Handling of Guthrie case draws scrutiny

Criticism of how the sheriff's department is conducting abduction investigation mounts.

- BY RICHARD WINTON AND HANNAH FRY

BRANDON BELL Getty Images A PERSON pauses before a collection of bouquets at the entrance to Nancy Guthrie's residence last week.

Nancy Guthrie had been missing less than three days when family members and reporters, and even an Amazon delivery worker, could be seen wandering onto her property, with drops of her blood still staining the front entryway.

It's been nearly two weeks since the 84-year-old mother of “Today” host Savannah Guthrie was abducted. With no suspects in custody as of Saturday, scrutiny is growing over how authorities have handled the case.

Some questions have focused on Pima County (Ariz.) Sheriff Chris Nanos and his department, which was the first to respond when Guthrie was reported missing from her Tucson home Feb. 1. Since then, Nanos has been the leading law enforcement communicator on the investigation, including after reports emerged of ransom notes demanding millions of dollars in cryptocurrency for Guthrie's return.

The global spotlight is now on him.

"I'm not used to everyone hanging on to my every word and then holding me accountable for what I say," Nanos said at a news conference early in the probe. "This is really, for me, pretty new."

Critics pointed out his department opened up the crime scene a day a Guthrie was reported missing and sent vital evidence across the country to be analyzed for free, and the sheriff was seen at a weekend college basketball game while a ransom deadline still hung over the family.

President Trump has even weighed in on the issue.

“It was a local case originally, and they didn’t want to let go of it, which is fine,” Trump said when asked about the case at the White House on Friday. “It’s up to them, it’s really up to the community, but ultimately where the FBI got involved, I think, you know, progress has been made.”