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TUCSON, Ariz. – In the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, only one homicide detective from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department possesses more than two years of experience in this role, according to information obtained by Fox News Digital.
Authorities report that Nancy Guthrie, aged 84, was forcibly removed from her Tucson, Arizona home during the early hours of February 1, indicating she did not leave voluntarily, as confirmed by Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos.
Fox News Digital’s sources reveal that within the department’s homicide team, only one detective has held their current position for over two years. While none of the investigators are newcomers to the department, their previous roles remain unspecified.
The extent of the FBI’s future involvement in the case is still uncertain. Over the weekend, they notably revisited Guthrie’s residence to collect cameras as part of their investigation.
Following a press briefing on the investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos was seen passing by a missing persons poster of Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie, who vanished from her Tucson home. (REUTERS/Rebecca Noble)
Law enforcement sources also described a delay in local cooperation with federal investigators in the beginning stages of the investigation, with days going by before federal investigators were let into the fold.
Former FBI agent Jonathan Gilliam told Fox News Digital that the lack of experience of people leading the investigation stems from the sheriff himself.
“If the bulk of detectives that are placed on a high-profile case like this are inexperienced, it points to massive control issues by the sheriff himself,” Gilliam said. “As is apparent from what I’ve seen of this sheriff, he himself should not be in the position he is in, let alone leading a team of investigators in a high pressure, fast moving scenario.”
An undated photo of Nancy Guthrie and Savannah Guthrie was provided by NBC in response to the disappearance of the 84-year-old mother of the “Today” show host. (Courtesy of NBC)
“It’s a disaster for details when details matter the most,” he added.
Notably, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos was spotted at a University of Arizona basketball game on Saturday night, as NBC “Today” host Savanna Guthrie and her two siblings released a plea on Instagram for their mother’s safe return.
The home of Nancy Guthrie, the missing mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie, is seen from above, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in Tucson, Ariz. (Caitlin O’Hara/AP Photo)
The alleged ransom’s final deadline in Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance was Monday at 5 p.m., which has since passed. An FBI spokesperson told Fox News Digital that they were not aware of “any continued communication” between the Guthrie family and the suspected kidnappers.
“For more than a week, FBI agents, analysts, and professional staff have worked around the clock to reunite Nancy Guthrie with her family. The FBI is not aware of any continued communication between the Guthrie family and suspected kidnappers, nor have we identified a suspect or person of interest in this case at this time. Additional personnel from FBI field offices across the nation continue to deploy to Tucson,” the spokesperson said. “We are currently operating a 24-hour command post that includes crisis management experts, analytic support, and investigative teams. But we still need the public’s help. Someone has that one piece of information that can help us bring Nancy home. We need that person to share what they know. Please call us at 1-800-CALL-FBI.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department for comment, but didn’t receive a response.