Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has firmly denied allegations that he is obstructing the FBI's investigation into the suspected kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie, calling such claims "not even close to the truth" in a statement to NBC affiliate KVOA on Thursday. This rebuttal comes in response to a Reuters report quoting an unidentified U.S. law enforcement official who asserted that Nanos's insistence on sending evidence to a crime lab in Florida, rather than the FBI's facility, is slowing down progress in the case.
Evidence Handling Sparks Controversy
The controversy centers on the handling of key evidence, including door-cam images showing an armed, masked individual with gloves at Guthrie's Tucson-area home, and recently discovered gloves in the vicinity that authorities hope are linked to the alleged abduction. Nanos explained to KVOA that he discussed submitting the gloves to the FBI's lab early Thursday but persuaded the agency to instead send all evidence to a Florida lab where comprehensive DNA profiles and markers are maintained.
"Actually the FBI just wanted to send the one or two they found by the crime scene, closest to it – mile, mile and a half," Nanos said. "... I said 'No, why do that? Let's just send them all to where all the DNA exist, all the profiles and the markers exist.' They agreed, makes sense."
Conflicting Perspectives on Investigation Speed
In stark contrast, the anonymous official cited by Reuters argued that leveraging federal resources and technology is the fastest route to resolving the case. "It's clear the fastest path to answers is leveraging federal resources and technology," the person stated. "Anything less only prolongs the Guthrie family's grief and the community's wait for justice."
Despite the disagreement over evidence processing, Nanos provided an update in a separate interview with 13News, noting that authorities have some "good leads" in the investigation, although there are still no signs of Guthrie herself. Nancy Guthrie, the mother of "Today" show host Savannah Guthrie, has been missing since the night of January 31, heightening community concern.
As the investigation continues, HuffPost has reached out to the FBI for comment, while the community showed support with a prayer vigil held at Guthrie's residence on Thursday, as captured in images by Brandon Bell via Getty Images. The case remains active, with law enforcement agencies working to balance strategic evidence handling with the urgent need for answers in this high-profile disappearance.
