- US NEWS. $100,000 reward offered: FBI seeks public's help in Nancy Guthrie case
- US NEWS. FBI releases new images, sparking speculation in missing Nancy Guthrie case
Tensions are mounting in the investigation into the abduction of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of television journalist Savannah Guthrie, as a dispute between local authorities and federal investigators threatens to slow progress in the case.
According to a U.S. law enforcement official familiar with the matter, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos is blocking the FBI from accessing key physical evidence tied to the presumed kidnapping.
The FBI requested items including a glove and DNA evidence recovered from Nancy Guthrie's home be sent to its national crime laboratory in Quantico, Virginia.
However, Nanos has instead insisted on outsourcing forensic analysis to a private laboratory in Florida.
The decision has effectively denied the FBI access to crucial evidence and, according to the official, is delaying the bureau's ability to assist in the case. The county reportedly has spent approximately $200,000 sending materials to the Florida contractor.
"It risks further slowing a case that grows more urgent by the minute," the official said, citing unspecified "earlier setbacks" in the investigation.
The official also criticized Nanos for not requesting FBI involvement sooner.
"It's clear the fastest path to answers is leveraging federal resources and technology. Anything less only prolongs the Guthrie family's grief and the community's wait for justice," the official added.
Who is in charge of Nancy Guthrie search?
Under jurisdictional rules, the Pima County Sheriff's Department retains primary authority over the investigation. Federal assistance must be formally requested, otherwise the FBI is legally barred from participating.
In a daily press briefing, the sheriff's department stated investigators had "recovered several items of evidence, including gloves," adding that all viable evidence is submitted for analysis.
The case has grown increasingly urgent as the search for Nancy enters its 12th day. She was last seen on January 31, when family members dropped her off at her Tucson-area home after dinner.
Relatives reported her missing the following day. Authorities have emphasized that she had extremely limited mobility and could not have wandered off alone, leading investigators to conclude early on that she was abducted by force.
Traces of blood found on her front porch were later confirmed through DNA testing to belong to Nancy. Law enforcement and family members have described her as being in frail health and dependent on daily medication to survive.
Ransom notes only expand the mystery
Complicating matters further, at least two ransom notes have surfaced since her disappearance. Both were initially delivered to media outlets and included deadlines that have since passed. No proof of life has emerged.
On Wednesday, authorities released doorbell camera footage from Nancy's residence, showing an armed individual wearing a ski mask and gloves attempting to disable the camera around the time she is believed to have been taken.
Investigators are reportedly exploring facial recognition analysis to generate a composite image for comparison against national databases.
Meanwhile, a black latex glove discovered along a roadside is undergoing forensic examination. On Thursday, the FBI doubled its reward to $100,000 for information leading to Nancy's location or the arrest and conviction of those responsible.