Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, who is spearheading the search for Savanna Guthrie’s mother, Nancy, is denying reports that he is withholding evidence from the FBI in the high-profile case.
Speaking to NBC affiliate KVOA on Thursday, February 12, Nanos called the allegations “not even close to the truth.”
He was responding to a report by Reuters about Nanos’ handling of the gloves that were discovered in the area surrounding the crime scene earlier that day. Rather than send the evidence to the FBI’s lab at Quantico and use its database, an unnamed source within the Bureau alleged to the outlet, Nanos insisted on sending it to a private lab in Florida.
In his interview, Nanos admitted that the evidence indeed went to a private lab in Florida that he says the Sheriff’s Department has used for years and is handling the case pro bono. However, the decision to do that was done in conjunction with the FBI, who he alleges agreed with the decision.
“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.” Nanos said.
“When this is all done with, offer your critiques all you want,” he added, “but right now we have work to do.”
Nancy, 84, was reported missing on Sunday, February 1. She was last seen at her home in Catalina Foothills, Arizona, that Saturday night.
The Today host, 54, has made several appearances on social media alongside her siblings, pleading for her mom’s safe return as well as asking the public’s assistance.
The case has continued to develop over the last two weeks. On February 10, the FBI released video from the home showing a masked man tampering with the home’s doorbell camera wearing gloves similar to the ones found nearby.
The FBI has encouraged anyone with information about the crime to call their tip line at 1-800-225-5324.
