Investigators have addressed a troubling development at Savannah Guthrie’s mother’s house after service dogs alerted officers to a strong odor coming from a bathroom toilet drain, briefly raising fears of a far more serious discovery.
But according to officials familiar with the inspection, the source of the smell does not appear to be evidence of harm or foul play.
So what was it?
Plumbing specialists brought in after the alert determined that the odor was consistent with a drain that had gone unused for an extended period of time. When water sits stagnant—or evaporates entirely from the trap—gases from the sewer system can rise back into the home, creating a powerful and unpleasant smell.
Does this suggest the house had been empty longer than expected?
Could it indicate a disruption to normal daily routines before the disappearance?
Investigators say the finding is still relevant, not because of what it directly reveals, but because of what it may imply about timing. If parts of the home had not been used for days, it could help narrow down when the house was last occupied in a normal way.
Family members were informed of the results and expressed relief that the odor was not linked to something more tragic, though the unanswered questions remain. “Even small details matter now,” a source close to the family said. “They’re trying to understand every quiet sign that was missed.”
Police emphasized that while the discovery is no longer considered alarming on its own, it will be documented as part of the broader timeline analysis.
In a case filled with uncertainty, even something as ordinary as an unused drain raises a lingering question:
When was the last time life inside that house felt normal?
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