Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos publicly rejected accusations that his office is hindering the FBI’s investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, mother of television personality Savannah Guthrie. The dispute centers on where key evidence—specifically, gloves found near Guthrie’s Tucson-area home—should be analyzed.
Conflicting Accounts Emerge
An anonymous U.S. law enforcement official, speaking to Reuters, claimed that Sheriff Nanos deliberately delayed the investigation by insisting on sending the evidence to a Florida crime lab instead of an FBI facility. This decision, according to the official, is slowing down the search for Guthrie, who was last seen on January 31. The anonymous source stated that utilizing federal resources would be “the fastest path to answers.”
Sheriff Nanos countered these claims in an interview with NBC affiliate KVOA. He asserted that he spoke with the FBI on Thursday and convinced them to send all recovered gloves to the Florida lab, where existing DNA profiles and markers would streamline analysis. Nanos argued that the FBI initially only wanted to submit gloves found closest to the crime scene, but he persuaded them to broaden the scope.
Evidence and Leads
Door-cam footage from Guthrie’s home shows an armed, masked individual wearing gloves. The discovery of additional gloves in the area has given authorities a potential lead in the alleged abduction. Nanos told 13News that investigators have “good leads” but still have no confirmed sign of Guthrie.
Why This Matters
The conflict between the Sheriff’s office and federal investigators highlights a common issue in high-profile cases: jurisdiction and control over evidence. The FBI, with its extensive national database, typically prioritizes centralized analysis. Local authorities may have different protocols or seek to maintain control over investigations. The delay in processing evidence could have significant consequences for the investigation’s timeline and the family’s hope for a swift resolution.
The case remains open, and the disagreement over evidence handling underscores the urgency of finding Nancy Guthrie and resolving the uncertainty surrounding her disappearance.
