A bone discovered near the Tucson, Arizona home of missing woman Nancy Guthrie initially sparked intense speculation online after many feared it could be connected to her disappearance.

Nancy Guthrie, 84, has remained missing since early February after authorities said she was abducted from her residence in the Catalina Foothills area.

But investigators have now confirmed the bone found near local hiking trails had no connection to her case at all.

Bone Turned Out to Be Centuries Old

The discovery was made on May 7 by livestreamer Alec Wysopal while searching the desert area for possible clues connected to the missing persons case.

After spotting what appeared to be a human leg bone, he contacted authorities immediately.

However, experts later determined the remains were actually ancient, dating back somewhere between 650 and 1250 A.D., according to bioarchaeology specialists at the Arizona State Museum.

That means the remains are believed to be more than 750 years old.

Experts Criticized How the Bone Was Handled

Wysopal had filmed himself touching the bone with a hiking pole before learning the area was considered an archaeological burial site.

Afterward, he reportedly said he would never have approached the remains if he had known their historical significance.

James T. Watson, curator of bioarchaeology at the Arizona State Museum, later criticized the handling of the discovery, saying human remains deserve respect regardless of age.

Nancy Guthrie’s Disappearance Remains Unsolved

Despite the clarification about the bone, the search for Nancy Guthrie continues.

Authorities say she was last seen on the evening of January 31 at her Tucson-area home.

The case gained national attention after the FBI released surveillance footage and images reportedly showing a masked man outside her property shortly before she disappeared.

So far, investigators have not publicly identified a suspect.

Reward Money Continues Growing

Officials and family members have continued pushing for information in the months since Nancy vanished.

Reports indicate reward offers connected to the case have now exceeded $1 million in hopes of generating new leads.

The disappearance has also drawn widespread public attention due to Nancy’s connection to Savannah Guthrie, co-anchor of NBC’s Today show.

Investigation Still Active

While the discovery of the ancient remains briefly reignited public speculation, authorities stress the investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance remains active and unresolved.

Law enforcement officials continue urging anyone with information to come forward as detectives work to piece together what happened.

For now, one mystery in the Arizona desert has been solved, but the larger case surrounding Nancy Guthrie remains unanswered.