location about two miles from Guthrie's home in Tucson, CBS News reported on Saturday.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told CBS affiliate KOLD that the scene is connected to the Guthrie case, and that law enforcement was "actively working a lead. I cannot say anything else."
"Law enforcement activity is underway at a residence near E Orange Grove Rd & N First Ave related to the Guthrie case. Because this is a joint investigation, at the request of the FBI, no additional information is currently available," the Pima County Sheriff's Department said in a statement hours after the operations began.
The elderly mother of Today host Savannah Guthrie was seen for the last time on January 31 and was reported missing on February 1.
The Guthrie Family have made several public pleas to their mother's supposed kidnappers in recent videos, saying that they were willing to pay for their matriarch's safe return.
"We are at an hour of desperation, and we need your help," Guthrie said. "We believe our mom is still out there. We need your help. She was taken, and we don't know where."
The FBI increased its reward from $50,000 to $100,000 for information leading to Guthrie's location or the arrest of the suspects. CBS reported that the FBI and the Pima County Sheriff's Department have received thousands of tips so far.
The FBI released its first physical description of the suspect. Guthrie's supposed kidnapper was described as having an average build, an approximate height of 1.80 meters. He was wearing dark clothing, black gloves, sneakers, and a black, 25-liter Ozark Trail Hiker Pack backpack.
DNA found in Guthrie's apartment might be new clue
On Friday afternoon, the sheriff's department said DNA that didn't belong to Guthrie or any others in close contact with her had been found in her residence.
Investigators have been working to identify who the DNA belongs to, but have not shared any information about where it was found on the property and have not published any findings.
As investigators work to identify who the DNA belongs to, experts say the next step might be a genetic genealogy test, CNN reported on Saturday.
By using this forensic method, investigators could upload the unknown DNA profile to a public database to learn more about the person's family members. Then, law enforcement officials would use the genealogical information they found, along with other evidence, to search the person's family tree and identify possible suspects.
At this moment, investigators may be “reaching out to various private sector databases to see if someone might be related to the DNA sample that they have,” former FBI assistant director Frank Figliuzzi told CNN.