🚨 SHOCKING TWIST in the Nancy Guthrie abduction: Is the local sheriff SABOTAGING the FBI’s hunt for Savannah Guthrie’s missing 84-year-old mom? 🚨

According to explosive Reuters reporting, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos is straight-up BLOCKING the FBI from accessing critical evidence—like a mysterious glove and DNA from the crime scene—refusing to let it go to the FBI’s top lab in Quantico. Instead, he’s shipping it to a private Florida lab… delaying everything while Nancy remains missing after 12+ agonizing days.

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A major rift has emerged between the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI in the ongoing investigation into the abduction of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, the mother of NBC “Today” show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, according to sources familiar with the case.

Reuters reported exclusively on February 12, 2026, that Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has denied the FBI access to key physical evidence, including a glove recovered from inside or near Nancy Guthrie’s home and DNA samples collected from the residence in the Catalina Foothills area of Tucson. The FBI had requested that the items be processed at its national crime laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, but the sheriff has opted instead to send them to a private forensic lab in Florida, a move that a U.S. law enforcement official described as impairing the bureau’s ability to assist in the probe.

The development comes as the search for Nancy Guthrie enters its second week, with no confirmed sightings of the elderly woman since she was last seen at her home on January 31, 2026. She was reported missing on February 1, prompting a massive response from local authorities and federal agents.

Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance has gripped national attention due to her daughter’s prominence as a television journalist. Savannah Guthrie has remained largely silent publicly but has been in contact with investigators, according to reports. The case has generated thousands of tips to both the Pima County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI, with the federal reward for information leading to her location or an arrest increased to $100,000 from $50,000 on February 12.

Investigators released chilling doorbell camera footage from a Google Nest device at Guthrie’s home, showing a masked individual—described as a male approximately 5’9″ to 5’10” tall with an average build—approaching the front door wearing a ski mask, gloves, and carrying a backpack. The figure appears to tamper with the camera, and authorities believe the person was armed based on visible details like a holster. The footage, recovered from discarded digital data, marked a significant break in the case when made public earlier this month.

Additional evidence has included gloves found discarded along roadways near the home, which the sheriff’s department said are being analyzed. Deputies and FBI agents have conducted searches in remote areas, including a court-authorized operation in Rio Rico, Arizona, about 60 miles south of Tucson near the Mexico border. A person of interest was briefly detained following a traffic stop but was released without charges.

Sheriff Nanos has maintained that his department holds primary jurisdiction over the case, as no federal crimes such as interstate kidnapping have been confirmed. Under U.S. law, the FBI generally requires a formal request from local authorities to take a lead role in purely local matters. Sources indicated that the sheriff’s office did not initially seek FBI assistance; instead, federal agents reached out and have been involved on a limited basis.

In response to the Reuters report, Sheriff Nanos disputed claims of blocking evidence. Speaking to local media outlet KOLD 13 News, he stated there has been no intentional withholding and that the decision to use DNA Labs International in Florida was to ensure consistency—all evidence submitted to the same facility for analysis. The county has reportedly spent around $200,000 on outsourcing forensic work in this case.

Critics, including unnamed law enforcement officials cited in multiple outlets, have questioned the sheriff’s approach from the outset. Reports suggest early handling of the crime scene at Guthrie’s home may have been premature, potentially complicating evidence collection. The sheriff’s office has faced scrutiny over media management, with some accusing it of withholding key details while emphasizing that investigators believe Nancy Guthrie is still alive and “out there.”

The FBI, meanwhile, has ramped up efforts independently where possible, releasing updated suspect descriptions, photos of the backpack, and urging the public to submit any video footage from a 2-mile radius around the home between January 1 and February 2. Alerts via apps like Ring’s Neighbors have sought footage of unusual vehicles, pedestrians, or activity.

The apparent friction highlights longstanding tensions that can arise in high-profile cases between local agencies protective of their jurisdiction and federal resources offering advanced forensic capabilities. Quantico’s lab is renowned for handling complex DNA and trace evidence in major investigations, often providing faster or more specialized results than private contractors.

As of February 13, 2026, Nancy Guthrie remains missing, with hundreds of detectives and agents assigned to the expanding search across Pima County. Authorities continue to follow leads, comb desert highways, vacant lots, and remote dwellings. The public has flooded tip lines, but no arrests have been made, and no ransom demands have been publicly confirmed despite earlier speculation.

Family members and supporters have expressed growing frustration as days pass without resolution. Savannah Guthrie’s high visibility has amplified calls for transparency and swift action, with some questioning whether inter-agency disputes are slowing progress in a time-sensitive kidnapping investigation.

Sheriff Nanos has repeatedly stated that the department is committed to finding Nancy Guthrie and has urged patience as forensic results are awaited. “We are pursuing every lead,” he has said in prior briefings.

For now, the case remains unsolved, with the spotlight intensifying on how local and federal authorities navigate their roles. As evidence analysis proceeds—albeit through the chosen Florida lab—the hope remains that scientific breakthroughs or a crucial public tip will bring Nancy Guthrie home safely.