The investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today co-host Savannah Guthrie, is facing renewed scrutiny after a local law enforcement union leader raised concerns about how the case was handled during its earliest stages.
Sgt. Aaron Cross, president of the Pima County Deputies Organization, discussed the investigation in an interview with TMZ and outlined several issues he believes may have complicated the search for Guthrie and the investigation into her reported kidnapping.
Cross was not directly involved in the investigation. However, as president of the union representing Pima County sheriff’s deputies, he said he became familiar with aspects of the case and expressed concerns about decisions made during the initial response.
Nancy Guthrie Disappearance
Nancy Guthrie disappeared from her home in Tucson, Arizona, in the early morning hours of February 1. Authorities believe she was abducted by a masked individual whose image was captured by a doorbell camera at the residence.
Her family had last seen her the previous day.
The disappearance quickly became a major investigation, with local and federal authorities working to determine what happened to the 84-year-old woman.
A ransom note believed to have been written by the person responsible for her disappearance also became part of the investigation. According to reports, the note claimed that Guthrie had died from health complications after the alleged abduction.
Despite the notes and other evidence collected during the investigation, authorities have not publicly announced a definitive resolution to the case.
Concerns About Investigators’ Experience
One of Cross’s major concerns involved the level of homicide experience among some of the detectives assigned to the investigation.
According to Cross, the local sergeant initially placed in charge of the case had limited homicide experience and had only become a sergeant in 2023.
Cross said the two most senior homicide detectives had recently transferred out of the division, leaving investigators with considerably less experience handling a complex case of this nature.
While the detectives assigned to the investigation had homicide experience, Cross characterized their experience as limited, saying some had three years or less working homicide cases.
He described the situation as unusual for such a complicated investigation.
Questions Over Crime Scene Control
Cross also raised concerns about the decision to relinquish control of Guthrie’s home to her family relatively early in the investigation.
He argued that investigators should maintain control of a potential crime scene for as long as necessary to ensure evidence is properly documented and preserved.
The handling of a crime scene can be especially important in a kidnapping investigation, where seemingly minor pieces of evidence may later become significant.
Cross believes the decision to return control of the residence to the family too quickly may have affected the investigation, although authorities have not publicly confirmed that any evidence was lost or compromised.
Friction Between Local Authorities and FBI
Another issue raised by Cross was what he described as animosity toward the FBI within the local sheriff’s office.
The FBI became involved in the investigation because of the seriousness and circumstances of Guthrie’s disappearance.
Despite the reported tension, Cross credited federal investigators with uncovering important door-camera footage from Guthrie’s home.
He described that footage as one of the strongest pieces of evidence in the case because it captured an image of the person authorities believe may have been involved in Guthrie’s disappearance.
Investigation Remains Unresolved
More than six months after Guthrie disappeared, the circumstances surrounding her whereabouts remain unresolved.
Authorities have not publicly identified a confirmed suspect or announced that Guthrie has been located.
Cross said he was not aware of significant new progress in the case, while acknowledging that he does not necessarily have access to all investigative information.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Office has not publicly confirmed Cross’s criticisms, and allegations concerning mistakes or shortcomings in the investigation should not be treated as established findings.
Nancy Guthrie Case Continues
The disappearance has received significant national attention because of Guthrie’s connection to her daughter, Savannah Guthrie, who has publicly appealed for information and pleaded for her mother’s safe return.
For Nancy Guthrie’s family, the uncertainty surrounding her disappearance has continued to be an extraordinarily painful ordeal.
The investigation remains active, and authorities could release additional information as new evidence is reviewed or additional leads emerge.
For now, the questions raised by Cross add another layer of scrutiny to a case that has already attracted widespread public attention.
Nancy Guthrie remains missing, and the circumstances surrounding her disappearance have not been fully resolved. Authorities continue to face pressure to determine what happened to the 84-year-old grandmother and to provide answers to her family and the public.