Fact check: Did the Guthrie family hire a private investigator following Nancy's disappearance?

TUCSON, ARIZONA: It has been 11 days since Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of 'TODAY' show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, has been missing. She was last seen at her home in the Catalina Foothills area near Tucson, on the evening of January 31, after being dropped off following a family dinner.

Recently, a rumor surfaced across social media claiming that the Guthrie family hired a private investigator following Nancy's disappearance. But is there any truth to this? Let us find out below.

Claim: The Guthrie family hired a private investigator

Several social media posts claimed that the Guthrie family hired a private investigator following Nancy's disappearance.

An X user wrote, "Moments ago, a man who tells us he’s a private investigator for the family showed up to Nancy Guthrie’s house and spoke to the Sheriff’s deputy on site. He also dropped off what looks like some additional security signage."

The X user also attached a clip of a man who was seen near Nancy Guthrie's house in a white SUV.

Meanwhile, another X user wrote, "Has a Private Investigator been hired by Nancy Guthrie's family? As a former Licensed Private Investigator myself, this could absolutely be what needs to happen to find Nancy. This could be the thing that changes the direction of the case."

"A private eye hired by the family has arrived at Nancy Guthrie’s home and was seen speaking with a sheriff’s deputy on site," mentioned another X account.

Fact check: False, source close to the family debunks claim

The claims made in the online posts are false, as a source close to the Guthrie family told Fox News that the family did not hire a private investigator.

Fox News' Matt Finn took to X and wrote, "A source close to the Guthrie family tells Fox News that the family did not hire a private investigator. Reports claiming they did are not true."

The buzz started with a local reporter's X post and video on February 11, showing a man who self-identified as a 'private investigator for the family' while speaking to a Sheriff's deputy at Nancy Guthrie's home. 

Moreover, he was seen dropping off security signage. Following this, articles claimed that the family hired help amid frustration with the official investigation. 

However, no family confirmation accompanied these reports, as they stemmed solely from the man's statement and visual evidence.

Savannah Guthrie and her siblings have made public pleas via social media for Nancy's safe return, and expressed willingness to pay ransom and cooperate with captors.

However, searches of recent statements show no mentions of hiring a PI — only calls for public tips and faith in the FBI.