Nancy Guthrie case takes another twist: Why has the sheriff stopped speaking directly to Nancy Guthrie’s family? here's what you need to know

The search for Nancy Guthrie has now stretched beyond 100 days, and new comments from investigators are raising even more questions about how the case is being handled behind the scenes. While the family continues pleading for answers, communication between them and the local sheriff appears to have changed dramatically.





Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos revealed that he is no longer directly speaking with the Guthrie family, saying the FBI has taken over those conversations as investigators continue sorting through digital evidence, surveillance footage and difficult DNA analysis. Even with growing frustration surrounding the case, officials insist they still believe answers are coming, as per a report by NewsNation.


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Why did communication with the family change?

A major shift has emerged in the investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, with Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos confirming he is no longer directly communicating with the missing woman’s family.

Speaking to People magazine, Nanos explained that the FBI is now handling discussions with Savannah Guthrie and her siblings as the investigation continues behind the scenes.

Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of the Today co-host, disappeared after returning to her Tucson home on Jan. 31. Investigators believe she was abducted sometime late that night or early Feb. 1. More than three months later, no arrests have been made.

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The development immediately sparked questions from observers following the case closely. Jennifer Coffindaffer, a former FBI special agent, questioned the situation during an appearance on “NewsNation Prime.”

“I wonder who cut off the communication — was it the family or was it him?” Coffindaffer said. “I just think this shows a confidence in the family to deal with the FBI and not with the Pima County Sheriff, under the cloud that he, unfortunately, is operating with this investigation.”

Nanos has faced mounting scrutiny over how his office handled the investigation from the beginning. Critics have questioned whether authorities moved quickly enough after Nancy disappeared and whether coordination with the FBI was initially strained.

The sheriff rejected those claims and insisted investigators remain fully committed to solving the case. “My team, I’ve said all along, they’re gonna solve this,” Nanos told People. “I fully 100% believe that.”

Could DNA evidence still solve the case?

According to investigators, one of the biggest focuses remains the enormous amount of evidence collected since Nancy vanished. Nanos said authorities are reviewing thousands of surveillance videos gathered from neighborhood cameras and other digital sources. He also noted that new tips are still arriving regularly, as per a report by NewsNation.

DNA evidence recovered from the scene continues to play a major role in the investigation, even though authorities have acknowledged challenges with the testing process.

“When the labs tell us, ‘Hey, there’s nothing else we can do,’ well, then maybe we’ve got a problem… we’ve got a cold case… but right now, the labs aren’t telling us that,” Nanos said.

The sheriff admitted both the public and the Guthrie family are frustrated by how long the investigation has taken. Still, he argued that investigators must move carefully to avoid mistakes that could hurt the case later.

Some experts have publicly stated they believe it is unlikely Nancy is still alive after blood was discovered at the scene. However, authorities have continued working the investigation aggressively while pursuing every possible lead.

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What did Savannah Guthrie say about her mother?

As investigators continue their work, Savannah Guthrie has remained publicly focused on keeping attention on her mother’s disappearance.

Over Mother’s Day weekend, the Today anchor shared an emotional message on social media asking the public to continue coming forward with information that could help investigators.

“We will never stop looking for you. We will never be at peace until we find you,” Savannah Guthrie wrote.

The family has also increased efforts to generate new leads. Alongside the FBI’s existing $100,000 reward, Nancy Guthrie’s family is now offering an additional $1 million reward for information leading to her recovery.

Even after months without answers, investigators say the case remains active, and officials continue expressing confidence that the evidence could eventually lead to a breakthrough.

FAQs

Why is the sheriff no longer speaking directly with the family?
Chris Nanos said the FBI is now communicating with Savannah Guthrie and her siblings about the investigation.

Is the Nancy Guthrie case still active?
Yes. Investigators say they are still reviewing surveillance videos, DNA evidence and incoming tips.