View 4 Images

Pima County Sheriff, Chris Nanos has been regularly criticized over his handling of the Nancy Guthrie case(Image: Jan Sonnenmair, Getty Images)

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has faced criticism for what’s been described as a “highly unusual” approach as the investigation into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance continues.

The 84-year-old mother of Today Show host Savannah Guthrie was abducted from her Tucson, Arizona, residence overnight between January 31 and February 1. She remains missing.

Whilst the Sheriff’s Department and the FBI have been leading the investigation, it has now emerged that the sheriff has allegedly “locked down” the probe, restricting decision-making authority to himself and two of his senior detectives. This development follows revelations from a former FBI agent about a hidden codeword that Savannah used in her message to the kidnappers.

Multiple PCSD sources speaking to the Daily Mail have claimed that three decision makers are directing the department’s investigation – Sheriff Nanos, Chief Jesus Lopez and Captain Juan Carlos Navarro.

View 4 Images

Nancy Guthrie has been missing for three weeks(Image: Savannah Guthrie/Instagram)

Get More of Our News on Google

Set The Mirror US as a ‘Preferred Source’ to get quicker access to the news you value.

One law enforcement source claimed that the sheriff “will only let himself or two of his handpicked staffers make decisions on the case.”

They added: “Everybody else is being told what to do, no one else has a say so or an opinion. It’s just three men making the decisions.”

According to the insider, the move is “incredibly unusual” particularly given the investigation’s large scale and FBI involvement.

“It’s limited to the thought processes of three men. They’re keeping everything from the FBI – they just aren’t sharing,” the source claimed. Another source who spoke to the publication described it as “highly unusual” that only command staff is leading the investigation, noting, “Normally an experienced detective would steer it and provide updates through the chain of command.”

As the search for Nancy reaches its fourth week, investigators have yet to identify a suspect or establish a motive.

View 4 Images

A Pima County Sheriff deputy walks in the driveway of Nancy’s residence(Image: Getty Images)

Earlier this week, authorities confirmed that DNA recovered from gloves discovered several miles from Nancy’s Tucson residence did not produce any matches in a national database.

“There were no DNA hits in CODIS,” the sheriff’s department stated, referring to the national Combined DNA Index System.

“At this point, there have been no confirmed CODIS matches in this investigation,” the department added, indicating that additional DNA samples had been processed through the system.

CODIS is a repository of DNA collected from crime suspects or individuals with criminal convictions. Any matches could help identify potential suspects in Nancy’s disappearance.

The sheriff’s department indicated it plans to submit DNA evidence to other “genetic genealogy” databases, though it did not provide further details.

View 4 Images

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos is said to have ‘locked down’ the investigation(Image: AP)

Meanwhile, investigators were observed examining exterior cameras at a neighboring property on Tuesday. Vehicles were also seen coming and going from Nancy’s residence whilst a substantial gathering of news media observed from the street.

Nancy was reported missing on February 1 following an evening spent with family, police stated. Her blood was discovered on the porch.

A porch camera captured footage of a man wearing a ski mask, long pants, a jacket, and gloves, and carrying a backpack.

The FBI stated the suspect is approximately 5 feet, 9 inches (1.75 meters) tall with a medium build.

Article continues below

This comes as the man who claims to know Nancy Guthrie’s kidnapper reveals the chilling reason he wants Bitcoin.

The Express US has reached out to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department for comment.