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Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode: Forensic Friction: AZ Sheriff Blasts ‘FBI Blockade’ Claims as Hunt for Nancy Guthrie Turns Toxic

Date: February 14, 2026
Host: Jennifer Gould (Crime Alert Hourly Update)

Episode Overview

This episode provides a gripping snapshot of the rapidly escalating conflict between Arizona’s Pima County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI in the urgent search for missing 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, mother of a "Today" show co-host. The episode focuses on the friction over forensic evidence handling, details of the investigation’s progress, insights from law enforcement experts, and the emotional toll on Guthrie’s family.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Local vs. Federal Authority: Forensic Evidence Feud

Main Issue: Sharp conflict between Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos and the FBI about custody and processing of physical evidence—black gloves and DNA samples—related to Guthrie’s abduction.
The FBI wanted all evidence sent to their national crime lab in Quantico, VA.
Sheriff Nanos defied this, instead spending $200,000 of taxpayer money to send it to a trusted private lab in Florida.
Anonymous law enforcement criticism: "The move risks further slowing a case that grows more urgent by the minute." (00:45)
Nanos’ rebuttal: He insists FBI “blockade” claims are “not even close to the truth,” emphasizing the existing relationship with the Florida lab and that the lab is handling some work pro bono. He says the FBI ultimately agreed centralizing analysis at one lab “made sense.” (~01:15)

2. Evolving Investigation: Clues & Suspect Profile

The FBI has doubled its reward to $100,000 and released a profile of the masked suspect seen on doorbell footage at 2:12am, February 1st.
- Description: Male, 5’9”-5’10”, medium build, wearing a black 25 liter Ozark Trail hiker pack, semi-automatic handgun, and a mix-matched holster.
- Expert comment: “The suspect’s outfit appeared cobbled together...holster designed for a revolver rather than the semi-automatic weapons seen in the footage...shows he’s most likely an amateur.” (02:06)

3. Forensic Debate: Gloves and DNA

Nanos downplayed the importance of the gloves, indicating multiple similar gloves were found and that their “true value remains unproven.” (02:25)
Charles Marino, former Secret Service agent, stated:

“Hopefully he wasn't wearing a double layer of gloves and we're going to get some solid DNA evidence here, either directly from the hands or from another part of the body.” (01:51 — Fox News)

4. Community Call to Action & New Leads

Urgent request: All residents near East Skyline Dr. & North Campbell Ave. asked to review home security footage from Jan 1 – Feb 2 for suspicious vehicles, pedestrians, or activities.
Retired FBI Special Agent Jennifer Coffindaffer:

“They want to see if there were any dry runs, any site surveys done of Nancy’s property before this strike.” (~03:15 — Inside Edition)
A man questioned in Rio Rico was cleared with "no links to Nancy."
New lead: Sighting of a man with a goatee (matching partial facial description from video) lurking near a different home roughly a week before Nancy’s disappearance.

5. Growing Concern: Ransom Notes & Family Response

Multiple ransom notes have been sent to the media, including TMZ, one reading:

“I am not being taken seriously.” (~04:10)
Key facts:
- Nancy Guthrie last seen by family on January 31, vanished February 1.
- No suspects or persons of interest identified, though family believes she is alive.
- Her blood was found on the porch; her pacemaker went offline; her vital medications are depleted.

6. Emotional Impact

Savannah Guthrie shared a poignant Instagram post of home videos with her mother and siblings, stating:

“We will never give up on her. Thank you for your prayers and hope.” (~04:45)

7. Official Call for Tips

Reminder: The FBI’s $100,000 reward for information leading to Nancy Guthrie’s location or the arrest/conviction of anyone connected.
Tip lines: 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Anonymous source:

“The move risks further slowing a case that grows more urgent by the minute.” (00:45)
Sheriff Chris Nanos:

“Not even close to the truth.” (in response to FBI blockade claims) (~01:10)
Charles Marino (ex-Secret Service):

“Hopefully he wasn't wearing a double layer of gloves and we're going to get some solid DNA evidence here...” (01:51)
Ret. FBI Agent Jennifer Coffindaffer:

“They want to see if there were any dry runs, any site surveys done of Nancy’s property...” (~03:15)
Ransom note excerpt:

“I am not being taken seriously.” (~04:10)
Savannah Guthrie (Instagram):

“We will never give up on her. Thank you for your prayers and hope.” (~04:45)

Key Timestamps

00:00: Crime alert intro & case setup
00:10–01:30: Sheriff-FBI forensic dispute details
01:51: Charles Marino on DNA evidence
02:04–02:30: Suspect profile and gear analysis
02:45: FBI’s $100K reward and suspect details repeated
03:00: Community call for security footage, Coffindaffer comments
04:00: Ransom notes and recent leads
04:45: Savannah Guthrie’s Instagram message

Summary

This episode spotlights not only the investigative complexities of Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, but also the procedural friction and emotional stakes at play. The tension between local and federal law enforcement threatens to derail swift forensic analysis, while the release of ransom notes and new leads keeps the case in a tense, heart-wrenching limbo. The plea from Guthrie’s family and the larger call to public action underscore both the urgency of the search and the profound worry over her fate.

