Sheriff marks 6 months since Nancy Guthrie went missing with statement
by Joe Fisher · UPIJuly 30 (UPI) -- Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos released a statement Thursday marking six months since the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of Today Show host Savannah Guthrie.
The Pima County Sheriff's Department said in a social media post accompanying the statement that the investigation remains active and ongoing.
"A task force of investigators from the Pima County Sheriff's Department and the FBI remains committed to finding Nancy and providing answers to her family," Nanos wrote. "The analysis of DNA and digital evidence has been underway for the past six months. This work is complex and time-intensive, but investigators continue to pursue every credible lead."
In an interview on the YouTube channel The Sharpe Exchange, Nanos said he believes "every day we're closer" to identifying a suspect or suspects.
"The question was asked of me 'Is this case cold?' It is not cold," Nanos said. "We have a lot of evidence that -- our scientific labs are working. There is video evidence that we continue to work with. Of course there's literally thousands of tips that come in."
Nanos also responded to a comment made by FBI Director Kash Patel that the Pima County Sheriff's Department delayed informing the FBI of Guthrie's disappearance.
"I think he's just misinformed and doesn't understand that -- actually the afternoon when we first learned of it our detectives were called in after our search and rescue team recognized what they had, contacted investigative teams, they immediately contacted the violent crime task force and their representatives were there," Nanos said.
"They processed that scene early the next day. Within hours of that scene processing I held a press conference. So the concept or the representation that the FBI was held off and 'Boy, we wished we'd have been there early on,' that's just not even accurate. They were there day one just as my team was."
On Saturday, it will be six months since Guthrie, 84, disappeared from her home in southern Arizona. She was last seen on the evening of Jan. 31 when she was dropped off at her home in the unincorporated community of Catalina Foothills.
On Feb. 1, Guthrie's family reported her missing after she did not attend church.
Several media outlets report receiving ransom notes related to Guthrie's disappearance.
"As Savannah Guthrie recently said, it is never too late to do the right thing," Nanos' statement reads. "Anyone with information is urged to come forward and help bring this case to a resolution."
Investigators are urging anyone with credible information that may assist in the investigation to call 1-800-CALL-FBI or 88-CRIME. Calls to 88-CRIME may remain anonymous.