More than seven months after 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie disappeared from her home in the Catalina Foothills near Tucson, Arizona, the president of the local deputies’ union has publicly questioned the initial handling of the case and the experience level of the investigators ᴀssigned to it. Sergeant Aaron Cross, who leads the Pima County Deputies Organization, described what he views as significant early errors and placed responsibility on Sheriff Chris Nanos.

In an interview published in mid-August 2026, Cross identified what he called a major misstep at the start of the investigation: the decision to return the crime scene to the family the day after Nancy was reported missing. He said this move was made without sufficient reason and that many detectives as well as members of the community shared the opinion that the scene should have been secured for a longer period.

Cross also raised concerns about the lead investigator on the case. He stated that the sergeant in charge had only been promoted to that rank in 2023, had moved rapidly from patrol work into the homicide unit, and had no previous experience investigating homicides. According to Cross, most of the detectives working the Nancy Guthrie investigation had three years of experience or less.

He attributed these staffing decisions directly to Sheriff Chris Nanos. Cross claimed that ᴀssigning someone with so little specialized experience to a complex case of this magnitude was nearly unheard of before Nanos took office. In earlier practice, he said, a less-experienced detective would typically be paired with more seasoned colleagues who could provide guidance, rather than being placed in a primary role.

Nancy Guthrie was last seen on the evening of January 31, 2026, after being dropped off at her residence. She was reported missing the following day when she did not appear at church. Authorities have treated the disappearance as a suspected abduction. Investigators later released images of a masked person seen at her front door and made public the contents of two notes sent in early February. Despite these steps and a substantial reward offered by the family, no suspects have been publicly identified.

As of early September 2026, more than seven months have pᴀssed since Nancy vanished. The investigation remains active, with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department working alongside the FBI. Efforts continue to focus on DNA analysis, digital evidence, and large volumes of video footage collected from the area. Cross’s comments add to ongoing public discussion about how the case was managed in its earliest stages.

A reward of up to $1 million remains available for information that leads to Nancy Guthrie’s recovery or the identification of those responsible. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI or the local tip number.

Main sources: TV Insider