FBI officials indicated this week that Nancy Guthrie, who was kidnapped, might be in Mexico, while the sheriff of Pima County, Arizona, stated evidence suggests she was in Tucson. This discrepancy highlights ongoing tensions between local law enforcement and federal authorities. Critics believe this discord is a significant factor in the stalled search for the 84-year-old mother of ‘Today’ show host Savannah Guthrie, who was taken from her home on February 1.
“The FBI should have taken charge from the start,” said Aaron Cross, president of the Pima County Deputies Association, emphasizing that cases of kidnapping fall under federal jurisdiction.
Surveillance footage showed a masked individual at Guthrie’s front door on the night she vanished, and while police haven’t made much progress since releasing that video, Sheriff Chris Nanos remains dedicated to the investigation.
Initial Error
There are allegations that the FBI was not immediately involved, despite the high stakes of this kidnapping. Some also criticized local law enforcement for allowing reporters and others to access the scene without adequate security measures.
“It’s unprofessional,” Cross remarked, lamenting the compromised crime scene.
A camera mounted on the roof was missed early on and was only found later, which raises questions about the thoroughness of the initial investigation.
As of Wednesday, the Pima Sheriff’s Department announced it was analyzing biological evidence discovered at Guthrie’s residence, although efforts to find DNA evidence have been unsuccessful so far.
DNA
Seventeen discarded gloves were collected around Guthrie’s house, with many determined to have been left behind by law enforcement. One glove, found nearby, resembled the black ones seen in surveillance footage of the suspect, but rather than going through the FBI’s lab, it was sent to a facility in Florida. This decision has spurred further friction between the sheriff’s office and the FBI.
The lab chosen, which specializes in forensic genealogy, was costly, but officials believed it presented more investigative leads.
Colleen Fitzpatrick, who has experience with this type of forensic work, mentions that such analysis could help identify the suspect, even by their nationality.
This week, it was revealed that the DNA from the gloves did not match any sample found at Guthrie’s home, nor did it show any connections to known criminals in the FBI’s database. Family members of Guthrie have been cleared of any involvement in her kidnapping.
Ransom Note
Several notes were sent to various news organizations, with requests for ransom in cryptocurrency. However, skepticism surrounds their authenticity as there’s no solid evidence they even still exist.
Experts suggested that requesting payment in cryptocurrencies is rather naive, as those can often be traced back. Moreover, the use of common email services like Gmail could limit traceability.
Evidence Video
After a delay of ten days, crucial footage from a Google Nest camera was recovered, showing a masked suspect interacting with the device prior to Guthrie’s disappearance. The police are investigating this evidence further, as potential leads continue to emerge.
Since there was no subscription for additional storage, the timely retrieval of the footage hinged on a collaborative effort by the FBI and Google.
Pacemaker
The launch of air support units for the search faced delays due to crew unavailability, resulting in large areas of airspace remaining unsearched during crucial early hours of the investigation. Authorities are now using technology to help locate Guthrie’s pacemaker, which stopped communicating with her phone shortly after her kidnapping.
However, the plan has sparked criticism, including from President Trump, regarding the perceived delays in tracking the pacemaker.
Arrest
As of now, there have been no arrests made in this case. Two individuals, Luke Daley and his mother, were briefly held for questioning but later released without charges. Another man, Carlos Palazuelos, was also detained but was released soon after.
Mexico
The motive behind the kidnapping remains unclear. Authorities have discounted robbery as an objective, and some speculate it may have been a personal revenge act. Online speculation hints at a connection to drug cartels due to Tucson’s geographical proximity to the border.
However, experts like Leon Boyer, a former Border Patrol agent, doubt cartel involvement, suggesting that if a kidnapping were indeed tied to them, it typically wouldn’t occur across borders.
Suspect Pool
Information regarding potential suspects is limited to protect the investigation’s integrity. Recently, an Arizona gun store owner revealed that the FBI reached out for information about individuals who may have purchased weapons. Yet, Sheriff Nanos claims the list of suspects has not been narrowed down at all.
A reward of $202,000 is currently being offered for credible information that leads to Guthrie’s safe return.
