A leader within the Pima County Deputies Organization has publicly faulted the Pima County Sheriff's Department for how the Nancy Guthrie homicide probe was staffed. Sergeant Aaron Cross, the union president, told TMZ that many detectives assigned to the case lacked sufficient experience for such an investigation.
Cross said the detective serving as lead sergeant had moved quickly from patrol into homicide and did not have prior experience in that unit. He told TMZ that most detectives on the case had three years or less of experience, a staffing level he described as almost unheard of under previous leadership.
Cross placed responsibility for those assignments on Sheriff Chris Nanos and called what he viewed as the investigation's biggest misstep the decision to release the crime scene back to the Guthrie family the day after she disappeared. He said there was no reason for that action.
Despite his criticism, Cross credited federal investigators for recovering key Ring camera footage. He also said friction has existed between the sheriff's department and the FBI throughout the inquiry.
Case Status Reactions And Family Context
Nancy Guthrie, 84, the mother of "Today" co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, was last seen at her Catalina Foothills home and was reported missing after she failed to appear for a Sunday church livestream. The case remains an active homicide investigation and no suspect has been publicly named.
Authorities have offered a reward of one million dollars in connection with the case. The Guthrie family has publicly leaned on faith and asked the public to keep Nancy Guthrie in prayer as the search continues.
Cross's comments were published by TMZ and add to scrutiny of local handling of the investigation. Federal involvement and recovered camera footage have been cited as key developments, while internal disagreement between agencies appears to be a continuing challenge.
