Breakthroughs and feuds! This Nancy Guthrie case is reportedly causing a big divide in law enforcement!
According to NewsNation on Thursday, major evidence was found inside the 84-year-old’s home — a glove! OMG!
We know from Nest camera footage that the suspect seen outside her home was wearing gloves, and several have since been found in Arizona. One glove was picked up by the FBI on the side of the road, as seen by the New York Post. There are reports of at least one other (possibly a pair) having been found, as well. They’ve been sent off for testing. And while those are certainly potentially helpful, finding a glove inside the crime scene is especially important!
Related: FBI Reveals New Suspect Description & Doubles Reward For Information
But despite the discovery of this major evidence, the FBI now claims they’ve been shut out from key aspects of the investigation. An FBI official told the outlet that the Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos is blocking federal agents from accessing key evidence — making it difficult for them to help. Harrowingly, the insider said “basically all the evidence” in the case so far is being restricted from them. Jeez.
Apparently, rather than utilize the FBI’s labs in Quantico, Virginia, for testing, Nanos’ team has sent the evidence to a private lab in Florida. The source claimed the FBI will now have to do its own testing after the evidence gets back from Florida, which will obviously slow the process down. They complained:
“We had to ask them to help, they didn’t ask us.”
They added that “this is dumb” and “it’s insane.” Jeez. This is not at all what you want to hear already 13 days into this investigation. A beloved mother’s life is on the line — you’d hope the authorities could let go of egos and power moves and just work together for the better good!
It comes as the Sheriff has come under fire for reportedly making mistakes in the early days of the case, as even local investigators have expressed concerns over how the case has allegedly been mishandled. Plus, nobody working the case knows who is in charge between the Sheriff’s Department or FBI, the outlet learned. Not good!
A US law enforcement official with knowledge of the case also doubled down on all this with Reuters, alleging the FBI asked the Sheriff for physical evidence (including a glove and DNA from the home) but that he refused to use their testing facilities. In doing so, he’s reportedly spent around $200,000 so far to send evidence to the Florida lab.
Acknowledging “earlier setbacks” in the case, the official told the outlet:
“It risks further slowing a case that grows more urgent by the minute.”
The Sheriff has primary jurisdiction over the case and the FBI may be formally requested, but they can’t just take over. So, they’re kinda stuck… and they weren’t brought in as soon as many think was necessary. The source blasted Nanos:
“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.”
Despite declining to give personal interviews or do a press conference for days, Chris Nanos came out of the shadows to defend himself against these new reports.
Speaking to KOLD‘s Mary Coleman, one of the local outlets that has received the alleged ransom notes, Nanos argued these reports aren’t true. As for why he’s not using Quantico? He wants all evidence to be submitted to the same lab, which he revealed is DNA Labs International.
He also revealed that during a meeting with the FBI on Thursday, one of the agents told him:
“We do not want the media to divide us.”
He sadly confirmed there is still no sign of Savannah Guthrie‘s mother, but they have “good leads.”
Reiterating this to KVOA, he said the reports are “not even close to the truth” and highlighted his department’s longstanding partnership with the FBI (though, as resurfaced footage would reveal, it hasn’t always been a very loving partnership).
The Sheriff’s Department has reportedly worked with the Florida-based lab for years, and it’s currently analyzing DNA samples from the scene and those given on a voluntary pro bono basis.
Addressing his Thursday meeting with the FBI, in which they talked about the recently discovered gloves, he dished:
“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 . . . 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.”
He didn’t specify exactly how many gloves have been recovered, but said there were “quite a number of them,” pointing out gloves were found in an expansive search effort. The locations spanned from Oracle Road to as far Craycroft Road, and they don’t know yet “the true value of these gloves.”
He insisted everything is being discussed with the FBI and that the main priority is finding Nancy:
“When this is all done with, offer your critiques all you want, but right now we have work to do.”
It’s certainly inneresting how he’s refused to speak to the public, even amid some pretty shocking twists and turns in the case, and yet the second his reputation is on the line, he starts talking. Just saying.
We sincerely hope the teams are working together. The Guthrie family deserves them to be at their best!
The FBI has offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of Nancy Guthrie, and/or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance. Authorities have encouraged anyone with information or tips to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI, 88-CRIME or tips.fbi.gov. You can also contact the Pima County Sheriff’s office by calling 520-351-4900 or submitting a tip HERE.
