More than six months into the search for Nancy Guthrie, a leader within the Pima County Sheriff's Department itself is raising concerns about how the case has been staffed. Sergeant Aaron Cross, president of the Pima County Deputies Organization, told TMZ in an interview published Saturday, August 15, that detectives assigned to the investigation lacked the experience the case demanded.
Cross said the lead sergeant on Guthrie's case was promoted to the role only in 2023, moving quickly from patrol into homicide without prior experience in that unit. "I don't believe he put in for that - usually those assignments are made by command," Cross said, adding that most detectives working the case had three years or less of experience. He placed responsibility for those staffing decisions on Sheriff Chris Nanos, calling the low experience level "almost unheard of" before Nanos took office.
Cross also pointed to what he called the investigation's biggest failure: releasing the crime scene back to the Guthrie family the day after Nancy disappeared. "There was no reason for that," he said. Despite the criticism, Cross credited federal investigators with recovering key Ring camera footage and said friction has existed between the sheriff's department and the FBI throughout the case.
Guthrie, 84, mother of "Today" co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, was last seen at her Catalina Foothills home on January 31 and reported missing the next day after failing to appear for a Sunday church livestream - a ritual her family says she never missed. The case remains an active homicide investigation, with no suspect publicly named and a $1 million reward still active. Through every setback, the Guthrie family has continued to lean on faith and ask the public to keep her in prayer as the search continues.
Related article: Nancy Guthrie Update: Federal Source Confirms Remains Found Near I-10 Are Not Hers
