The Arizona sheriff investigating the abduction of NBC Today show host Savannah Guthrie's mother has denied accusations that he withheld crucial forensic evidence from the FBI. Chris Nanos, Pima county sheriff, pushed back on Friday as the search for 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie neared two weeks.
An unnamed FBI source told Reuters that Nanos bypassed federal analysts by sending DNA evidence and gloves to a private lab in Florida. The source said this risked slowing the case. However, Nanos told Tucson NBC affiliate KVOA that multiple gloves were found and he sent them to the same facility already examining other evidence to expedite the inquiry. He said the FBI agreed to this approach.
The sheriff's office confirmed that DNA not belonging to Nancy Guthrie or close contacts was collected at the scene, but did not disclose its location. Splashes of blood on the front porch were identified as matching Guthrie. The suspect, captured on doorbell camera, remains at large. He is described as average build, around 5ft 9in to 5ft 10in, carrying a black Ozark Trail backpack.
The FBI increased the reward to $100,000. Over 4,000 tips have been received in 24 hours since the suspect's images were released. Investigators have also requested video footage from a 2-mile radius around the Guthrie home from January 1 to February 2. Uncorroborated ransom notes demanding cryptocurrency have been sent to media outlets.
Savannah Guthrie has posted appeals for help, stating the family will never give up. The case has drawn widespread attention as the search continues.
