Volunteer Search Group Says Offer to Help Find Nancy Guthrie Was Declined by Arizona Authorities
Tucson, Arizona — A volunteer search-and-rescue organization says it offered to ᴀssist in the search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old Arizona woman who disappeared in February, but claims local authorities declined the offer.

Brian Trascher, vice president of the United Cajun Navy, told NewsNation that his organization was prepared to deploy personnel and specialized equipment to aid in the search for Guthrie, who vanished from her Tucson-area home on February 1, 2026.

“We have a lot of good resources we could have brought to the area,” Trascher said.

He explained that the organization was prepared to work alongside partner search-and-rescue groups and believed there was a possibility Guthrie could have traveled or been taken toward the U.S.-Mexico border.

“Other partner groups that we work with in the area are willing to come to the area and help us search,” Trascher said. “We really felt strongly that there was a good chance that she could have ended up somewhere along the border.”
According to Trascher, the proposed ᴀssistance would have included search-and-rescue dogs, drone teams, and trained volunteers capable of covering large areas of difficult terrain.

He told NewsNation that, despite the group’s willingness to ᴀssist, local authorities ultimately chose not to utilize outside operational support.

“For some reason, they just decided they were not going to take the outside help,” Trascher said. “So we just kind of went back to what we’re doing.”
It is unclear exactly when the offer of ᴀssistance was made.

In a statement provided to The New York Post, a spokesperson for the Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that the agency had received the offer and expressed appreciation for the organization’s willingness to help.

“They were notified that at this time, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department will not be utilizing external operational support. We are grateful for their offer to ᴀssist and for their continued interest in supporting this effort.”
The department did not publicly explain why it chose not to incorporate the volunteer group into the search effort.

The development comes as the investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance continues to draw public scrutiny.

Sheriff Chris Nanos and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department have faced criticism from some observers over aspects of the investigation, including decisions related to search operations and evidence handling.

Among the concerns raised by critics are the timing of returning Guthrie’s home to the family and the decision to have DNA evidence analyzed by a private laboratory rather than the FBI. Law enforcement officials, however, have maintained that investigative decisions were made based on the needs of the case.

Sheriff Nanos has previously defended the department’s handling of the investigation, stating that investigators have followed appropriate procedures while continuing to pursue every credible lead.

As of July 3, 2026, Nancy Guthrie remains missing. Local authorities and the FBI continue to investigate her disappearance and encourage anyone with information to come forward.

Source: New York Post