Dispute Over Evidence in Nancy Guthrie Abduction Case

On Friday, tension emerged between local and federal law enforcement regarding the investigation of the abduction of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos is now facing allegations of obstructing the FBI’s access to key evidence.

The search for Nancy, who is the mother of NBC “Today” show anchor Savannah Guthrie, entered its 13th day. There’s growing concern that disagreements over forensic procedures may be hindering the investigation into a masked kidnapper.

Federal law enforcement sources, as reported by Reuters, claim Sheriff Nanos refused to hand over essential physical evidence. This includes a black latex glove and DNA samples found at Nancy’s home, which the FBI needed for its national crime laboratory in Quantico, Virginia.

While the FBI’s Evidence Response Team found the black glove near the Guthrie residence on Wednesday, protocol dictated that they needed to give it to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, the primary agency. This led to inquiries about why the FBI lost control over evidence they had collected.

Sources clarified that the FBI acted under a “Joint Support” agreement, functioning as an extra resource for the local sheriff. Consequently, all items gathered by federal agents were meant to be transferred to the Pima County Evidence Custodian.

Instead of sending the materials to the FBI, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department opted for a private lab in Florida for analysis.

This decision frustrated federal officials, who believe it could delay progress in a case that is becoming increasingly critical.

• Cost: It’s reported that Pima County has spent around $200,000 on fees for the private lab.

• Speed: Federal sources argue that the FBI’s advanced capabilities and access to national databases would expedite the identification of the suspect.

• Jurisdiction: Sheriff Nanos maintains primary jurisdiction because the abduction happened in Pima County, meaning the FBI can only take charge if invited by local authorities.

In a morning interview with Tucson NBC affiliate KVOA, Sheriff Nanos dismissed the accusations of “blocking” as a misunderstanding of how investigations work.

“The FBI just wanted to send one or two they found by the crime scene… I said, ‘No, why do that? Let’s send them all to where all the DNA exists, all the profiles and markers,'” Nanos stated.

The Sheriff defended his decision by suggesting that keeping evidence together in the Florida lab, where initial samples were already being processed, would ensure consistent comparison of markers and profiles.

Despite these procedural disagreements, the search for Nancy continues, with no suspects or leads identified so far. Recently, the FBI released new doorbell camera footage showing an armed person in a ski mask tampering with the home’s security system.

This case has garnered national attention, with the White House confirming that President Trump is closely watching the developments. For Nancy’s family, the ongoing disputes only add to the stress and worry of the situation.

As of Friday afternoon, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department is still heading the search in the Catalina Foothills, while FBI teams remain on-site in a supporting role.

Authorities are also examining at least two ransom notes, one of which demands $6 million in Bitcoin. However, there has been no “proof of life” since Nancy disappeared on January 31, raising doubts about the authenticity of the ransom requests.

The FBI has increased its reward to $100,000 for information leading to Nancy’s recovery or for the arrest of those involved.