Discretion advised: This story involves the discovery of human remains.

Human remains have been found in a desert area near West Ajo Way and South La Cholla Boulevard in Arizona, approximately 15 miles from the home of Nancy Guthrie, according to the Pima County Sheriff's Department. Authorities said there is "no indication at this time" that the remains are connected to the Guthrie investigation.

Where and How the Remains Were Found

The remains, which appear to have been at the location for an extended period of time, were discovered on a hillside covered in saguaro cacti overlooking a busy four-lane highway in southwest Tucson. Pima County Sheriff's Department Search and Rescue deputies responded to the scene, though there didn't appear to be signs of a large law enforcement presence — at least three sheriff vehicles were seen parked at the top of a residential driveway, with a wooden "private drive" sign marking the road leading up to the hillside.

According to law enforcement sources cited by TMZ, the bones were found in a "very remote" part of the desert, accessible only by a long hike. One source with direct knowledge of the investigation told TMZ: "Our boots on the ground say the bones are definitively not Nancy Guthrie." The remains were described as "bleached white bones" — a characteristic that occurs when prolonged exposure to ultraviolet sunlight breaks down the organic components of bone, stripping their color and suggesting they had been at the site for a significant length of time, likely predating Guthrie's disappearance.

Background on the Nancy Guthrie Case

Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC "Today" show host Savannah Guthrie, vanished from her home in Arizona's Catalina Foothills neighborhood near Tucson. She was last seen on January 31 before apparently being kidnapped from her home on February 1 — without her phone or the critical medications she depends on. Investigators have said they currently have no leading theory about a motive behind her disappearance, according to a source familiar with the case.

In July, nearly six months into the investigation, officials released the full contents of a ransom note and a follow-up letter addressed to Nancy Guthrie's family, which claimed she had died — a disclosure made public in hopes of generating new leads. Investigators say they continue to run laboratory analyses on DNA evidence collected from Guthrie's house as the case remains active.

The Ongoing Search

Savannah Guthrie has continued pleading for information through social media throughout the investigation, and her family has offered a $1 million reward for any intelligence that could lead to Nancy Guthrie's recovery. The Pima County Sheriff's Department continues to lead the investigation into her disappearance.

What's Next

Authorities have not indicated whether further forensic analysis will be conducted on the newly discovered remains to determine their identity, though early assessment from investigators at the scene points away from any connection to the Guthrie case. For continuing coverage, see CNN's report.

With Nancy Guthrie's case still unresolved more than six months after her disappearance, investigators continue working the DNA evidence and ransom note leads even as this particular discovery appears to be a separate, unrelated matter.