Authorities have identified the battered body of a woman who was found dead near a canal in Phoenix — and it’s not Nancy Guthrie.

The remains were found on Friday, more than 100 miles from Tucson, where the 84-year-old mom of “Today” show star Savannah Guthrie was kidnapped five weeks ago.

The woman has been identified as Alex Fleming, 42, according to KTAR.

A police SUV parked on a dirt road next to a canal with a police officer standing nearby.
Authorities have identified the battered body of a woman who was found dead near a canal in Phoenix.Arizona’s Family
Fleming’s body showed signs of trauma, and she was declared dead at the scene. Her death is being investigated by Phoenix homicide detectives.

The grim discovery briefly sparked questions about whether the victim could be connected to Nancy Guthrie’s kidnapping — but the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, which is leading the search for Nancy, said it had not been alerted that there was any connection to the case.

Guthrie has not been seen or heard from since she is believed to have been kidnapped from her home in the early hours of Feb. 1.

No suspects have been identified 37 days later, despite tens of thousands of tips, doorbell footage of a masked man on her front porch, and assistance from the FBI.

Aerial view of a canal in Phoenix, Arizona, with police vehicles and personnel on the bank.
The remains were found on Friday, more than 100 miles from Tucson, where 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie disappeared.Arizona’s Family
The slow pace of the investigation has frustrated Guthrie’s loved ones, who have offered a $1 million cash reward for information leading to her mother’s safe return or recovery.

A trove of evidence, including traces of blood, has been recovered from Guthrie’s home. However, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos warned it could take up to “a year” to analyze it all, particularly the evidence containing DNA.

 

Most recently, Investigators are looking into a damaged utility box near Guthrie’s home as part of the case.

Several persons of interest were briefly detained during the massive probe but were released within hours. All have insisted they had absolutely nothing to do with the kidnapping.

Police vehicles at a canal where a body was found.
Alex Fleming’s body showed signs of trauma, and she was declared dead at the scene.Arizona’s Family

A canal with water, a gravel path, and a paved walkway alongside, with houses and palm trees in the background under a clear sky.
The grim discovery briefly sparked questions about whether the victim could be connected to Nancy Guthrie’s kidnapping, but the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said it had not been alerted that there was any connection to the case.12News
A series of supposed ransom notes, which supposedly were sent by kidnappers and demanded millions of dollars for Nancy’s return, all expired after their deadlines fruitlessly.

The investigation remains active with some 300 to 400 personnel still assigned to the case, the same as when it was first opened, the sheriff’s office told The Post.

Nanos said last week that investigators “are definitely closer” to finding Guthrie.