Sheriff Faces Recall Over Nancy Guthrie Abduction Case as Investigator Admits She's Likely Dead
The sheriff overseeing the investigation into the abduction of Nancy Guthrie is confronting the possibility of being removed from office, while an investigator within his department has disclosed to the Daily Mail that they now believe the elderly woman is probably dead.
Investigator's Dismal Outlook
An investigator involved in the case revealed that they reluctantly accepted this grim conclusion more than six weeks after Nancy Guthrie was abducted from her $1 million home in Tucson, Arizona. 'Is she alive? I think that's very unlikely,' a source close to the probe stated somberly. 'Everybody is coming to grips with that. She's elderly, had health problems and to survive in captivity for so long... we obviously don't know for sure, but it would be a miracle.'
This marks the first time anyone has publicly shared the internal perspective of the investigation, although Savannah Guthrie, co-host of NBC Today and Nancy's daughter, acknowledged the possibility of her mother's death in a heart-wrenching social media video 24 days into the search.
Recall Effort Against Sheriff Chris Nanos
Meanwhile, Republican congressional candidate Daniel Butierez has confirmed to the New York Post that he has initiated the recall process to remove Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos from office. Butierez stated he has 500 volunteers working to collect at least 120,000 signatures on a petition to fire the sheriff, which represents the initial step in a lengthy recall procedure.
'He has been an embarrassment to Tucson and to Pima County with this Nancy Guthrie case,' Butierez told the outlet. He added that Pima County deputies had wanted to begin the recall process themselves but feared retaliation from Nanos, and that police in the county had recently issued a unanimous vote of no confidence in the sheriff.
Investigation Challenges and Tensions
Nancy Guthrie was snatched from her house in the affluent Catalina Foothills area of Tucson in the early hours of Sunday, February 1. Since then, her family has endured continuous heartbreak amid an initially extensive but ultimately fruitless search conducted by the Pima County Sheriff's Department and the FBI.
Sheriff Nanos has faced criticism from the outset for his handling of the case, with sources accusing him of 'locking down' the probe and creating tensions between his team and federal agents. He allegedly kept key decisions to himself and a small inner circle, sidelining less experienced investigators.
In a significant development, four Pima County detectives are now working directly from the Tucson FBI building, a move welcomed by officers frustrated with Nanos's approach. 'This case had been at a standstill,' said a department source. 'And while Nanos still has overall control, now he is not as involved in the day-to-day things. This is good. There will be less meddling from command staff.'
Forensic Hopes and Public Fear
Investigators are relying on DNA analysis from samples taken at Nancy's home to identify the armed and masked man captured on porch surveillance video during the abduction. 'They're absolutely counting on that,' the source explained. 'But it's taking time because there was such a mix of DNA. The lab in Florida is trying to accelerate technology they were due to roll out next year to unravel it faster.'
With the abductor still at large, fear persists among elderly residents in the Tucson area. Nanos has suggested Nancy was targeted but warned the kidnapper could strike again. The source cautioned: 'This guy is emboldened. We've thrown everything at him, and we haven't caught him yet. He's probably watching the news and thinking they're not even close. He is a very careful suspect who did not appear to leave a huge footprint.'
Ransom Letters and Family Anguish
The $6 million Bitcoin ransom demand letters that subjected the Guthrie family to additional turmoil with two cruel deadlines are now largely being discounted. 'The general view now is that these were fakes, people just trying to get some money out of the situation,' said the source, noting that scammers could have gathered information from Nancy's social media presence.
Savannah Guthrie announced a $1 million reward for her mother's return in a February 24 video, fighting tears as she said: 'We still believe in a miracle. We still believe that she can come home.' She also confronted the possibility of her mother's death, adding: 'We also know that she may be lost, she may already be gone. But we need to know where she is.'
Recall Process and Investigation Criticism
For Nanos to be removed, Butierez has 120 days to collect approximately 120,000 signatures, equivalent to 25 percent of ballots cast in the 2024 Pima County sheriff election. The congressional candidate expressed confidence in reaching this target, aiming for around 135,000 signatures. If successful, the Pima County Recorder would have 60 days to verify signatures against voter records, after which Nanos would have five days to decide whether to resign or request a Special Recall Election.
Nanos has faced criticism for multiple aspects of the investigation, including:
- Allowing potential contamination of evidence at the crime scene
- Delaying the deployment of search-and-rescue aircraft in the initial hours
- Maintaining tight control over the investigation while sidelining investigators
The sheriff's department tipline, which initially received up to 4,000 calls daily, now handles only about two dozen calls per day with just two staff members manning the phones. As the investigation continues with limited breakthroughs, the recall effort against Sheriff Nanos gains momentum while the Guthrie family awaits answers about Nancy's fate.
