As the search for Nancy Guthrie continues well into its fourth month, residents of the Catalina Foothills neighborhood in Tucson, Arizona, are reminded of another high-profile case that rocked the community 40 years ago.
In a new report from KVOA News 4 Tucson, residents reflected on the case of a man the Pima County Sheriff’s Department named “The Prime Time Rapist,” who terrorized women across Tucson from 1983 to 1986, burglarizing their homes and sexually assaulting them.
According to KVOA, the suspect was involved in over 30 home invasions and targeted more than 90 victims. Some of those homes were in the Catalina Foothills neighborhood, where Nancy, the 84-year-old mother of Today‘s Savannah Guthrie, was allegedly abducted by a masked man in the early hours of February 1, 2026.
“It changed people’s lifestyle because children were afraid to sleep in their own bedroom,” former Pima County Sheriff Robbie Mayer told the outlet when speaking about the Prime Time Rapist case. “We ended up with over 4,000 leads… but he terrorized the community. Tucson became fortress Tucson.”
Mayer was the man who eventually cracked the case after tracking down a drug dealer connected to the suspect. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department was led to the home of Brian Larriva, who they say was responsible for the crimes. Larriva died by suicide before he could be arrested.
Many residents don’t like to talk about the case, which is now back in the spotlight amid Nancy’s disappearance. “We’re getting attention for something bad again,” one neighbor said. However, she noted how the community always finds a way to bounce back. “We get closer with each tragedy. We are a close-knit community. Nothing or no case will ever change that.”
As the Nancy investigation has reached 100 days and counting, many have grown frustrated with the lack of updates. However, Mayer, who found Larriva after five months, urged people to have patience and let the detectives do their work.
“It takes a lot of diligence and willpower,” he stated. “Some guys I’ve chased for 18 months before I caught them, one guy I was after for five years, but I think you have to be patient and don’t get discouraged.”
If you or someone you know is the victim of sexual assault, contact the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network‘s National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). If you or a loved one is in immediate danger, call 911.
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