A newly released report is raising fresh questions about how authorities handled the kidnapping case involving Savannah Guthrie‘s mother.
Nancy Guthrie was kidnapped earlier this year, and despite months having passed since the incident, no arrests have been made, and no suspect has been publicly identified.
The investigation remains ongoing, and amid growing scrutiny over the sheriff’s handling of the case, President Donald Trump recently weighed in on the high-profile investigation.
The disappearance of Nancy Guthrie has continued to puzzle investigators, but according to a report by The Wall Street Journal, the outcome of the investigation may have been different had critical mistakes not been made during its early stages.
Among the alleged missteps was the initial handling of dried blood discovered on Nancy’s front porch. The report claims deputies from the county sheriff’s office, led by Sheriff Chris Nanos, initially downplayed the significance of the evidence.
Authorities reportedly spent several hours treating the dried blood as the result of an accidental injury rather than as potential evidence connected to Nancy’s disappearance. When the blood was eventually collected and tested, it was confirmed to belong to Nancy and is now believed to be connected to her kidnapping. The report suggests that valuable investigative time may have been lost because of the delay.
Crime Scene Was Left Exposed For Hours
As with most investigations, standard protocol is to immediately secure and seal off a potential crime scene before evidence collection begins. However, Nancy’s home reportedly did not receive the same treatment, as authorities spent several hours determining whether the case involved a missing person or a kidnapping.
The failure to secure the property with police tape meant reporters, livestreamers, and even Amazon and pizza delivery drivers were able to access the front porch after law enforcement had already arrived. The report suggests this may have contaminated evidence that could have been important to the investigation.
Adding to the concerns, crime scene tape was eventually placed around the home but remained in place for only a few hours before local authorities removed it for undisclosed reasons.
Search Aircraft Sat Idle During Critical Hours
Elsewhere, the report notes that the sheriff’s department deployed drones and search dogs after determining the case involved a kidnapping.
However, the department’s $1.7 million Cessna surveillance aircraft, equipped with infrared technology and high-powered zoom cameras, was not initially used in the search.
The aircraft was not grounded because of a technical issue. Instead, no flight deputy was available to operate its camera systems when it was needed. The senior pilot assigned to the shift had been reassigned to patrol duty just days earlier following a workplace complaint.
By the time the aircraft was eventually deployed, it failed to uncover any significant evidence, a result the report suggests may have been affected by the delay.
FBI Says Sheriff’s Office Remains In Charge
3Throughout the investigation, the county sheriff’s office has remained the lead agency, a position recently reaffirmed by an FBI spokesperson.
While the FBI continues assisting with the investigation, the spokesperson also said many of the bureau’s requests for involvement came later in the process.
The developments have fueled ongoing calls for the FBI to assume control of the investigation. However, that appears unlikely, particularly following Sheriff Chris Nanos’ recent comments defending his department’s handling of the case.
“I can assure everybody that we are working hard every day with all of our partners,” the sheriff told reporters. “This case is not cold.”
Trump Weighs In On Guthrie Kidnapping Case
3Donald Trump recently added to the growing scrutiny surrounding the sheriff’s handling of the investigation.
Speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One on August 2, the president said that “the local community really runs” cases of this nature rather than the FBI.
“And, you know, some people haven’t liked the way the local communities run it. They haven’t liked the way the sheriff’s run it. But we would like to give them the benefit… We’re there anytime they need us,” Trump added.