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Transcript3 lines

[00:00]
A
This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human crime alert. Hourly update Breaking crime news now. I'm Jennifer Gould. A high stakes power struggle between local and federal authorities has erupted as the search for 84 year old Nancy Guthrie enters its third agonizing week. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos is under fire following bombshell reports that that he is actively blocking the FBI from accessing critical physical evidence in the abduction of the Today show co host's mom. The clash centers on a pair of black gloves and DNA samples recovered from the Guthrie home, evidence the FBI demanded be flown to their elite national crime lab in Quantico, Virginia. In a defiant move to that has stunned many, Nanos snubbed the feds instead shelling out $200,000 in taxpayer money to ship the samples to a private lab in Florida. An anonymous law enforcement source blasted that decision, claiming the move risks further slowing a case that grows more urgent by the minute, end quote. Sheriff Nanos though, fired back, telling TV station KVOA branding the allegations of a blockade as quote, not even close to the truth, end quote. Nanos argued that the Florida lab has worked with his department for years and is handling some aspects pro bono, claiming the FBI eventually agreed that sending all samples to a single site for marker comparison made sense. Former Secret Service agent Charles Marino spoke.
[01:52]
B
To Fox News and hopefully he wasn't wearing a double layer of gloves and we're going to get some solid DNA evidence here, either directly from the hands or from another part of the body.
[02:04]
A
The tension comes as the FBI doubles its reward to $100,000 and releases a chilling new profile of the suspect caught on doorbell camera at 2:12am on February 1st. The masked predator is described as a male, 5 foot 9 to 510 with a medium build, carrying a black 25 liter Ozark Trail hiker pack and a semi automatic handgun. Experts note the suspect's outfit appeared cobbled together utilizing a holster designed for a revolver rather than the semiautomatic weapons seen in the footage showing he's most likely an amateur. While federal agents frantically trace retail records at local Tucson Walmarts for the backpack and other gear, Nanos downplayed the importance of the roadside gloves, noting quote, quite a number of them were found and that their, quote, true value remains unproven. More crime and justice news after this. Authorities are now urgently requesting that all residents within a two mile radius of the East Skyline Drive and North Campbell Avenue intersection scour their security camera footage for any signs of vehicles, pedestrians or suspicious activity. The request covers an expansive window from the January 1st through February 2nd. Retired FBI Special Agent Jennifer Coffendaffer spoke to Inside Edition. They want to see if there were any dry runs, any site surveys done of Nancy's property before this strike. This follows the release of a man in Rio Rico who was questioned after his car and home were searched. He was cleared after no links to Nancy were found. Adding to the urgency, a new lead has emerged involving a man with a goatee lurking near a home six and a half miles away just one week before Nancy vanished. This was back on January 23rd. His features mirror the beard visible beneath the suspect's mask in doorbell clips. Detectives are also grappling with ransom notes sent to media outlets, including tmz, with one reportedly snarling, quote, I am not being taken seriously, end quote. Nancy, of course, has been missing since February 1st and was last seen by family on the evening of January 31st. No suspects are in custody, no persons of interest have been identified, and Guthrie's whereabouts remain unknown, though her family believes she is still alive. DNA confirmed blood on her porch as hers, and her pacemaker lost cell phone contact. Her vital heart medications have also long since run out. Amid the ordeal, Savannah Guthrie shared a heartbreaking Instagram montage of old home videos on Thursday showing a young Nancy with her three children. Captioning it quote, we will never give up on her. Thank you for your prayers and hope. End quote. Again, the FBI has boosted its reward to $100,000 for information leading to the location of 84 year old Nancy Guthrie and or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance. Tips can be submitted anonymously to 1-800-call FBI or tips.FBI.gov that's. Gov for the latest crime and justice news, follow the Crime Alert hourly update on your favorite podcast app. With this crime alert, I'm Jennifer Gould.