Investigation into Arizona Grandmother's Kidnapping Stalls Amid Jurisdictional Disputes

Police say 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie was taken from her Tucson home on the night of Jan. 31 and has not been located. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI are conducting a joint investigation, but no suspects have been identified and no ransom has been paid.

Two handwritten notes received after the kidnapping demanded a large bitcoin payment and later claimed the victim had died. The Guthrie family believes the notes are authentic. Crime-scene analyst Ribacoff said the lack of a ransom payment likely limited leads such as IP or telephone records, causing the investigation to lose momentum quickly.

Law-enforcement consultant David Smith highlighted the area's rugged terrain, noting that the Catalina Foothills’ steep mountains and dry arroyos provide ample hiding places and can obscure surveillance footage. He added that the region’s proximity to the U.S.–Mexico border and high rates of homelessness, crime, and drug use further complicate police work.

Jurisdictional friction has also been reported. Sheriff Chris Nanos said the FBI was involved from the night of the kidnapping, while FBI Director Kash Patel claimed the agency was excluded for four days and that local officials rejected offers to send DNA evidence to the FBI lab in Quantico. Nanos responded that evidence processing decisions were made on site and that the county lab has cooperated with the FBI.

Critics, including retired NYPD sergeant Joseph Giacalone, have questioned the early release of the crime scene, arguing that the property should have remained sealed to preserve evidence. Nanos later acknowledged that the scene could have been held longer.

The case has drawn national attention, and Savannah Guthrie, the victim’s daughter and a prominent news anchor, has renewed appeals for information, offering a $1 million reward for tips.