Authorities have identified the battered body of a woman discovered near a canal in Phoenix, confirming that the remains do not belong to the missing mother of Savannah Guthrie. The body, found on Friday more than 100 miles from Tucson, briefly raised fears it could be connected to the ongoing search for the 84-year-old woman who vanished weeks earlier.

Police later identified the victim as 42-year-old Alex Fleming, according to local reports. Investigators said Fleming’s body showed clear signs of trauma, and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Homicide detectives in Phoenix have opened a separate investigation into her death.

The discovery initially sparked speculation about a potential connection to the kidnapping case, but the Pima County Sheriff’s Department clarified that they have not been notified of any evidence linking the two incidents.

Meanwhile, the search continues for Nancy Guthrie, who has not been seen or heard from since she was believed to have been abducted from her home in the early hours of February 1 in Tucson’s Catalina Foothills area. More than five weeks have passed since her disappearance, and investigators have yet to identify any suspects despite receiving tens of thousands of tips and reviewing extensive security footage.

Doorbell camera footage reportedly captured a masked individual on Guthrie’s front porch around the time she vanished. Authorities have also gathered significant physical evidence from inside the home, including traces of blood. Sheriff Chris Nanos said analyzing all the evidence could take months, particularly samples requiring DNA testing.

Investigators are also examining a damaged utility box near the residence and have briefly detained several persons of interest during the probe, though all were released after questioning.

In recent days, authorities have begun asking neighbors whether they experienced internet outages or disruptions on the night Guthrie disappeared. Both the Federal Bureau of Investigation and local deputies canvassed the neighborhood, raising questions about whether the suspect may have interfered with security cameras or home networks during the suspected abduction.

One nearby couple told reporters that a security camera facing Guthrie’s property displayed a “not available” message during the overnight hours of the disappearance, while their other cameras functioned normally—an unusual glitch investigators are now examining as the case remains active.