The sheriff investigating the case of missing Nancy Guthrie has spoken of his "faith and hope" that the search will be successful, as it enters its third week.
Chris Nanos, Pima County sheriff, believes the 84-year-old is still alive.
He told Fox10: “People ask, ‘do you have proof of life?’ I ask, 'do you have proof of death?'”
“We’re going to go with faith and hope,” Nanos added.
Guthrie was last seen on the evening of 31st January, reported missing when she did not attend a church service the next day.
It comes as no DNA matches were found on a glove found two miles away from Guthrie’s home in Tucson, Arizona. Police believe the glove matched the one worn by a mask suspect, captured on a doorbell in the early hours of 1st February.
Her daughter, TV anchor Savannah, issued a plea on Monday to those involved in her disappearance, telling them “it is never too late to do the right thing”.
Sheriff Nanos described the Guthrie family as “victims plain and simple”, during an update where he dispelled “cruel” rumours that they were being treated as suspects.
The pastor of Guthrie’s church has called on the congregation to “keep praying through this horrific ordeal”.