The investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Savannah Guthrie, remains active 100 days after she vanished from her Arizona home, with local authorities and the FBI continuing to search for DNA, digital and forensic clues.
In an interview with local station KOLD-TV, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said investigators believe they have made progress in the case despite growing public frustration over the lack of arrests.
“They’re working hard to get it resolved, and I think they’re getting closer every day,” Nanos said in an interview published May 12.
Nancy Guthrie disappeared in January
Nancy Guthrie was last seen Jan. 31 in her Catalina Foothills neighborhood north of Tucson, Arizona, before what investigators say may have been a kidnapping.
In the days immediately following her disappearance, the area around her home attracted a lot of media attention and extensive law enforcement activity.
Now, 100 days later, much of the public activity has faded, leaving only a memorial near the property as a visible reminder of the still-unsolved case.
FBI involved ‘from day one’
Nanos emphasized that the FBI remained deeply involved in the investigation from the beginning.
“On day one, the FBI got involved in this case,” he said. “And they continue this case. Every day.”
According to the sheriff, investigators are also receiving assistance from the Arizona Department of Public Safety as well as several forensic labs across the United States.
“We continue to work with our labs,” Nanos said. “Whether it’s on the digital end or the biological end, DNA.
DNA analysis is slow
A major part of the investigation continues to focus on forensic tests conducted inside Guthrie’s home.
“It’s moving at a snail’s pace, I think for some,” Nanos said. “But for my investigative team and myself, the way we look at it is, no, this does exactly what we need it to do.
The sheriff said investigators are focused on making sure the evidence is handled properly to avoid mistakes that could jeopardize any future prosecutions.
“I believe at some point we will make an arrest on this case,” he said. “And whoever it is, they will have the right to a fair and impartial trial.”
Authorities insist the case is not cold
Despite going 100 days without a breakthrough, Nanos rejected suggestions that the investigation had stalled.
“There’s too much work to be done that’s still going on with some of the physical evidence we have,” he said. “And we’re not going to give up just because it’s been 100 days.
The sheriff also confirmed that investigators are deliberately withholding some information from the public.
“Yes, there definitely are,” Nanos said when asked if the authorities were hiding details. “But we’re not doing it because we have to keep it secret. We’re doing it because we have to protect our case.”
The FBI director criticized the local handling of the investigation
The case also became politically contentious.
FBI Director Kash Patel criticized local authorities’ handling of the investigation during a May 5 appearance on “Hang Out with Sean Hannity.”
Patel claimed the sheriff’s department initially tried to “keep (the FBI) out” of the investigation during its early days.
At the May 12 County Board meeting, Democratic Supervisor Matt Heinz and Republican Supervisor Steve Christy reportedly criticized Nanos for handling the case.
“It’s really no wonder why we’re having such a terrible, terrible time trying to solve this very tragic case, and it really rests squarely on the shoulders of the sheriff,” Christy said.
Footage of the bell was released
On February 10, the FBI released doorbell camera footage showing the suspect outside Guthrie’s home the night she disappeared.
Authorities described the suspect as a man approximately 5-foot-9 to 5-foot-10 with an average build.
Investigators later found a pair of black gloves believed to be similar to those worn by the individual seen in the video.
However, neither the gloves nor the DNA collected at the property matched profiles in the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), according to the sheriff’s department.
More than $1.2 million in rewards offered
Authorities say they have received tens of thousands of tips since the investigation began, but continue to urge the public to come forward with more information.
“We need you to call us,” Nanos said. “We know someone out there knows what happened here.
The total reward for information leading to Nancy Guthrie or those responsible for her disappearance now exceeds $1.2 million.
Anyone with information should contact Pima County detectives at 520-359-4900 or the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Read also | Nancy Guthrie Update: Former FBI Profiler Reveals Suspect May Have Made ‘Mistake’
