By María León
Tucson, US, (EFE).- Members of the Mexican group Madres Buscadoras de Sonora (Searching Mothers of Sonora) joined the search in Tucson, Arizona for Nancy Guthrie, the mother of renowned American journalist Savannah Guthrie, who has been missing for 23 days.
Since its foundation in 2019, the collective made up of experts in desert exploration, search for clandestine graves and kidnapped family members.
The collective of mothers arose from the frustration of family members who feel that Mexican authorities do not do enough to find their loved ones, many of whom are victims of kidnappings by organized crime.
The group has located over 5,000 individuals, including living victims and remains, some even from their own families.
As of Sunday, they have focused their efforts on finding Nancy Guthrie, 84. It is the first time in the group’s history that they have participated in a search in the US.
“We will look for signs in the desert and on the roads. If we see broken branches or stepped-on cacti, indicating something has been dragged,” Patricia Ramírez, one of the volunteers, told EFE.
The Mexican woman has also been searching for one of her sons, who disappeared in Sonora in Mar. 2021.
“We contribute our hearts and our pain as mothers. As time passes, the fear and pain intensify. It’s a pain that never leaves you,” said the mothers, who wear T-shirts with photos of their missing children.
They stressed that uncertainty is the worst part, explaining that many people who have experienced the kidnapping of a loved one would rather know if they are dead and recover their remains than live in uncertainty forever.
Nancy Guthrie was reported missing on Jan. 31, allegedly after being kidnapped from her home in Tucson. So far, the investigation has made little progress.
The FBI along with local police are investigating hundreds of leads in a case that has captured national and international attention.
The collective confirmed they were contacted by a close friend of the Guthrie family.
“We want Nancy’s family to have peace as well. Her search is urgent due to her heart problems. We really hope she is found alive,” said Guadalupe Tello, another member of the collective, in an interview with EFE.
“We understand what the Guthrie family is going through: the uncertainty of not knowing where your loved one is, if they’re hungry or cold, or if they’re being treated well.”
Tello joined the group after her son, Gilman, disappeared in Nov. 2020 while walking in Magdalena de Kino, a popular beach in Sonora.
As of Sunday, the Madres Buscadoras began their search by visiting homes near Guthrie’s house and handing out flyers about the case.
The flyer is now part of the makeshift altar that the community placed outside Guthrie’s house. Yellow flowers adorn the space as a sign of hope for her safe return.
The metal cross
Tello indicated that this week, the women will begin tracking the roads near Guthrie’s house with their own search tools.
They primarily carry a metal cross and bury it in areas where the ground has recently been disturbed.
“First, we bury it. Then, we smell the area. If we detect the distinctive smell of a corpse, then we march to that location and dig,” the volunteer explained.
The collective obtained permits to work with the Pima County Sheriff’s Office.
During their search, if they find anything important to the case, they should inform the local authorities immediately.
“We are very familiar with searching the desert. It is a difficult, inhospitable place that not everyone knows well,” Tello explained. EFE
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